quick help please, msd

[shaun]

I should have power to the coil (orange/black) when the key is in the on position right?
MSD 6AL box
Blaster2 Coil
Pro Billet Marine Dist.

[BrendellaJet]

Yes otherwise it would only go on when you start it and then it would turn off when you released the key.

[vee-driven]

thick red and thick black go to the battery and the orange or maybe the thin red go to a keyed source.

[502 JET]

Do you not have spark?

[shaun]

i'm not trying to turn it over, just testing to make sure things have power before i fire it up. To test i had my buddy hold the volt meter on it, turned the key to the on position and then twised the dist back and forth... the voltage looks to jump when the dist passes the trigger peice so i'm going to assume the box only sends voltage to the coil when the magnetic dilio's pass the pickup in the dist...
Also, i got the thick black to the main positive source and thick black to the neg, small read goes to ignition, orage to positive on coil and black to neg on coil. then i have some other colors going to the dist... white is not connected...

[Jetaholic]

On an MSD ignition when using the box, you will have around 460-480 volts on the coil when the ignition is on.

[Morg]

i'm not trying to turn it over, just testing to make sure things have power before i fire it up. To test i had my buddy hold the volt meter on it, turned the key to the on position and then twised the dist back and forth... the voltage looks to jump when the dist passes the trigger peice so i'm going to assume the box only sends voltage to the coil when the magnetic dilio's pass the pickup in the dist...
Also, i got the thick black to the main positive source and thick black to the neg, small read goes to ignition, orage to positive on coil and black to neg on coil. then i have some other colors going to the dist... white is not connected...
You should be good. Remember trigger sparks when it closes (after the rotor passes the eye).
You can set the motor at the degree you want it to fire BTDC. Then the rotor on the dist just past center on the eye. Should get you close to get her fired up.
Green & Violet (in the separate sheath) goto the dist.

[Oldsquirt]

Shaun, go HERE (http://www.msdignition.com/1troub1.htm) for MSD's procedure for checking for spark. You can also do the same test you have been doing, but with the distributor end of the coil wire 1/2" from a good ground. I would recommend you NOT hold the wire in this test, but, instead, lay it on the manifold in such a way that you get that 1/2" gap.

[502 JET]

Here are the instructions (http://www.msdignition.com/pdf/6%20series/6series.pdf) incase you dont have them. MSD's (http://http://www.msdignition.com/) site has alot of info if you run into problems.

[BrendellaJet]

Here are the instructions (http://www.msdignition.com/pdf/6%20series/6series.pdf) incase you dont have them. MSD's (http://http://www.msdignition.com/) site has alot of info if you run into problems.
True, but call their tech line. Dont bother joining their forums for help on your currnet problem(unless you are willing to wait...) it takes them about a week in my experience to get you "approved" to join their forums.

[shaun]

volt meter reads 0 at the coil when the ignition is turned on, the only time i start to see a spike is when i grab the dist housing and twist it back and forth, when i do this (cap is off) i see a spark go from the coil plug wire area down to the positive terminal on the coil, I'm guessing it's because it's firing off a charge and there is no where for it to go with the cap being off.

[shaun]

more on this...
Pulled the dist out, ran the coil plug wire so that it was 1/2" or so away from a ground (manifold bolt) and spun the dist fast by hand... The coil was firing like crazy, still couldn't get a voltage read out of it, i could see the meter bouncing around 1V or so but i think the power is just being flipped on/off so quick by the box that the meter just cant read it. As of right now i think it's working ok but i'm going to call the msd guys tomorrow just to be sure. I didnt get a chance to fire the motor tonight because it was too late but everythings set for tomorrow.

[502 JET]

How to check your MSD ignition (http://http://www.msdignition.com/1troub1.htm). MSD's web site has all the info you need.

[gn7]

the coil on a msd system doesn't work like a coventional ignition. On a msd it becomes a transformer and only has power when the distrib. triggers and then it's up around 480 to 500 volts. thats why you see the spike when you rotate the distributor. normal ignitions have voltage at the coil until the points open and the field collapses

[shaun]

Talked to a MSD guy this morning and the coil should only get power when the dist passes the pickup, basically told me i couldn't use a voltmeter either that i would need a ossiliscope, or however you spell it :)

[CampbellCarl]

Ya, what you said. Had same problem, thought MSD no good, talked to MSD, found out MSD NFG, shipped to them, fixed and all good now.
CC

[shaun]

Ya, what you said. Had same problem, thought MSD no good, talked to MSD, found out MSD NFG, shipped to them, fixed and all good now.
CC
no... coil shouldnt have power until the box is triggered by the pickup in the dist, as far as i can tell right now everything is working as it should, i'll know for sure here in a few hours when i attempt to fire it up.