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11-24-2007, 4:27 PM Babaganoush Joined on 03-23-2007 SouthCentral Pennsylvania Posts 960 IKAT Spark Enhancer Attachment: IKAT.JPG In all the time I have been on this forum I have not heard anyone mention the Ikat/Icat. I have known about it even before I bought my bike. Kept it in the back of my mind to try someday, maybe. It was hard to justify $200 for a little electronic gizmo that might not do diddly. I'm sure most of you feel the same way. This review mentions that is felt like the cylinder was bored out for a larger piston:  http://www.4strokes.com/reviews/icat/  and worth the money. Anyway, after I rejetted, I could not stand it anymore and had to try it. $205.00 from the Ikat website http://www.icatusa.com/ and in a few days it was on the front porch. They used to have a 21 day return policy but it is not shown any more. I guess you could call if you need the reassurance you can return it. My first short ride out I could tell right away that there was extra pull in the engine. My impression was it gave the same power increase as my rejetting. So it was a rejetting on top of a rejetting. Long story short- I am very pleased with it and have no reason to return it- may even try one for my other vehicles later (it would get hooked up in between the coil and the distributor). Below is a pic of the install. I am not making any claims for you especially with a lean running stock engine but, like Joe Isuzu, all I can say is "Trust Me". For those of you too young to know who Joe Isuzu was I am linking a few of his commercials: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDK8BYS2d9s ,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0HX1k9OgVk&feature=related, and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4eOOlSxr_c . Also don't miss this classic Isuzu ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GveDVITQ5H4 (slightly off topic). Edit afterthought: I think I've watched that last ad about 8 times in a row ( I'll give it a 10- I like the beat). BTW all my current riding videos have been recorded with the Ikat installed. Dave   "LOUD VALVES SAVE LIVES" -back side of Royal Enfield T-shirt    Report

11-24-2007, 5:11 PM JoMomSophat Joined on 07-12-2006 Seattle WA Posts 824 Re: IKAT Spark Enhancer does it store more voltage and release it all at once ? I've heard other plugs that do that (pulse plug) it would work in a slightly richer mix because that is denser and there is more resistance. also higher compression causes more resistance.    Report

11-24-2007, 5:57 PM Babaganoush Joined on 03-23-2007 SouthCentral Pennsylvania Posts 960 Re: IKAT Spark Enhancer Not exactly. Ikat says it basically alters the shape and speed of the pulse. From the graphs they show it looks like it deepens and lengthens the pulse. It was originally developed in England to make forklifts running on propane in warehouses burn cleaner and more completely because they were fouling the air in the buildings. Then, I guess somebody decided to try it on other engines as well. The old Ikatmotorsport website used to have photos and commentary of race teams using it to get an edge on the track. I can attest that it works at any RPM. Really helps to punch out of slick stuff on the trail  eg:Creek Crossing video. Also, it is not a capacitor and no user servicable parts inside (totally sealed up). Dave "LOUD VALVES SAVE LIVES" -back side of Royal Enfield T-shirt    Report

11-24-2007, 6:32 PM Fourcycle Joined on 08-01-2007 SE Michigan Posts 1,229 Re: IKAT Spark Enhancer Looking at their literature, they show an “ignition event” with and without the device.  Area under the curve (energy) is far greater with the device than without it.  Oddly, the device has only the energy from the spark coil going into it.  How is it able to create so much more energy from the comparatively piddly amount of energy it was given by the ignition coil?  In a CDI ignition system the size of the capacitor (C) determines the amount of energy available for an "ignition event" and C is located inside the CDI module under your seat.  Reads a lot like my "rare earth fuel line magnets" ad copy. Me?  Prehaps an Iridium spark plug. If your only tool is a hammer everything looks like a nail.    Report

11-24-2007, 7:57 PM Babaganoush Joined on 03-23-2007 SouthCentral Pennsylvania Posts 960 Re: IKAT Spark Enhancer Hi Fourcycle, Frankly, I have no idea how it is done. Maybe that is why it took me so long to pony up the bucks for one- kind of unbelievable like UFO sightings? All I know is the gizmo gives my bike additional power it didn't have before. I'm not selling them, however if it did not work I either would not post it or would warn you against buying one. Dave "LOUD VALVES SAVE LIVES" -back side of Royal Enfield T-shirt    Report

