Electrex CDI location

[BevelBitsaBrighton]

I have just bought an electrex CDI but it looks like the CDI unit won’t go where the coil is as I have a decompressor fitted to my 450. I am thinking of putting it in the side panel, but my bodywork is away being painted. Has anyone put the CDI unit somewhere else on the bike other than under the tank?

[LaceyDucati]

Hello

The CDI unit will fit neatly under the tank of the late MK3 or Desmo as I have mounted one there, albeit not in the original mounting position. I do have some photo's somewhere that I took on my bike after someone questioned it. I'll look them out and post them.

You may well need to drill a new hole and you will need some pillar spacers.

Regards Nigel

[LaceyDucati]

I will add coils are best mounted in front of the engine in the fresh air. Behind a panel is maybe not the best location and my experience of coils in that location is not good.

[themoudie]

Aye BBB,

Will post images of Electrex Hall Effect coil/CDI mounted in similar position as to original on my '74 450MKIII. May not be immediately, as I am "nursing" at present.

Makes a world of difference to the running of the engine, in my opinion, no single should be without one.

Good health, Bill

[BevelBitsaBrighton]

Thanks Nigel! I will need to do a bit of shuffling around as the electrex 12v controller is in that space under the seat currently. On my other bike I have a Rita ignition & it is bolted to the underside of the electrex controller but is a similar shape.

[themoudie]

Aye BBB,

Please see attached images of the Electrex coil/CDI installed on a '74 450MKIII. First image is with the tank off, during installation, the latter two were taken this morning in the workshop after ~3,500 miles running. I hope they help.

Good health, Bill

[LaceyDucati]

Couple of pics trying the unit for location on my 350. Slightly different to Bills and it did fit with clearance to the tank mount. The wiring length in this position was about perfect without being "taught" or slack. Hope these add to your options.

thumbnail (1).jpeg

thumbnail (2).jpeg

Regards Nigel

[themoudie]

Aye Nigel, nice to see the 350 coming together.

All the best, Bill

[LaceyDucati]

Bill
I'm never sure I would ever use the term "coming together" for my 350. Most of the time it's coming apart as a test bed for new products! I am presently considering a swap to a Misano head for investigating the potential for a hot road bike. The present set up develops at 33bhp at the back wheel, running a road exhaust and built entirely with original Ducati components (albeit many modified). It is pretty peaky and not wholly suitable for the road if you want to extract that potential! That said it's fairly tractable further down and probably no worse or gutless than many standard 250's. Whether a new incarnation would be anymore suitable is debatable, but it would be fun and I don't consider it as a "serious" going places bike at the moment anyway....we will see and it's not likely to be done this year due to time issues anyway.

Regards Nigel

[BevelBitsaBrighton]

Many thanks Nigel & Bill.
It also looks like it will lie horizontal bolted to the underside of the tank mounts. If I go that route I can locate it before the bodywork comes back as I know the tank doesn’t use that space. I will have another play when I get 5 minutes. I am very keen to fire it up & hear the Brian Silver built engine running!