Kawi2strokes.com Forum

So is the stock ignition so bad that most people don't run it?

I notice strangely low value for the boxes on Ebay

My story: i've modified almost everything else on the bike but still running stock ignition, with no real issues, although i can see the benefit of adjustable curves on the Zeel unit.

I got into this hobby in the 80s and shortly after acquiring my first H2 I lost one of the individual boxes. It was cheaper to buy a complete bike for $75 ( ) than to buy a new CDI box. Strangely, I haven't had any more failures since then even though at this point the components are near 50 years old.

There are plenty of folks still running stock H2 CDI units. From what I've seen, the later ones without the U brackets that hold the red and white wires are a bit less prone to failure than the early ones.

I got into making CDI units for triples because my '72 H2's original ones, and replacements I got from various sources, were failing so fast that I had to carry a spare in the tail if I wanted to have a decent chance of completing a ride. If yours are proving reliable, you don't have to change them.

I'd guess that the low cost of used units is due to the availability and reasonable price of new and rebuilt replacements that have a warranty.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

The easy to spot difference in the stock units and the one Jim makes is that you don't have to look at the plugs to tell if there is spark, you can hear it snap! I wouldn't ever run a stock CDI setup after using Jim's, there is no reason to, and they are what I consider very inexpensive.

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1969 H1, 1971 G3SSA, 1974 G5, 1973 H2A, 1975 S3A, 1975 H1F, 1973 Z1, 1988 HD FLTC, Captain America chopper, 2000 Excelsior Henderson, 1965 Bridgestone BS90

Thank you Jeff, I appreciate it.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

+1 on Jim units. Been running his for years.

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This is true. Where I grew up the hills were so steep and long, when your ball rolled down the hill you just said "screw it"...

I'm running stock boxes on my triples. As soon as I run out of spares, I will switch to Jim's though.

I am running Jim's boxes and his regulator. Top shelf components and workmanship.

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I Love the Smell of Blue Marble in the Morning!!!
Tim Steele in Front Royal, VA
Home of the Phoenix Project
Stay in it when it comes on the pipe, no need to be scared...

Like BarryB and Tim Steele said. My '75 H2 box failed, I ordered a new one from Jim and it arrived in three days! Nice to have the H2 running properly again.