11-24-2007, 8:35 PM JoMomSophat Joined on 07-12-2006 Seattle WA Posts 824 Re: IKAT Spark Enhancer it might have something to do with a reduction in voltage for an increased amprege throughout the ingition event the oscillo scope could be measuring the amperage or current and not measuring the voltage. as the spark jumps the gap the voltage would spike anyway.    Report

11-25-2007, 6:44 AM Fourcycle Joined on 08-01-2007 SE Michigan Posts 1,229 Re: IKAT Spark Enhancer It's got me too.  I suspect it boost the voltage but it’s hard to tell.  I have been interested in ignition systems for a long time and learn about them as much as I can.  I have repaired and built many ignition system from scratch and this just smells so much of snake oil.  Mostly because their how it works description makes nonsense to anyone who knows electronics.  Perhaps they do that to keep others from copying a relatively simple and inexpensive device.  I guess the screwy description makes we wonder about the product.  It’s good to know that you find that it works well though! I will research this further in the future.  More energy into the spark has been proven to correlate well with better combustion and more power out. If your only tool is a hammer everything looks like a nail.    Report

11-25-2007, 2:52 PM Xephius Joined on 11-06-2007 Houston Posts 30 IKAT Thoughts from a tube amp builder's bench...     After a (very) cursory review of the literature and looking at the docs, and knowing what happens electrically in a system like this, here is my best guess....     The IKAT Gizmo _is_ a coil, they refer to it as such so we know that it is. I would bet that they have tuned the coil to build up and store the energy in the coil field until the electrical resistance of the plug is overcome and the coil collapses providing and "instant" pulse of energy. I will break this down a bit.     When your primary coil steps up voltage to make a spark pulse, it doesn't make a single smooth pulse but rather a dirty jagged pulse. The spark plug "filters" this into a single spark for the most part. In Theory, we want a square wave pulse going to the plug, instant on, sustained until spark goes out. This would insure the best "fire" to ignite your mixture. So in the real world, especially in very simple ignition systems we see a jagged curve of energy sent to the plug. When the plugs internal resistance is overcome, the spark fires (sometimes multiple little times from a single pulse on really "dirty" systems).     So by introducing a coil (a choke i this case) into the circuit, the pulse is smoothed, allowing us to get a more "square" wave. Here is how it does that.. When the ignition coil creates its energy it is fed into the IKAT (the choke). They IKAT doesn't allow the energy to pass through the choke because it has to "build" it field. I won't go into this, but it a function of any coil. In this way, the IKAT is acting like a very very fast battery. Now, it would appear that IKAT has engineered their device to match the capacitive resistance (I think that is the correct application of the term, but I am not an ignition guy) of the generic plug size it is being attached too. Meaning, you must have about 10k Volts to jump about 1cm (going from memory), so the IKAT won't discharge its energy (allow its field to collapse) until there is enough energy to create the spark.     So lets apply some real world physics to understand why this amazing device looks like its creating more energy than it is given... First, its not. What it is doing is releasing more of the ignitions useable "spark" faster. Yes, faster and here is why. The ignition coil may be throwing enough voltage very quickly to create tiny useless discharges before it builds up enough energy to give that "hot" spark that ignites the mixture. Where as the IKAT will release all of its juice in a single event causing a single big pulse until it can recharge its field. Now, it does not completely collapse its field, and some of the energy is lost to heat and coil field resistance. But it has delivered more usable energy to the plug than without it. I also got to thinking about the timing delay that would be introduced buy the choke, but realized that in truth, it probably advances the timing by providing the "hot" spark sooner rather than after some small spike losses. If I knew more about all the coil valued involved and was able to take some scope measurements, I could probably figure it out, but experience says its probably such a minute variance in time it would take a computer to measure the difference.     Now I have over simplified things, and I don't have one of these gizmo's to test on my bench, but I do this exact thing in my tube amps with a standard choke. I use it between my "dirty" rectifier (the coil in this case) and the first big power cap/resister filter (the plug). In the case of my choke application, I don't want the field to completely collapse so it can smooth out the AC pulses to the tubes. Sometime you do want that so you can get "bloom", but that is a different post all together.     I hope that I am not too far off base here, I can't see any other way the IKAT can do what it is doing. Sounds like a really cool gizmo. As for its $200 value, I would guess that's not too far off. I spend from $10-30 on a coil custom wound in a factory in mainland China (sub 200 pcs runs). They are wound on standard cores and generally weigh a ton. The IKAT looks to be a custom toroidal core, custom wound with nice silicon cables and a custom molded housing. I would guess they are spending 50-ish per IKAT when it is all said and done. Counting packaging, mold making, shipping ect. That doesn't include that R&D costs. So, $50 to IKAT, double that to the wholesaler, double that to retail and you are at about $200. Again, shooting from the hip, but it seems that they have not over priced the device, and it performs well making it worth every penny they charge. Its going on my to to get list. Now if I can only get Dave to come give me a carb tuning lesson.....     -=John '02 Harley XL1200 '06 TW 200 '95 TW 200 '03 VStar 650    Report

