Motorcycle Repair: 97 Suzuki RM250, suzuki rm250, suzuki dealer

Question
QUESTION: Hi Wayne,
I recently bought a used 97 RM250 from an auction. It appears the previous owner was in the process of putting the bike back together and is now missing the CID module. I found this out by asking questions, and discovering a wire disconnected under the gas tank. Aside from the CID and the coil, should there be any other modules needing to be connected? I don't see any other wires, however, when I was looking at an online electronic parts pricing for this particular bike, it lists a rectifier assembly as well.  Not knowing where that should be or even if it needed it, I called my local Suzuki dealer and they said that it is normally under the tank near the coil.  I don't see anything  resembling the picture I saw on-line, or where it would be mounted if it were missing. Nor were there any additional disconnected wires.  Should this bike have it? and if so, where on the bike would it be?

Also, do you know of a website where I can view and print out a schematic of all electrical components on the bike and where they are located?

I know nothing about motorcycles, I just want to get this one up and running to ride it.

Please help.

ANSWER: Michael,

does this bike have headlight, taillight etc?
If so then it has a rectifier. That would
be the RMX250V model.
-If you have no lights
and the bike is strictly for dirt use then
it doesn't need a rectifier.
-The rectifier is for converting the "AC" current
from the lighting coil to "DC" so it
can be used to charge a battery.
-There is no way I can tell what the previous
owner may have removed. Is the bike worth
fixing? Does it seem to have compression
when you kickstart it?
-It would need a CDI box, coil and you
will need voltage from the stator charging
coil if it has one.
-Is the kill switch still on it?

-The charging coil under the flywheel/rotor charges up
the CDI box and then there is a small pickup
or pulse coil near the flywheel that sends
a message to the CDI box telling it when to
release the power to the coil, creating a spark.
So you need all those components working.
Here are some ignition diagrams:
http://wsamel.fortunecity.com/

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your response. It took a while to ask another question. I know you must be really busy with so many other questions.

Per your questions:

It is strictly a dirt bike, so the rectifier is not needed. The bike is in good condition, so it seems it would be worth trying to get it running.  

It does have good compression.

The kill switch wire is still on the handle bar, but the button itself is missing. Why did you ask this question? I was curious.

Could you tell me; is the only wire connecting to the CDI, the wire that is coming out of the flywheel case? Does the CDI come with a wire that connects to another component? On a strictly dirt bike situation like mine, aside from the coil which is connected to the spark plug, and a wire leading to the kill switch as well as the wire coming out of the flywheel case, should there be any other external wires?

The diagram you referred me to is great. I could make sense of the leads, however, is there another diagram of the entire bike itself that shows where all components are located?

Please let me know.

Thank you in advance for all your help.  This is a great forum...


Answer
Michael,

-the charging coil may have one or two wires
coming out depending on whether one end is grounded
near the flywheel or if it is grounded in the cdi unit.

-the pulser coil or trigger coil will likely
have two wires as well to the cdi.

-the cdi may have a ground wire and also the wire
that goes to the ignition coil.
So that makes about 5 to 6 wires total to the CDI.

-the kill button just connects to ground and
the charging coil wire.


-as in the other diagrams I sent the
throttle position sensor and carb solenoid
may not be needed but the throttle sensor
may affect the advance timing of the ignition.

-I asked about the kill switch just out of curiosity
as to how many components had been removed from
your bike. I wondered if it was stripped badly
or still had most of the necessities to get it running.

-cdi units are very expensive ($300-$600), perhaps an older
model rm parts could be adapted if you found one
at a motorcycle salvage or wrecker or bought another
bike cheap for parts. You would have to do some
shopping around.

Go here for a basic cdi diagram and component location
diagram:
http://wsamel.fortunecity.com