> I recently tried something that seems like a total and complete hoax on
> my A13. It is a device called a Direct Hit. They can be seen at the
> Direct Hits web site
www.directhits.com.
>
Maybe it simulates a capacitive discharge ignition? A real CDI is
supposed to give you some power, but then again requires additional
electrical hookups, and ain't cheap. Like the Rev said, it could be a
capacitor, maybe with some extra parts, that changes the profile of the
spark output. Slightly less total energy, due to component losses, but
perhaps shorter and more intense in delivery. This would also allow you
to burn through crap on the electrodes. So, you could get rid of that
spare plug!
The recommended change to a non-resistor plug would
support this. Of course, you could also try a non-resistor plug without
the Direct Hit and see if you get some middle ground performance.
We probably have enough high-voltage test gear in my old lab to examine
this thing, but I ain't got the time. If we were still back at RPI, I'd
have my advisor's combustion class put it on the research engine. It's
a small thumper, with instrumentation, adjustable compression ratio, and
I think some other adjustable parameters. Hooked right to a dyno. They
used this to test the "magnetic fuel enhancer," and found no effect. My
advisor gave a big explanation to the local evening news about why this
thing was all hoakum. Of course, the news gave the inventor about five
minutes of screen time to explain the device, and the only clip they
showed of my advisor was him saying, "It's pseudo-science." When asked
why our tests showed no power increase, the inventor said, "Well, they
have a carbeurated test engine, and they must have bought the unit for
injected engines."
Also be leery of any product that tells you to tune up your car when you
install it. Don't know about the SplitFires, but putting new plugs in
your vehicle period will give you a boost. Anyway, let us know how the
Direct Hit holds up, Jim, and also if you get a chance to dyno it. If
Big Cee Engineering ever makes it to the big time, I'm going to just buy
another KLR and build a dyno, so I can test all of this crap on the
spot!
Chris
http://www.galcit.caltech.edu/~stingray/klrsharkfin.html
--
Dr. J. Christopher Krok Project Engineer, Adaptive Wall Wind Tunnel
Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories, California Institute of Technology
MS 205-45 Phone: 626.395.4794
Pasadena, CA 91125 Fax: 626.449.2677