Re: ’83 ERude E5RHCTA 4.5 hp carb tune-up literature

[Don]

quote johnyrude200:

On a side note, I will say that those early 80’s 4.5’s have a really impressive low idle. I mean, you can almost count the RPM when they idle down.

FLEETWIN: I have finally come over to the mindset that it makes no sense (T2ONE told me this last year) to fool with the ’74-76 ignition systems. Of course, there are several mechanical problems too, but those are pretty cut and dry issues to deal with.

My question to you is, with these 3 years, do you personally just convert them all over to CDI systems? Seems like a no-brainer if the block can accept a powerpack.

Well, I haven’t run across too many of the 74-76 models that were in good enough condition to do more than break them down for usuable components such as powerhead/gearcase. But, if I had a decent one, I would probably keep the low tension system intact, provided the mag plate wasn’t sloppy. Converting an early one to MagCD requires many pieces and parts, pretty expensive unless you have a blown/frozen donor engine with MagCD. The exhaust cover has to be changed as well, to provide mounting holes for the powerpack. This conversion also requires the updated head or else the spark plugs will jam against the powerpack.