CRM250 MD24 CDI no spark problem

CRM250 MD24 is a 2-stroke enduro motorcycle commonly found in UK is very rare to be found in ASIA-Pacific. There are too many model of this actually and the one being the MD24 93" will be discussed. Apparently this post is the conclusion of a dear friend to whom who wrote the problem to me via electronic mail " how good the internet can bring up two people opposite of the globe to communicate and resolve some problem as if we are neighbors"...

The problem was the CDI which is costly refuses to give a  spark. All external component that directs to the ignition controller are all good and thus only the cdi was the suspect.The motorcycle was on a restoration process, and only the ignition was the problem. I had asked his permission to post all the photos here for others who has the same problem that may help you just in case.

Of course, in order for you to do so is stripped all of the epoxy resin that covers the whole black box to expose the board which is very tricky and extra care and more patience is needed. All components must be intact to the board or else it will be much harder to determine what component had failed. Servicing a defective Ignition Controller is difficult and have to isolate each and one block from one another.




Through e-mail, he sent me all the photos needed as shown.

Fig. 1

Figure 1 shows the capacitor with 1.5uf /400 volts

Fig. 2 

Figure 2 shows The MCU and Pulse shaping IC

Fig. 3

Figure 3 is PIN-OUT label of the CDI

Fig. 4

Figure 4 shows Smd components at the solder side of the cdi

Fig. 5

Figure 5  Component Side View of this cdi

Fig. 6

Figure 6  Here, he label the troubleshooting process with voltages reading.

Fig. 7

Figure 7 is the Wiring color code of the cdi

By the way, the CDI of CRM250 MD24 is an AC-CDI type, it has an external high voltage exciter coil that charges the capacitor as the engine is turn. This means that the higher the engine rpm, the higher the voltage can be measured at the charging capacitor.

Moving on finding the culprit of the no spark symptoms of this cdi. Test was done trying to find why it refuses to spark at the tip of the spark plug. Figure 6 shows the voltage reading from turning the engine indicates that there is a voltage at the anode pin of the thyristor. This means that the high voltage of the generator is getting inside, indicating a healthy High voltage generator. One pin of the charging capacitor is connected to that cathode pin of the switching thyristor (SCR), hence there will be voltage, but there will be no vltage at the other pin if your reference is ground, since the charge can only be dumped to the ignition coils primary winding, which act as the load when the SCR is triggered by the MCU. If all is good, the charge will then be dumped causing a momentary magnetic field to that winding and transferred it to the secondary winding in a x10 ratio which is enough to create spark at the tip of the spark plug.

And that is where the problem exist. It does not create any spark. Hence, with the existence of voltage across the capacitor.(by the way to see the voltage is being kept by the capacitor before the dump, put the voltage meter probe across the two pins on the charging capacitor. Voltage will remain there up until the SCR is triggered.)

So before the capacitor, the circuit is generally good. but then the output towards the ignition coil output is not. Generally, If you look at all CDI schematic posted all over the internet, there is still a major component after the pin of the charging capacitor..(did u notice it)

Fig 8

Here is an example, looking at Fig. 8, the RED BOX outline comprises the SCR, the charging capacitor, and a DAMPING DIODE, all cdi must have that diode to protect the SCR and other circuits from getting the HV back after the dump. It is actually connected in parallel to the ignition coil.

That DIODE in regards to the CRM250 MD24 photo,was traced and looking at Fig. 5. designated as D16..

And guess what, It is actually shorted. If that is already shorted then the path of the charging capacitor is nearly directs to ground and no charge will be directed to the ignition coil..

In other words, when the damping diode is already shorted, the charge will no longer flow to the ignition coil, and the system is stopped. Seems odd..that is how it works.

Many will think how the damping diode actually get blown. SIMPLE

if the ignition coil is removed from the circuit and tried to turn the engine without it. The diode will then get the ACTUAL charged of the capacitor and dumps it to ground. It is like shorting the capacitor so that it will discharged the content via the SCR. Eitherway both the SCR and the damping diode will be force to short out. and one of them will get blown, and unfortunately, D16 gets the short condition first seizing the entire circuit from functioning.

So as to state if it is good to disconnect the ignition coil to the output of the cdi when you try to turn the engine..

the answer: NO so always make sure the ignition coil is connected to the cdi. Avoid cranking the engine without any ignition coil connected, Remember, It is easier to fix IGNITION COIL related problems that CDI one, since the later is an external part of the cdi. Internal part of the ignition controller is not exposed and CDI replacement will be costly.

All credit of the photos goes to Mr. David Cooper of UK. Thank you very much, Cheers mate!

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