can anyone out there tell me why u can't buy a CDI igniter for a 2000 kawasaki prairie 400 4x4 bought this as a project bike got it all ready and needs a CDI and can't find 1 anywhere any help wuld be grateful thanks

 

Just checked an on-line Kawasaki dealer and they recon the 400 was a KVF (belt drive) by 2000, I thought the KLF lasted until about 2003, anyway the CDI is listed as available but insanely expensive. There could be aftermarket alternatives.

 

yep checked with local kaw dealer parts listed as on back order and the guy said that means kawasaki isn't planning on restocking that part so looks like i'm S.O.L.on finding a CDI

 

This seems an odd situation as, when the CDI for late Honda 300FMs and 350FMs became unavailable, Honda sent out a "work around" consisting of a small piece of wiring harness and a different CDI, you plugged one end of the new harness into the old harness, and the other end into the new type of CDI.

As the 400 engine was used until quite recently, Kawasaki should be able to make a newer CDI fit, with a similar adapter kit.

Failing that, I have heard of people using a car DC ignition set up on a quad, the old 1980s style "contactless" systems with a distributor and magnetic trigger coil, could be adapted fairly easily, the few Chinese Quads which do use DC "CDI" ignition systems could too. The main problem being the power generated by the Kawasaki trigger coil may be excessive, also the timing and advance/retard curve may be wrong for your engine.

 

thanks i'll do some research and hopefully can get something to work