11-25-2007, 4:33 PM Babaganoush Joined on 03-23-2007 SouthCentral Pennsylvania Posts 960 Re: IKAT Thoughts from a tube amp builder's bench... Wow, John. You said a mouthful. Now do I get an electronics diploma after reading your post? Dave "LOUD VALVES SAVE LIVES" -back side of Royal Enfield T-shirt    Report

11-25-2007, 6:15 PM MO1235WP Joined on 06-05-2007 Warsaw, Missouri Posts 115 Re: IKAT Thoughts from a tube amp builder's bench... Dave, which of the 3 models did you go with, and does this take a lot of the guess work out of increasing the jet size? In other words, can you reasonably increase the jet sizing and not have to do all the fine tuning? Kind of let the IKAT do the "fine tuning" for you? Thanks much... Love many trust few, always paddle your own canoe...    Report

11-25-2007, 6:47 PM Babaganoush Joined on 03-23-2007 SouthCentral Pennsylvania Posts 960 Re: IKAT Thoughts from a tube amp builder's bench... Hi MO1235WP (can I call you MO?), I am sorry for the omission. The part number for our bikes is M02010.  I would use the M02020 on an auto with a distributor since it uses a crimp fitting on one end. The M02015 is for applications where the coil plugs directly to the spark plug.  As far as assisting with your carb tuning, I think it can help smooth over some rough spots but I would not depend on it to fix a crappy running carb or poor carb modding. My suggestion would be to get the carb running as good as you can and then add on the IKAT. My sequence of mods was NGK Iridium plug, rejetting/ needle spacing of the carb, IKAT install, Ram Air Mod. I anticipate going back to raise the carb needle because the Ram Air  Mod seemed to lean out the mixture a bit. However, even without doing anything else, the bike absolutely rips now- very exciting to ride (that's just me). Bottom line- get your carb jetting right first.  Dave "LOUD VALVES SAVE LIVES" -back side of Royal Enfield T-shirt    Report

11-25-2007, 7:18 PM rcbuzzb Joined on 12-09-2006 Posts 46 Re: IKAT Thoughts from a tube amp builder's bench... So what happens if we install one per cylinder in our larger vehicles?    Report

11-25-2007, 7:59 PM Babaganoush Joined on 03-23-2007 SouthCentral Pennsylvania Posts 960 Re: IKAT Nothing. It just becomes prohibitively expensive. They don't made them cheaper by the dozen on the website. The way it works (I am not claiming to be the IKAT expert) is one IKAT per coil. Install the IKAT between the coil and the distributor or the coil and the spark plug. Not going to work if you don't have a distributor and coil (older vehicles). I'm not sure how the really new cars get spark to the plugs (both of mine are well over 10 years old). Dave "LOUD VALVES SAVE LIVES" -back side of Royal Enfield T-shirt    Report

