Build your own CDI

[Hans]

These are for singles, and just a select set.  A few different ways from simple (2 advance settings, none to full) to complex (multiple advance curves). Not sure if you could scale up cylinders, but it's an interesting exercise.

http://www.transmic.net/en/home.htm

[Dennis]

My older brother, from the time he was about 12, was pulling apart old TVs and electronic stuff to salvage the components for electrical projects.  He's made all kinds of stuff.  He's a guitarist and has built zillions of effects pedals and gizmos.

Its taken years for me to understand the basic systems used in our old motorcycles.  I've wired all my own bikes in recent years, but CDIs with electronic advance has remained the Holly Grail.  It would be awesome to get past the "replace with known good unit" to actually understanding what goes on inside the mysterious Black Box, and even fabricating my own.  This may be the next step of my motorcycle education.

Peace, Ohms, Amps and Volts, Dennis