Editor’s note: If you’re having trouble with that old Suzuki, BSA or BMW, Keith Fellenstein is your guy. From motorcycle tuning tips to detailed motorcycle engine repair, he can draw from a wealth of experience to help guide you to success. Send questions to: Keith’s Garage, 1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609, or send an e-mail with “Keith’s Garage” as the subject.
Honda CDI troubles
Q: I’m having a problem with the CDI units on my 1982 Honda Sabre. I have
a dead one and can’t seem to find a replacement CDI unit anywhere. I believe
the correct part is a Hitachi TID 12-04 MBO 202. Are a matched pair of MBO 202
Honda Magna parts bike I have. This bike uses the same engine and the same
coils. I am getting spark on all four cylinders, but the timing seems to be
wrong. — Mark Norris/via
A: I wish I could
be more helpful here, but once the manufacturers went from old fashioned but
totally repairable points/coil ignitions to CDI and transistorized electronic
ignitions, parts became a problem. It was easy enough to get parts back when
the models were just a few years out from production, but now that these bikes
are in vintage territory electronic parts are nearly impossible to find. The
manufacturers no longer make or stock these parts, and there isn’t enough
demand for aftermarket suppliers to remanufacture them. You’re left trying to
find a bike in a junkyard with the parts you need, and hope that those parts
haven’t failed in the same way as the ones you already have. With that in mind,
you can try the Bike Boneyard. While I was researching this
question I found that they have a Sabre parts bike listed, and they list the
parts you need to replace your ignition system. MC