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MSD distributor failure
I’ve had 2 new MSD 83606 mechanical distributors fail on my engine! What’s wrong here? What do you recommend for another brand? Cliff in maine |
How did they break.
Sounds to me like maybe it isn't installed properly. The only part I have had fail is the gear wearing out. |
x 2. What specifically broke on them ?
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Mad mechanical distributor
what broke? They won’t run my engine now! I’m not sure how to diagnose it. Ran fine a little while with one new msd 83606 distributor then just quit. Absolutely would not fire I even fried a starter trying to get it to run again. i replace with another fired right up ran 5 minutes then quit! I’m building 2 motors so I have 2 of everything. i believe it’s possible for an ignition to spark but not be strong enough to run an engine I’ve seen that before. how do I test things? This is a plug & play distributor no ignition box needed. How do I test a coil? What are the odds of both of my new coils failing? I say slim! how do I test the ignition modular inside the distributor? And what are the odds of two of these failing? Your help is greatly appreciated cliff in maine |
whats the voltage going to the distr.?if its low it could burn it out
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Have you confirmed the dist is still turning (while cranking) after it "died"?
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M S D, my spark died.
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Originally Posted by SABER28
(Post 4693359)
M S D, my spark died.
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Originally Posted by Wally
(Post 4693393)
May Spontaneously Die
i cant believe anyone buys their products anymore, so much better choices out there. |
I’m eager to jump ship what do you recommend??? im sick of this problem!! Help! Just want a simple system that works! Cliff in maine! |
Put the thunderbolt back in it. But it seems like there is another problem. As mentioned check voltage and voltage drop when cranking. |
I'd try and see what happened to the MSD units just for curiosity. The ones i had were plagued with rust issues internally. And when the motors started to run bad i knew one of the advance springs had broken messing up the timing....after i sent them to MSD for a "refurbish" i sprayed them down with CRC to keep the rust off and they worked ok from then on out...but it was a yearly thing to spray them down at the star of the season to make sure i didnt have problems....
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Never been a fan of the all in one units of any brand, never saw one that worked. I'm running a basic MSD distributor that's locked and using a Daytona Sensors box to manage timing. The Daytona Sensors will do idle control by using timing and it allows me to retard timing with a switched input when I need to run marina gas which is usually 90 octane vs 93. Still getting it programmed will have to report back when I get it set up.
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https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7276f9c6b0.png
Rust in MSD! I had a one motor last Saturday that was back popping, I was scratching my head wondering what it could be. So I pulled the Cap off the distributor and it looked fine. Then I looked at the Reluctor and it and the Magnetic Pickup, both had tons of rust on them!! I cleaned the reluctor up with emery cloth and the back popping / miss went away. Yesterday I reached out to MSD and asked of they have one that wont rust. They said the one treated with Zinc is for a Marine environment. So I ordered two and two more Pickup's. The Tech-line guy said Rust shouldn't affect anything unless the rust is coming off... By the picture, mine had a lot of rust! |
The tech line guy said blah,blah,blah,blah,blah,blah,blah,blah.
The marine stuff has been rusting and running poorly for dozens of years. Many Schit Daily |
Originally Posted by FunHome
(Post 4693975)
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7276f9c6b0.png
Rust in MSD! I had a one motor last Saturday that was back popping, I was scratching my head wondering what it could be. So I pulled the Cap off the distributor and it looked fine. Then I looked at the Reluctor and it and the Magnetic Pickup, both had tons of rust on them!! I cleaned the reluctor up with emery cloth and the back popping / miss went away. Yesterday I reached out to MSD and asked of they have one that wont rust. They said the one treated with Zinc is for a Marine environment. So I ordered two and two more Pickup's. The Tech-line guy said Rust shouldn't affect anything unless the rust is coming off... By the picture, mine had a lot of rust! https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/...up-idle-3.html |
Am I correct that with the msd ignition box you can fix the mechanical advance in the distributor & so the box takes care of the advance? No springs to worry about rusting? I’m furious I spent $450 each on two marine distributors & two coils only to have problems right off the bat! This stuff should be bullet proof! im going to be double pissed if I buy msd boxes at $350 each x 2 & find out they fail every couple of years! |
Prepare to be double pissed. Better buy a third box to keep as a spare.
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MSD makes a box that you can program the ign curve but it's not cheap (or for marine). BTW, MSD boxes seem to live longer if not mounted to eng. Mine are mounted to glass using orig shock mounts and they're at least 7 years old now.
https://www.holley.com/products/igni...rip/parts/6530 You mentioned new builds. Lots of opportunities for variation in intake height. If it's a bit higher than expected, the teeth on the dist gear won't properly engage the teeth on the cam gear. If it just barely engages, it could run for a little while then die when gear teeth wear a bit. That's why I asked you prev if you confirmed dist was turning or not. You can usually tell if engagement is good by how much the rotor turns as the dist is seated the last 1" or so. It should turn abt 1/8 of a revolution as it meshes with the cam gear. The types of metals for the dist gear and cam gear need to be compatible too. If not, the dist gear will wear very quickly. If turning a high-perf oil pump, it only exacerbates the problem. |
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...c7459941da.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5fb4186e9f.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...8cdced5d8d.jpg you want even more problems? try this.........MSD sucks. |
It looks to me like it wasn't properly engaging the ring gear.
Look at the wear marks. |
My MSD dist. and box are also seven years old and have been nothing but perfect. I change the springs, cap and rotor and spray with CRC once a season. Lucky so far I guess. |
Originally Posted by Tinkerer
(Post 4694334)
It looks to me like it wasn't properly engaging the ring gear.
Look at the wear marks. replaced them with tiltons and have not had problem since. and they admitted to me they had issues with those starters. |
Originally Posted by cdowjr
(Post 4693254)
I’ve had 2 new MSD 83606 mechanical distributors fail on my engine! What’s wrong here? What do you recommend for another brand? Cliff in maine I am going back to OEM or I will try Pertronix |
Originally Posted by johnnys1957
(Post 4884088)
MSD is caca
I am going back to OEM or I will try Pertronix |
MSD = Lucas “prince of darkness”
Originally Posted by cdowjr
(Post 4693254)
I’ve had 2 new MSD 83606 mechanical distributors fail on my engine! What’s wrong here? What do you recommend for another brand? Cliff in maine |
MSD = may soon die
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Originally Posted by F-2 Speedy
(Post 4884148)
MSD = may soon die
Tells you that they’ve gone china! Might as well just buy the cheap knock offs. The mag pick ups are identical fyi. |
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