Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech CDI repairs??? '02 America

I'm having a skip/miss issue on the proverbial right cylinder on the '02 America. With a spark checker light, there are skips in the spark. All indicators point to the CDI. With all of the brain/tech power/curiosity available on BA.com, I have to wonder if anyone has hacked a bad CDI open to see what the problem is??? If I have to buy one,(high $$$ and I'm leaning towards an OEM) you can bet I will know what is inside of the old one whether I can repair it or not!! Any help, tips, advice, cash, miracles, etc., will be appreciated. This missing/skipping issue will keep me from a New Year's day ride. Bummer.

Pieman was working with them, not sure what all he did.

We have a guy here in Australia reckons he can repair them.

When I contacted him his quote was more than a new Procom.

Stephen, have you checked the crank sensor gap?
I know that the spec changed after the '02's and '03's were made.
Tech vault should have the new spec.
Might be worth checking given the price of a new CDI.

Tony, I haven't checked the gap. I thought that since the bike had run well for 10 years(mfg. 10/01) with the gap from the factory, there wouldn't be any need to adjust the pickup. Thanks, I'll check and adjust to the new spec. (.8mm. I think, but I'll check the vault first.)

Before trashing the CDI, verify that it isn't a coil. Swap the coil secondary and primary wires to see if the problem follows the coil swap. If the problem remains on the right cylinder and the adjustment on the pickup coil doesn't work, then it is probably the CDI unit.

Also be sure it isn't a faulty kick stand switch.

I'm trying one thing at a time to pinpoint the missing/skipping issue. I had thought the miss was only on the right cylinder, but just found out with a spark checker light that the miss is on both cylinders. It gets worse as the bike warms up. I wonder why?

Too bad they cost so much. We should have (like the hole saw) a mail to the next guy CDI for testing purposes.

Trouble is too many guys "forget" to forward the saw and it vanishes.

After a used CDI yielded no improvement in my missing/ skipping issue (much to my surprise), I opted for a pair of Nology coils from newlevelmotorsports.com. They were $69.95 each with free shipping. Presto, abrakadabra, a rabbit's foot, a four leaf clover, other magical/religious things and the America is running like it should. I am glad!! Thanks to all who have helped with the advice on this and other posts. bonnevilleamerica.com rocks!!

Appreciate you reporting back on how you resolved your issues. Seems those stock coils take a hike for a lot of us (friggin' ghost of Lucas). Nology got me running properly too, and perhaps with a bit more zipitidooda!

Yes thanks for the info!! I have some Nology coils on my birth day wish list!

I have 03 America, have replace coils, and just 500k's ago they said was the CDI, and replaced it. Now most times wont start missing while riding. I am a mechanic NOT so haventa clue. Back in shop now

at last my bike is home in shed. Picked up on Wed and is running like a dream.. The CDI the first mechanic replaced with was a aftermarket. After much looking the new mech checked a Triumph CDI plan (?) the readjusted the aftermarket to same plan.. bingo. Off on 2000 k's ride next week keeping my fingers crossed. Hope that helps someone else.. Might replace the coilswith those you guys recommend when I get home...cheers

My '05 America at first had an "intermittent" loss of the left cylinder...thought it was carburetion, but found plug simply NOT firing on the left....Im blessed to have two 2005 Americas, and after verifying the coil was good by swapping input leads, I swapped out the CDI with the wifes bike, and that was a good fix. $625 from the dealer, but British Customs has a programmable CDI for the America for $269 shipped....That's what I'll be buying....

if problem geting worse with engine getting warmer pick up coil might be bad

Guess what. NO improvement, had to jump start, and we got some 'Start you Bastard' and sprayed in carby, and we could get started. So am back to square one and back to mechanic who has said no more labour charges till its right.. will keep you posted