I think the rust comes from water vapor in the oil, gets up around the dist drive.

Same thing here...had a non vented cap, switched to a vented style.

Same thing happened here. I usually tell customers not to run the MSD dist but to use the Mercury dist instead. Mostly because if this problem happens to you while on vacation or not near home, you can usually stop into any marine parts store and get parts for the Mercury dist. I have in the past dismantled the MSD and used clear coat paint and painted the shaft and the pickup hardware. That helps greatly in the corossion process. Then you just have to worry about the advance weights and springs in some MSD dist. as well.

As usuall, just .02. I still run both when the customer wants it. Now it just moved the service interval up.

John S.

Thats what I would do.All ya need is a cap and rotor for the tune up.Thats the triger wheel that rusted .bead blast if ya can. I would think if ya painted it it might not pickup the signal?? Might have to sand the flat surface for it to pick up.

I took my 500efi dist apart and did the same to it.

rob

This subject was covered on a thread about a year ago. I took my MSD apart wire brushed all the metal surfaces clean with a Dremel tool and coated it all with CRC corrosion inhibitor available at Grainger's. No more rust or white stuff.
Dave

Yeah to what RLW said. If you go to the local store, just for a new cap & rotor it's going to cost you something like $50......BUT if you send your entire distributor into MSD they will rebuild the WHOLE THING for about $75. I sent mine in last year while my engines were being built---they looked brand new! I would say it's a VERY GOOD DEAL! I sent them in January and turn around time was about 2 weeks.

MSD Ignition (915) 857-5200
Repair Dept.
12120 Esther Lama Dr.
Dock #5
Elpaso, TX 79936

Turn around may be a bit longer this time of year. I usually send mine out every 2 years during the winter when its not a rush.

I was planning on installing a new MSD redy to run distributor in my boat. How long does it take before they have problems is it really worth the trouble?

Unless you're turning your engine over 6000 , I don't think it's necessary or worth the trouble IMHO

I just pull the cap a couple times a year & blast with WD-40..Never had a problem....The CRC stuff is probably better yet.
I started doing this years ago when my Merc Dist. rusted up in a 260