H1D/H2 CDI Ignition Test

Use the diagram below for reference:

No Spark on any Cylinder

• Make sure kill switch is in "Run" position (if present).
• Make sure the four ground wires of the CDI units have good connections to the mounting plate.
• Make sure the CDI monting plate has a good connection to frame ground with a ground wire from it to a grounding bolt.
• Measure the Low Speed coil resistance between Green & White wires from stator (3 pin connector). It should measure approximately 200 ohms and no less than 180 ohms.

Intermittent or Missing Spark on one or more Cylinders

• Install new sparkplugs... properly gapped.
• Insure that ignition coil mounts have a clean ground to frame.
• Insure that motor has a solid frame ground. Engine case to battery should measure 0 ohms.
• Check to see if plug wires are arcing to frame or engine. (A darkened room works best.)
• Measure pickup coil resistance on all pickups... single White wires to ground should each be approximately 200 ohms and no less than 160 ohms.
• Measure primary resistance of each ignition coil. It should measure approximately 0.8 ohms from the red wire to gnd.  Touch the meter leads together and read that resistance.  Then subtract that from the measured coil primary resistance to get actual resistance.
• Measure secondary resistance of ignition coils. It should measure approximately 4.5K (4,500) ohms from sparkplug cap to gnd.

Testing CDI Boxes

• Individual ignition units can be swapped between cylinders by swapping both the Red & White leads from one box to another to determine if a dead cylinder can be revived with a different ignition unit.

 

Testing the rectifier unit with an analog meter

• Testing is with analog meter with meter set at Rx1K and meter zeroed when leads are touched together. All CDI leads must be disconnected.

1. Meter - connected to CDI Black/White
    Meter +  connected to: Grn = 3.9
                                          Blu = 3.9
                                          Wht = 12
                                          Lt Grn (all) = infinity

2. Meter + connected to CDI Black/White
    Meter -  connected to: Grn = infinity
                                         Blu = infinity
                                         Wht = some high value
                                         Lt Grn (all) = 3.9

Any reading substantially different than shown above indicates a defective unit.
 

Testing the rectifier unit with a digital meter that has a diode test function

1.  Meter - connected to CDI rectifier unit Black/White
     Meter +  connected to: Grn = approx. 0.6v
                                           Blu = approx. 0.6v
                                           Wht = approx. 1.2v
                                           Lt Grn (all) = no reading
 

2. Meter + connected to CDI rectifier unit Black/White
    Meter -  connected to: Grn = no reating
                                         Blu = no reading
                                         Wht = no reading
                                         Lt Grn (all) = approx. 0.6v
 

Testing the rectifier unit with a battery and test light

1.  Connect battery - to CDI rectifier unit Black/White, and battery + to one wire of test lamp
    other wire of lamp connected to: Grn = lit
                                                         Blu = lit
                                                         Wht = lit
                                                         Lt Grn (all) = not lit
 

2. Connect battery + to CDI rectifier unit Black/White and battery - to one wire of test lamp
    Other wire of lamp connected to: Grn = not lit
                                                          Blu = not lit
                                                          Wht = not  lit
                                                          Lt Grn (all) = lit
 

Alternative CDI Test
An alternative CDI test is offered here.

Notes:
- A defective regulator/rectifier (open) can cause misfire/rev limiting.
- A defective hi spd coil can cause rev limiting at approx 4000 rpm.
- Inadvertently swapped coil/pickup wires between cylinders can cause difficulty starting and/or misfiring.