11-25-2007, 8:58 PM Xephius Joined on 11-06-2007 Houston Posts 30 Re: IKAT I will jump in as well...     BTW Dave, I don't have a degree, so I am sure I am not qualified to pass them out!     On the multiple iKats on single coil vehicles.. It won't make any difference. The purpose of the IKat is to deliver a "clean/hot" single spark, and they will react fast enough to not need individual IKats per cylinder. So if you only have one coil, you only need one IKat. More would just be a waste of money.     On multiple coil systems (Late model Harley Davidsons, or cars with coil packs), you will need a IKat per coil. Each coil's ignition curve must be modified and they can't share a single IKat.     Dave, on the latest model ignitions, they actually make individual coil packs that attach right at the tip of the spark plug. They look like plastic boxes on the end of a stick that plug into the spark plug. This is just the next gen individual coil ignition systems. They allow for very accurate individual cylinder timing adjustments. Some even use the spark plug as a sensor to trigger the ignition at the optimal time. Its been a while since I have read the white papers on it, but looks like some cool stuff.     As for the IKat fixing bad tuning. No, it won't fix anything, but it will make the ignition more tolerant to of a bad mix. For example, if you are running too rich, causing the flash point of the mixture to go up in temp, your ignition system must hit a hotter spark to set off the compressed gas. Also, if you raise compression you get the same thing. Additionally, if you have a poor mix entering the chamber (non-vaporized fuel held in the air mix <spray>) then it is harder to ignite the mix. SO all that being said, if you have a hotter/stronger spark, your ignition event goes off with less trouble. This makes for crisper throttle response and more HP. What does that mean, no it won't fix your bad tuning, but it will make it less noticeable. Now if you have good tuning, it can really unleash the demon that lives under the valves....     -=John '02 Harley XL1200 '06 TW 200 '95 TW 200 '03 VStar 650    Report

11-26-2007, 9:59 AM jefmtbkr Joined on 03-21-2007 Ft Wayne, IN Posts 290 Re: IKAT Thoughts from a tube amp builder's bench... Attachment: duct tape.jpg Wow dude your making my head hurt!! I will wrap my head up and try reading that again. 07 TW200 - Brand New-Ran over-rebuilt-now,Bionic TW 00.5 Aprilia Mille, (Sold) 90 FZR1000 (Sold) 73 Honda CL 350-First bike in 1986(sold) Motto-Never let the hardships in life interfere with the pleasures of living!!    Report

11-26-2007, 6:41 PM Fourcycle Joined on 08-01-2007 SE Michigan Posts 1,229 Re: IKAT Thoughts from a tube amp builder's bench... John, your description makes a lot of sense!  Inductors do not like to see a change in current and alter their magnetic filed to maintain it.  Big inductors are used inside DC arc welders to maintain a nice, smooth, forgiving, arc. I find this interesting http://www.geocities.com/waterfuel111/water_explosion_menu.aspx If your only tool is a hammer everything looks like a nail.    Report

12-11-2007, 10:39 PM MO1235WP Joined on 06-05-2007 Warsaw, Missouri Posts 115 Re: IKAT Thoughts from a tube amp builder's bench... I may be opening up a can of worms, but is the IKAT anything like the Pulstar Pulse Plug... or vice versa? http://www.pulstarplug.com/ Thanks in advance Love many trust few, always paddle your own canoe...    Report

12-12-2007, 6:08 PM Babaganoush Joined on 03-23-2007 SouthCentral Pennsylvania Posts 960 Re: IKAT Pulstar Plugs Hi MO, Thanks for the great Heads-Up on the Pulstar Plugs!!  http://www.pulstarplug.com/index.aspx  They look really great for a spark boost.  Unfortunately, they do not come in 12MM size. You have to use one of their DirectHits plug ons ($30 to $35 dollars). The downside is that they cannot be used with a resistor type plug. I tried to find some on the web and could only come up with a few non-resistor racing type plugs (not for our bike). Maybe some guru out there can turn us on to a non 5k ohm resistor plug for our bikes. I would LOVE to try a DirectHits adapter with the IKAT (always pushing the envelope).  Anyway, for a V-8 the price for 8 plugs would be the same as one IKAT. 100 bucks for a 4 cylinder. I was thinking of putting an IKAT on one or both of my vehicles after the Christmas panic (also adding plugs too?). It would be nice to get the Rover pumping like it should and turn the little Volvo into a draggin' wagon.  Dave "LOUD VALVES SAVE LIVES" -back side of Royal Enfield T-shirt    Report

