My problem started when all my lights blew out and hand warmers died also.

My 1985 artic cat pantera runs fine cold, but sputters and evetualy dies as if it runs on 1 cylinder.

I suspect the CDI as i have replaced the coil with no change.

My question is, does the CDI supply power to the lights and shit in any way.

Whould it be a good guess that this might be the part in need of replacement?

Expensive part for a beater machine to ride on my property

[Stocko]

Originally Posted by tbelisle

My problem started when all my lights blew out and hand warmers died also.

My 1985 artic cat pantera runs fine cold, but sputters and evetualy dies as if it runs on 1 cylinder.

I suspect the CDI as i have replaced the coil with no change.

My question is, does the CDI supply power to the lights and shit in any way.

Whould it be a good guess that this might be the part in need of replacement?

Expensive part for a beater machine to ride on my property

I would look for something grounding out the charging circuit.

http://www.vespamaintenance.com/elec/cdiwork/

From what I read the CDI does power your lights. Hope this helps,

Stocko

[Stocko]

Correction, the CDI regulates the flow of electricity.

Stocko

[wtp]

voltage regulator

Likely why I keep blowing new bulbs.
Would this be tied into the machine going on one cylinder once it is warm?
Does the CDI regulate the coil for plugs a well?

[Stocko]

I should have known better than to answer an expert request, lol. I just did a google on CDI and came up with the above link, sorry bud, don't know the answer to your problem. But, it sure sounds like something is shorting out. Remove power and break out the ohm meter.

Stocko

I did that... had the fucker practicly in pieces. the problem is, it worked fine that one time I really wanted it to fuck up.

Runs great for 10-15 minutes and then struggles to ever go forward.
If I let it cool off, starts right away!

I did that... had the fucker practicly in pieces. the problem is, it worked fine that one time I really wanted it to fuck up.

Runs great for 10-15 minutes and then struggles to ever go forward.
If I let it cool off, starts right away!

tbelisle i think that first you should check your voltage regulator and if that don't work for you then try your CDI box because they both have sort of the same purpose. they both control the amont of electricity that flows threw the spark plugs and light because this will keep it at the right voltage and it will not give it any more than it should. Maybe that is why your lights are blowing out because one of thses items are not working right it is given these item my voltage than they need. hope you get it fixed before you need to get your dirt bike out. hope it help you

[sfg]

If the cdi system in a snowmobile is anything like a motorcycle then the cdi is strictly for spark ignition. It is not used to power your lights. The cdi box gets a signal off your crankshaft telling it when to fire the ignitors which in turn fire the spark plugs. My cdi box went on my gsxr and I had no ignition but all lights worked just fine, but it stopped flowing electicity. If you have a short thats a different issue.

This is not to say that it couldn't be causing your problems. If the voltage output from you cdi box is shorting to the rest of the wiring harness somehow that could be blowing your lights as the voltage output from your cdi/ignitor is much higher than 12v. (assuming snowmobiles are 12 and not 6 volts)

I suspect you have a short somewhere. The wiring systems are not terribly complex so you should be able to track it down fairly easily.

sfg

[keltic]

Test the voltage coming out the regulator. If too high it will blow bulbs and burn up other electrical components. Your cdi may have a built in circuit breaker that shuts it down when it gets too hot. Check the voltage when first starting up and watch to see if it climbs after warming up. Cant be sure but it sounds like a reg. Problem to me. However, the overcharging could have caused more problems too.