HewTech Electronics LLC
2007
8/26/2007: We've made some updates on the website. The Vintage Snowmobile Ignition Forum is back on-line. We've implemented a registration-code requirement to curb the spammer registrations. Those who were previously registered won't notice any difference, but it takes more verification to become registered with the latest changes.
FIREPLUG PRO AVAILABLE SOON!: We are going into production with the FIREPLUG PRO. We expect to have them available in Late September. I'm working on an additional webpage to explain the differences between the PRO & the standard FIREPLUG....it's not needed for everybody, but for those who want to tweak out every once of performance, this will greatly help them.
NIPPONDENSO CDI: Work has also started on a FIREPLUG to replace the NIPPONDENSO CDI used on some Arctic Cat's, Ski-Doo 9500, Some Sno-Pro motors & a few others. We're just starting this one, but believe it will be completed for production late summer 2008...stay tuned for details.
POLARFIRE CDI UPDATES: We are also looking into making changes in the POLARFIRE CDI for the TN'T F/A, RV's Sonics etc. We're trying for a little more curving, so watch the site for details on that. Expect postings late summer 2008
7/21/2007: We are doing some website updates to the site. We expect to have everything updated by Fall 2007. .
1/23/2007: 76~81YAMAHA EXCITER FIREPLUG CDI: We have them available! FIREPLUG CDI'S for the popular 77~79 & 80/81 Yamaha Exciters. We now have FIREPLUG CDI's for the Exciters from 1976~1981. These have become a very popular sled & since they were good quality sleds, lot's of them still around. There are 3 separate FIREPLUG CDI models for the Exciters 1976 / 77~79 / 80~81 and all are different wiring & will not swap between model-years. Although they are different, all are priced the same at $155 & have the same warranty you'd expect from our FIREPLUG CDI's. We will be updating the website to include the models, wiring diagrams etc in the next week, but the CDI's can be ordered now!
1/21/2007: More field test results in on our FIREPLUG PRO! Everything progressing as planned! After seeing the results of his FIREPLUG-PRO prototype run, one of our "Top" engine-builders is protesting our plans to offer this CDI to the Racing public. If he had his way, we'd keep this one Our little secret for a bit longer! Sorry, our mission is to provide the best technology & reliability, so it's only a matter of time until these Bad-Boys hit the streets! A few prototypes will be out racing on sleds this week & we hope to have more test results after this weekend.
1/1/2007:
COMING SOON! FIREPLUG PRO! (see details below)
It's the last day of 2006. Most companies are
kicking back, taking it easy between the Holidays, reflecting on their
accomplishments for the year. Not Us! We've been redesigning the
first to market & one of the most reliable FIREPLUG in our product line.
2007 will be 10 years since we began the undertaking of designing a CDI for the
Kohler F/A & Fan engines. Most know the FIREPLUG
DESIGN STORY by now. Initially we wanted to offer a reliable
replacement CDI, with more energy & better overall performance....almost 10
years later, and mission accomplished. But we have not stopped there.
It has always been understood, due to inefficient cylinder filling at lower RPM, more timing advance is favorable. As RPM increases, cylinder filling efficiency improves & less advance (retarding) timing is necessary to maintain peak performance. This is less important on lower revving Fan cooled engines, but would be a huge advantage on higher-revving F/A or Modified / performance Fan engines, to maintain the peak HP over the RPM range. Few of the early (pre-80's) CDI's had much timing curving, including the Prestolite CDI, which provided around 1.5~2 degrees of retarding over the full RPM range. Our original FIREPLUG also followed this Prestolite timing curve.
With the increasing popularity of Vintage Snowmobile Racing, it seems almost every sled is fair-game to become a racer. With the popularity of Super-Stock & MOD classes, even the FAN engines now could benefit from a CDI that offers timing RETARDING over the RPM range. We designed the FIREPLUG ARC for the 76 Mercury L/C Sno-Twisters, with additional retarding. The performance engine builders quickly took advantage of the gains by advancing their timing, while still having the retarding needed in the upper RPM to keep from detonation. The telephone has been ringing, with questions about a CDI for the Kohler F/A & Fan engine, that has the ability to retard the timing. Some have paid over $800 to adapt a MSD to their engine to get 6 degrees of retarding. There is the cost of machining a stator plate for the triggers, designing a rotor, adding a battery & adapting automotive or late-model Jet-ski technology and wiring to a 30 year old snowmobile engine. Not plug & play.
Well, we've done it again! We have redesigned the Prestolite replacement FIREPLUG to follow in the footsteps of the FIREPLUG ARC INTRODUCING THE FIREPLUG-PRO. Our new FIREPLUG-PRO (Progressive Retarding Option) design will provide progressive retarding of about 1-degree per 1000 RPM's. So, from 4,000 RPM's to 10,000 RPM's our timing will retard approximately 5~6 degrees! No battery or additional wiring required! This is a true PLUG-IN replacement for the existing Prestolite or previous FIREPLUG CDI's.
We plan to continue to offer the original lower-cost FIREPLUG CDI, which still a bargain, and has a huge demand for the under 8000 RPM trail-sled markets. The New FIREPLUG-PRO CDI is targeted at the High-Performance markets or aggressive trail-sleds, that know how to take advantage of their engine timing. Cost is very reasonable at $175 (same as the FIREPLUG ARC & still less than a factory replacement) and will carry the same 5-year FIREPLUG WARRANTY that has made us the leader in CDI ignition systems. We are continuing with our testing & units should be available early 2007. Happy New Year!