brian41

iTrader: (1)

I have installed MSD systems for as long as they have made them and over the years have had countless failures of every component they make especially in the marine market. On my marine applications I switched or to the Crane systems as soon as they were available and with about 25 installed have yet to have a problem or a complaint from any of my customers and run them on my personal boat. After I installed the first systems I posted them on this site and every time somebody would talk on here about buying MSD for there boat I would try to steer them in the right direction but back then nobody would listen. Look at it this way they have been out for at least 4 years and I still have not heard 1 complaint or of even 1 failure on any of the boating sites that speaks for itself. It is the only system I will sell or install period unless something better comes along. Here is another thought MSD is analog and Crane is digital but I have word that MSD went digital on some of there stuff but do not do business with them anymore as I have enough of there junk on my shelves. The guys that have had good lucky are that lucky. MY 2 cents Brian

Strip Poker 388

iTrader: (6)

Ive never had any prob with the MSD. On my scarab 12 years on the dist and box and coil. The only thing is see is the side of the dist rusting just like the stock merc on my 500efi.

If I have a prob with the MSD products I just send it back to MSD and they have allways warrented it,just ask nicely I have there stuff on 5 motors right now.


Rob

brian41

iTrader: (1)

Rob again you had your problems fixed I have had MSD components fail on my own boats on 3 occasions while in the middle of Lake Erie and had to idle back on 1 motor it got to the point that I kept 1 of everything on the boat including all the necessary tools to fix and diagnosis the problems with the ignition system including a timing light. After the 2nd year with the Crane systems I lightened the boat up by 100lbs so that would make the Crane system faster "bonus" and I never have on the back of my mind is the system going to fail today and if it does hope it does not hurt my motors. We need to start a thread on Crane system failures and see what comes up as I have yet to see any. To me a day of fun trouble free boating wins hands down over any other hobby I have. Brian

2112

I have a Crane box but just bought a set of MSD distributors.

Which Distributor do you use Brian?

KAAMA

iTrader: (1)

Brian, I like the Crane HI-6M ignition box too! Not sure if I clarified that when I bought my boat it already had the MSD billet distributors w/MSD ignition boxes, but had all kinds of trouble with the system so, I added the MSD Crank Trigger system and switched to a Crane Hi-6M ignition box w/PS92 coil while still retaining the MSD distributors. That was SIX-6 years ago---still no problems! And as I have said earlier, one of the Crane ignition boxes was even drenched with several gallons of high pressure water in 2001----still working today!

By the way, I still think sending your MSD distributor(s) in to their Repair Department every year for a total rebuild at $75 each is hard to argue with---that is I suppose unless it fails you by having corroded so fast during the boating season while you're boating out in the middle of the water somewhere!

carney

I have had no problem with MSD my self, I run the offroad box , If it can with stand the abuse of a mudder it will work fine in a boat. It may not be approved but I could not find any differences to the 6m2 except approval. But I have seen friends have trouble and lots of trouble trying to use the 6al , but they are being cheap and look where it got them, BROKE, buying another.

brian41

iTrader: (1)

2112 I use the stock Merc distributors and re clock the rotor as per the instructions but instead of drilling the new holes I use a Whitney punch but made a pattern out of an old rotor so I can duplicate the in about 1 minute. The cap and rotor are the only spare parts I keep on the boat now and you can get them anywhere not like trying to find MSD parts on the weekend.I made spare rotors for all my customers to keep on their boats but nobody has used them yet.

Kaama I thing the MSD distributors are the weakest part due to the rust issues but then again you are using crank triggers but I have had constant problems with their caps in the marine invirment for years. The only issues I have ever had with Merc distributors are the lower bushings and gears but they are easy to check just by taking of the cap every year and checking the play in the rotor. Again LOVE them and in the mid 400 to 600 HP range to me there is no other option.

Strip Poker 388

iTrader: (6)

I have never had a prob on the boats. But the hevelle had the advance wear out one time and one of the race cars it broke a roll pin on the dist gear .one coil on the chevelle went out. I have never had a box go out .Lucky I guess???

2112

Kaama,

Any trouble with mounting the ignition directly on the bellhousing? THe Crane manual advises not to. I have done it and wondered if I was just lucky not to have trouble.

brian41

iTrader: (1)

I also do not mount to engine electronics are happier away from heat and vibration.