Advent T4 - anyone running one that works?

[ATS_Aaron]

I bought an Advent T4 from someone on here. It refused to connect to any of my Xp or Vista computers (a total of 5 computers were tried). It managed to connect to a Windows ME computer a couple times, but then it started to malfunction and would only ERASE the maps and then fail to connect.

I sent it along with one of my laptops to Advent. They "fixed" a few things and mailed it back after 3 weeks or so. It still won't connect with the laptop I sent. But I managed to get it to connect to another one.

So I get it all hooked up finally... BTW you have to modify the electrical box to get it to fit in there....and it doesn't work. It works, the ski runs, but it starts at 18 degrees and immediately advances to 30 degrees and stays there regardless of RPM, regardless of what I have set in the maps.

I have called Advent again and they promised to call me back..but haven't.

Does anyone actually have a working T4 in a Superjet or am I their only research project?

Oh yeah, despite being 15 years newer than a Vilder it is about half as user friendly and twice as complicated. So far reliability seems about the same as Vilder :-(

Aaron

 

[WAB]

T4 = headaches

I went through 2 of them. First one had issues and would have waay too much advance and would backfire and kickback on the starter. After much headache & trouble shooting, I sent it back and they admitted to having a bad batch of them at one point that would act this way.

With the free replacement it worked well for a little while but died after about 2 months (i only ride every other weekend). Called them up and mailed it back. They checked it out & was told it can't be grounded to the same ground as either the coil or rectifier, I don't remember. I've always thought a ground is a ground is a ground. Was told to check to see how it was hooked up and get back with them. I did not bother.

So whatever, I went back to a stocker CDI and had it modded w/ a 8300 rev limit. Not happy with my experience with Advent.

I did not have to mod the ebox to fit it, it's the same size as the OEM CDI.

 

[SUPERJET-113]

Thats a funny title in itself... as I've known many peeps that have gone through these multiple times.

 

[ATS_Aaron]

Just got off the phone with Greg at Advent. There is nothing wrong with my programming and I am using the most current available software. All he could say was "send it back and we'll check it out."

The crappy thing is that I just got it back from Advent about 3 weeks ago. I'm seriously wondering if there are ANY working Superjet T4's out there.

Aaron

 

[Watty]

It's like ground hog day all over again.

You'll keep getting the same excuses, until you give up ad ask for your money back.

If the pc connected to it once...the problem won't be with the pc unless you've changed something.

Either way, get your money back now and buy an ATP flame total loss....

Geez man, you've had worse luck than me!

 

[masterblaster]

ive personaly seen 3 t3s go bad with less than 10 tanks of fuel and a few more in less than 6 months,not heard anything about the t4,sounds like they are on par for the prev model though

 

[Scorn800]

I had my troubles with sxr Advent t3 back in 05. Had 2 different boxes. sent back twice. Greg worked with me & finally got everything right. It's been running fine for the last 4 seasons.

 

[ATS_Aaron]

Geez man, you've had worse luck than me!

Haha, no kidding. I take it in stride though. First off it's lucky that I can even afford this stuff. Second, I really do like wrenching on skis. I'd rather learn this crap and share it with others than see someone else basically get financially ruined over some BS ignition box.

Oh yeah, I bought the T4 used, and I am appreciative that Advent is willing to help me...although the bill from getting the laptop to work pretty much evened out my savings from buying the T4 used instead of new.

It is disappointing to have to run a compromised system. For example I am like 100% sure that my engine will run better if I can get about 28 degrees of advance in the midrange. The problem is that if I run 28 degrees down low it kicks back and breaks the flywheel or backfires and breaks the epoxy out of the bottom of the cases. That is the main thing keeping me from running a MSD total loss. It's called a timing CURVE not a timing LINE. The MSD boxes are fairly crappy. I am tempted to run the ATP system though.

Oh yeah, want to know some other Advent BS? They drain your battery when you aren't riding...so I have to put a charger on my ski in the garage...just like my buddy's with a total loss.

Advent T4 ups:

1. it does not come pre-programmed - you are on your own to set up ALL your settings, including the "rev limiter strategy"

2. You cannot read the maps off the T4. You have to keep track mentally of what is loaded into it or run multiple "verify" attempts until you find the matching file.

3. No real time read out. It would have been nice if you could see RPM and advance on the laptop screen. Plus a button that lights up when water injection turned on, etc. Would be very useful for testing to see if stuff works.

4. Not only is there no real time readout, but the damn thing won't even work if a laptop is connected to it. So each time I loaded a new map to test today I had to hook and unhook the laptop cable.

5. won't fit in the electrical box without modification to the box. Not THAT big of a deal...until it fails and you trash it and realize you are out an e-box too.

6. The laptop is UNABLE to change maps. That has to be done with the dip switches..that are INSIDE the e-box. That is just straight up dumb. It's like 2 bolts and 12 screws and a dozen wires blocking my access to those switches.

7. The price! Between it and a TBM flywheel I am out like a grand. The ATP system is almost that price.

Speaking of TBM..why are there no timing marks on the damn thing? Is that really too much to ask for? Mine is covered in silver sharpee right now.

Wow, I said I took it in stride but now I'm pissed off. Haha. Oh well, at least I still have a T3 on the bench that works sorta OK enough. I get get 24 degrees advance without it breaking my flywheel or cases.

Aaron

 

[Watty]

It is disappointing to have to run a compromised system. For example I am like 100% sure that my engine will run better if I can get about 28 degrees of advance in the midrange. The problem is that if I run 28 degrees down low it kicks back and breaks the flywheel or backfires and breaks the epoxy out of the bottom of the cases.

I can't recall the reason why you are unable to run higher advace down low, but I run a big bore 6mm with initial advance of 32 degrees. I haven't had any problems with either the MSD TL or the ATP flame. Every single Advent I used ended up cranking at 50d btdc and used to backfire and flame out through the pulse lines. Neither of the above ignitions have ever done that to me.

I've tried every ignition on the market, several times, and the MSD ad ATP are the only ones I will ever use and reccommend, not that anyone knows me from a bar of soap and would trust my opinion....

 

[2XLR8]

Wattage ,you speak the truth of experience.

 

[ATS_Aaron]

I put my old Advent T3 back in today. I quickly discovered that my T3 is older than the online directions. I managed to figure out the water injection part with my multi-meter. I am running the #39 curve on the D14 map set. It's got 32 degrees of advance. I retarded the stator (clockwise) a couple of degrees to get it back to about 29 degrees of advance. It starts pretty good and rarely kicks back, however there is very little retard on the bottom of the rpm range and occasionally the engine runs backwards.

I rode for about 1 hour and 15 minutes today. I'll update the riding in my de-foaming thread.

Aaron

 

[masterblaster]

aron... so how did this advent do in the long term? It seems that if you luck out and get a good one your ok but what is the deal with the hard starts with these things,Greg says they have a dif circuit for start and run. they are suppose to start at 15 deg or something,but it seems alot are malfunctioning and starting on full advance?