12-13-2007, 12:58 AM JoMomSophat Joined on 07-12-2006 Seattle WA Posts 824 Re: IKAT Thoughts from a tube amp builder's bench... I don't know if that would be better or worse ? IKAT + Pulstar ? it is almost an oxymoron the IKAT suggests a longer spark duration while the pulse plug goes for faster hotter spark , it would be a true experiment.    Report

12-13-2007, 7:33 AM Fourcycle Joined on 08-01-2007 SE Michigan Posts 1,229 Re: IKAT Thoughts from a tube amp builder's bench... Danger Will Robinson!  Mixing the IKAT + Pulstar is like mixing Pepsi and Coke!!  The reflected wave between the two, when hitting the 2nd harmonic, will generate an intense plasma fireball that will breach the insulation and possibly do serious damage! Sorry.  Just trying to inject some humor. If your only tool is a hammer everything looks like a nail.    Report

12-13-2007, 9:32 AM Babaganoush Joined on 03-23-2007 SouthCentral Pennsylvania Posts 960 Re: IKAT Thoughts from a tube amp builder's bench... STAND BACK!! It's going to BLOW! (HA-HA)... On a serious note, I'm not really sure if the combination will make that much difference over using one or the other. I am probably going to get an Ikat for the Rover and the plugs for the Volvo. I can then take the Ikat and try it on the Volvo to see if there is any added benefit. I'll let you know in a month or two. Dave "LOUD VALVES SAVE LIVES" -back side of Royal Enfield T-shirt    Report

12-13-2007, 9:16 PM MO1235WP Joined on 06-05-2007 Warsaw, Missouri Posts 115 Re: IKAT Thoughts from a tube amp builder's bench... Keep us informed with what you find out, and have a Merry Christmas between now and then! Love many trust few, always paddle your own canoe...    Report

12-13-2007, 9:59 PM Xephius Joined on 11-06-2007 Houston Posts 30 Re: IKAT Thoughts from a tube amp builder's bench...     Putting two coils like this in series probably won't gain you anything. It will start to sap power from the spark at some point, with just two, it probably won't be noticeable because you are really only using the first 2/3 of the "spark" (guessing here). If this were a high compression, high RPM motor, I would say you would be using more of the spark and notice the parasitic loss sooner. But seeing as they both do basically the same thing, you probably won't see anything. Its like putting two noise filters on a signal line, the first one cleans up the signal, the second one, just weakens it.     I won't go into detail why I think this unless someone really cares. I only have a theory, feel free to test it... Just not on my bike...     -=John '02 Harley XL1200 '06 TW 200 '95 TW 200 '03 VStar 650    Report

12-14-2007, 12:09 AM JoMomSophat Joined on 07-12-2006 Seattle WA Posts 824 Re: IKAT Thoughts from a tube amp builder's bench... I don't think they are the same, like I said earlier the Ikat is supposed to extend the length of the spark while the pulse plug claims to discharge all its energy in a nanosecond and burn really hot. they might compliment each other or the pulse plug would just negate the Ikat by storing the nice clean long spark and shooting it out all at once.    Report

12-15-2007, 10:55 AM Babaganoush Joined on 03-23-2007 SouthCentral Pennsylvania Posts 960 Re: IKAT Re: DirectHits Plug On I have good news for those who want to give the Pulstar DirectHits plug-on a try. I found a non-resistor plug to use with it. NGK makes a D8EA which is a non-resistor version of the stock DR8EA. I measured it in the store before I bought it (only $2.00). I won't be trying out the DirectHits myself until Spring or the weather breaks a bit. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go out and get the snowblowers ready for the storm coming later this afternoon. Dave "LOUD VALVES SAVE LIVES" -back side of Royal Enfield T-shirt    Report

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