HPI Ignition Module

:/

It's a bit uncomfortable how lawyerly their definition of 'compatible' is :/

Hi

All those questions and also other doubts that I have, I've tried to get the answer but with no luck. Even asked a French friend to also do it (because the guy has some difficult in English) and also no luck.

So my fears were right !!

It's a shame because they could easily had a great product just copying the last evolution of the 400/501/650 advance curves, even if you don't have the 2 curves.

So nlan if you want your CDI repaired send me a message and we will solve it.

:cheers:
ZAGA

You should not have done that !!! :evil:

You always have ebay to search :mrgreen:

:cheers:
ZAGA

Hi all,

I have had 6-7 customers with ignition problems, and all are running now with the HPI CDI.
Some are for over 4 years now.

Indeed sometimes it is a hassle to get an answer from them, but all my problems were solved correctly.

All my CDI units were for the 650 engine, so I can not comment for the 400.

You say you get kick back at startup,
changing the ignition curves will change NOTHING!

ALL CDI units OEM and after-market start analogue at a fixed point.
at about 2000 rpm, the ignition will go in digital mode and will follow the programmed curve.
So changing the curves will not change the analogue starting point

Have you tried to turn the stator/baseplate to the left or to the right?

try removing the sparkplug from the engine, so there is no compression
attach the sparkplug to the frame with a wire or directly to the frame.
have someone to kick the bike and check the firing position.

1 of my customers had ignition problems with the HPI ignition,
he had no resistive spark plug - spark plug cap http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/tech_support/spark_plugs/faqs/faqresistor.asp?mode=nml
So check this out, since the HPI ignition is a digital unit. It is clearly mentioned on the CDI lable
The OEM is a analogue unit which is much less sensitive to interference.

Also, it is strange to expect that they have an actual bike of every single ignition they make.


It is ok to report negative feedback on a product,
but it is not ok to generalise YOUR problem to all of us.

Best regards

Hi

I already explained to you my doubts about the HPI in my answer of your PM.

So if you can get answers from them to clear the subject, I think you should post them here.

:cheers:
ZAGA

Also, it is strange to expect that they have an actual bike of every single ignition they make."

^^^ Your statement above is ridiculous. Of course they should have tested it on any bike they advertise compatibility with.

Click to expand...

You did not understood me correctly,
Of course they will have tested their product on a bike.
What I was trying to say is that they probable don't stock a bike of every CDI they make.
I assume, they get a bike, make the ignition to work and return the bike...


The reason I joined the forum is because I totally disagree with you.
I am a passive member since long time...

I live not that far from HPI, and if I have a problem with ignitions, no matter on which bike, they are there to help me out. That is why I don't like your post at all, since my experience with them is totally different...
However their communication is not always as it could be, they really are experts in the matter.


please PM me instead of throwing **** at me in public...

Hi HusaBE

I've already sent you a PM (without an answer) so I would like to leave here some of my doubts, that are simple a reasonable, and they are not throwing anything unpleasant.

This doubts have been sent a long time ago to HPI, without a answer, and that is partially the reason that I started providing repairs for this CDIs.

As you all know this generation of SEM (99-03) had a lot of references, every year, almost every CC, FC and FE, electric start or not, they had different references. But HPI only has one reference for all of the bikes, all of the years.
This only makes me think that they only have one CDI for all, only one advance curve for all.

I don't know about the others but that is not good enough for me !!

They should have at least the last evolution of every CC.

Also they should consider the electric start option (the white wire) that could be use on every model, if you had it you should connected if you don't no problem.

There is also the question of the dual curve (01-03) that it's not vital for me, but they say they can provide it, but actually I just don't know ???

In fact with this CDI they say they can provide a lot of options, but can they ??
Options:
2 curves
Programmable
Powerjet
TPS
Shift-System

I would like to know what they can really provide, maybe they developed something like a TPS for this ignitions, good I have one FCR so I could use it, but is it true ??, for some guy that doesn't even has all the curves for all the CCs ??

