The connectors and even wire colors are different on the "new" vs. "old" -- are the stators and pickup coils actually different as well, I wonder? It stands to reason that they might be... Mostly just because it would seem odd to make a new part but only change the connectors and stuff. Maybe their only intent was to remove the "external wires" coming out of the CDI, and make it an actual connector like the '01+ stuff, in order to prevent possible failure points? Are the windings physically different with regards to wire size or number of coils? If they are not, why can the "old" harness not be used with the "new" CDI with some wiring changes?
All speculation, but that does not mean that I do not still seek the answers to these questions
Does the entirety of the wiring harness NEED to be changed? The clutch switch and brake switch are a different size... Do they interface differently with the CDI?
Cannot remember which thread the 12hr harness conversion was in, but do remember reading it. Unfortunately do not remember the reasons as to why the conversion was undertaken.
Don't take this as me doubting you, lizrdbrth... It is understood that you have spent many, many more hours than I have just looking at things, taking them apart, working on them, and thinking them through. My stance in this is almost purely reactionary as a result of my problem, and it is only with the help of the forum that I have managed to occasionally step back and think things through with a bit more clarity and forethought
88-00 = Green, White, Brown, Red from magneto -> cdi
'01+ = w/r, w/l, b/r, g/w from magneto -> cdi
-- Which is which, and are the signals from magneto(stator?)->cdi the same for both...?
(Now I will need to link to this thread in the other CDI thread or something
)