TOPIC:

Hey guys I own a 1984 zn1100 which I need a cdi box for. Cant seem to hunt one down is there any other bike I can get a cdi box from?

What you need is an ignitor, not a CDI. There are a couple on ebay.

It may also be possible to install an aftermarket ignition like a Dyna-S. I think you will also have to retrofit an advance unit though. And the coils may need ballast resistors too. At any rate, there are options.

Interesting the Kaw parts site gives results for a 1984 ZN1100-B1 and also a 1985 ZN1100-B1. Both show the electronic-advance ignitor box, as Ed mentioned.

Something is messed up. It even gives a result for a 1984 ZN1100-B2. I'm afraid to dig any deeper.

www.kawasaki.com/Parts/PartsDiagrams/1984/ZN1100-B1

www.kawasaki.com/Parts/PartsDiagrams/1985/ZN1100-B1

www.kawasaki.com/Parts/PartsDiagrams/1984/ZN1100-B2

The Kawasaki.com diagrams are messed up. I only use them to double-check part numbers, and even then only if it's possible.

Could he use the igniter from another model? I'm thinking it would have to be a bike with a pulsing coil rotor instead of a mechanical timing advancer, and the wire colors would have to match as well. maybe a GPz 1100 or Zephyr 1100. or ZN700 or ZR750 >>> Zephyr 750 or ZR7/ZR7S. there may be other models I overlooked.

martin_csr wrote: The Kawasaki.com diagrams are messed up. I only use them to double-check part numbers, and even then only if it's possible.

Could he use the igniter from another model? I'm thinking it would have to be a bike with a pulsing coil rotor instead of a mechanical timing advancer, and the wire colors would have to match as well. maybe a GPz 1100 or Zephyr 1100. or ZN700 or ZR750 >>> Zephyr 750 or ZR7/ZR7S. there may be other models I overlooked.

It would work, electrically, with other models, but the advance curve might be different.

So, the igniters on those models are matched with the pulsing coil rotor?
I was thinking the advance would be unaffected, if he used his stock pulsing coil rotor.
But I don't know how the thing works. doh.

martin_csr wrote: So, the igniters on those models are matched with the pulsing coil rotor?
I was thinking the advance would be unaffected, if he used his stock pulsing coil rotor.
But I don't know how the thing works. doh.

The analog electronic advance is a combination of the shape of the rotor and the circuitry in the box. It's possible the rotors are all the same and just boxes are different, or vice versa, or both are different. I have only studied the Zx550 version, so I don't know how the 750 and 1100 versions would differ, but I know the advance curves are different from the 550.

Part numbers for the rotors would probably give a clue, but the rotor hubs could have a different standoff for mounting to different cranks (550 family, 750 family, and 1000 family), so the preferred method would be to have two rotors and take precise dimensional measurements (if the part numbers are different). If the part numbers are the same, that's simple.

We know the ignitor part numbers might be different just for mounting methods or wire length. But again, if the part numbers were somehow miraculously the same, then they can be swapped.

Thanks. The cross-reference at Partzilla shows that the ZN1100s have the same pulsing coils & pulsing coil rotor as the ZX1100-A1/A2 GPz, but the igniters have different part numbers. The igniters appear to be physically different, but maybe swap???

Numbers on the rotors. the pulsing coil rotors I've seen have the last 4 digits of the part number stamped into them. similar to some mechanical timing advancers. ZN1100. ZX1100. >>> www.cmsnl.com/products/rotor-pulsing-coi...071067/#.WjAYmVQ-co9

loudhvx wrote: It would work, electrically, with other models, but the advance curve might be different.

My thoughts too - the advance curve would be different between the LTD and GPz. One other 1100 bike uses similar ignition parts - the KZ1100R, but good luck finding any stock parts for one of those....

Dyna S doesn't work on these engines without changing / using a regular 1000 / 1100 advance mechanism, housing, cover....even then, the timing curve will likely be different, mechanical units compared to the electronic.

I don't like using ballast resistors - they get hot, you need to splice in the extra wiring, and sometimes they fail completely (like when it is raining and you are 300 miles from home....at night) - better to get the correct 3 ohm coils for the Dyna S....