Don't take this the wrong way, I would like very much if we had one option of buying a new CDI, and least as good as the original, if not better !!

So if we all could have our doubts cleared, maybe we could start buying CDIs from HPI.

:cheers:
ZAGA

Hello,

I think I am the closest located to HPI, I am willing to discuss this with them.
Also I will get an answer to your questions about TPS/PJ/shift system/...


But I need some information before I go...

what are the references of the different OEM units of SEM.
And does some-one have the advance curves of these units?

Best regards

Hi

I don't have the advance curves, but I've made you a summary of the REF. of all the CDIs

[attachment=0:2fnj1kg9]REF_SEM_CDI.pdf[/attachment:2fnj1kg9]

Here you have, maybe now you can clear the subject.

Thanks
:cheers:
ZAGA

I totally agree,

Can someone post the advance curves of the different CDI units?
So I don't have to go to HPI empty handed...

Best regards

Hello,

I have had a chat with the design engineer at HPI about their SEM CDI

They are aware of the differences in advance curve, but this difference is rather small,
400 -> 32°
501 -> 32° to 36°
550 -> 32° to 36°
650 -> 32° to 36°
(to be found in the bike manuals)

They put the 32° curve in their standard CDI.
since you can turn the stator, it is not a problem.

But!
the 0° of the ignition does not correspond with the TDC of the bike.
This goes for the SEM and for the HPI CDI (and is done on a lot of bikes)
the difference is about 12°

As a result the bike will start with an advance of 12° (as a lot of bikes do)
the remaining advance curve is then 32° - 12° = 20° and this is programmed in the CDI

So it is important to use the original markings on the flywheel.
Don't set other markings as some guys on this forum suggest to do...

Their standard CDI is equipped with this 32° curve and is tested on all the different bores (standard bikes).

the standard CDI is 1 curve - non programmable.

options are:
programmable -> you will need an interface for that (software is for free on their site)
2 curves -> 2 extra wires will come from the CDI, and a handlebar switch is provided
or on request it is possible to have the 2 curve connected to the original handle bar switch (if present)
powerjet -> the electronic hardware they use to build this CDI is used for several other bikes
so this option is available, but not often used, since the bike is not equipped with a power valve
TPS -> see above
Shift-system -> see above

As a remark, they said that a lot of troubles with the SEM ignitions is in the stators.
Often a stator gives good measurements, but when used on the bike, still fails.

for the stators with a resistance of 1K2 -pre 99- they have analogue CDIs CD5004 (4stroke) and CD5005 (2stroke)
for the stators with 3K resistance -after 99- they have the digital CDI unit: CD5006D

hope this was helpfull...
Best regards

Hi

Thank you for your effort to bring some light in to this subject.

I don't know a lot about the subject, so your answer brings me some more questions:

If there are all those options, how can you order the one for your bike ?

You give the values of max advance for each CC, but that is not the advance curve since the usual curves are not linear, as the name says they are curves (except for very old ignitions). Do the curves used in this CDIs are similar to the original ones ?
And what about the FC models ?

And the E-start ones, do they also have the same help for starting ?

About the advance, we usually make a new mark on the flywheel at the real TDC and then we set it, using a strobe light, at 6º advance at normal idle speed. So when we set it it's not at 12º advance, that has shown to be too much. But maybe that is the difference when using the original markings ???

If we go for the extra 2 curves options, how are they, are they softer, harder, what kind of setup those 2 extra have ?

About the TPS, I have one FCR on my 400, so you are saying I could use that option ?

About the stators, don't go there, because that's another story !

Sorry again for all this doubts and thanks for your efforts

:cheers:
ZAGA

I will visit them again next week or so,
and I hope I can come up with some more answers.

Nice thread.

FYI i have a spare SEM coil/cdi that is for sale.

ElSnorro said:

Nice thread.

Click to expand...

+1, good thread