FAQ (PRO IGNITION)
MSD 12 LT FAQ’S
I JUST PURCHASED A NEW MSD 12 LT MAGNETO. SHOULD I SEND IT TO SYSTEM 1?
A: All your premier engine builders send their new magneto in to be blueprinted before installation. This assures them the magneto system is running at 100% before installation.
WHEN SHOULD I SEND MY MAGNETO IN FOR SERVICE?
A: WHEN YOU SEND YOUR ENGINE IN FOR FRESHENING.
WHEN I SEND A MAGNETO IN FOR SERVICE, DO I JUST SEND THE MAGNETO IN BY ITSELF?
A: IT IS ALWAYS ADVISABLE TO SEND THE COMPLETE SYSTEM; MAG, POINTS BOX AND CAP AND WIRES, THAT WAY WHEN THE MOTOR COMES BACK EVERYTHING IS CLEAN AND IN WORKING ORDER.
WHEN I SHOULD INSTALL NEW SPARK PLUG WIRES OR CHANGE MY COIL WIRE?
A: IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY TIMES YOU RACE IN A SEASON. IF YOU RUN 40 NIGHTS IN ONE SEASON OR MORE, I WOULD REPLACE THE COIL WIRE AT LEAST TWICE AND THE SPARK PLUG WIRES FRESH FOR THE NEW SEASON.
WHAT DO I DO WITH THE MAGNETO WHEN I WASH THE CAR AFTER A RACE?
A: COVER THE MAGNETO AND REMOVE THE SPARK BOX. WHEN DONE, REMOVE THE CAP FROM THE MAG AND LET THE MAGNETO AIR OUT UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO RACE AGAIN.
SHOULD I SEAL THE POINTS BOX SO MOISTURE CANNOT GET INSIDE THE BOX?
A: THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND THE COIL ARE SEALED FROM THE FACTORY. IT IS BETTER TO LET THE BOX BREATH SO THE MOISTURE CAN DRY OUT.
DO MSD REV CHIPS FAIL, OR CAN THEY LIMIT AT DIFFERENT THEN LABELED ON THE CHIP? SHOULD I CHANGE THE CHIP PERIODICALLY?
A: FOR THE MOST PART THE REV CHIPS ARE NOT THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM LIES WITHIN THE REV LIMITER CIRCUIT OF THE POINTS BOX. I RECOMMEND WHEN YOU HAVE THE POINTS BOX TESTED, WE CAN TELL YOU IF THE REV LIMITER IS HIGH OR LOW. WE WILL TAG THE POINT BOX, SO YOU KNOW WHAT CHIP INSTALL FOR THE RIGHT RPM LIMIT.
IF I CRASH MY CAR, CAN THAT AFFECT THE MAGNETO OR POINTS BOX PERFORMANCE?
A: YES, THE MAGNETO SHOULD BE CHECKED IF A WRECK OCCURS. WHAT HAPPENS IS THE MAGNET ASSEMBLIES GET KNOCKED OUT OF ALIGNMENT WHICH THROWS OFF THE INTERNAL PHASING. THE POINTS BOX GENERALLY WILL NOT HAVE A PROBLEM ONLY IF THE COIL WIRE COMES OFF WHEN RUNNING. THE NEW SYSTEM 1 STEEL SHAFT CONVERSION WILL ELIMINATE ANY PHASING ISSUE THAT MIGHT OCCUR INSIDE THE MAGNETO.
THE COIL WIRE WAS NOT INSTALLED OR NOT TOTALLY SNAPPED ON TO THE COIL PROPERLY. I PLUGGED THE COIL WIRE BACK ON THE COIL AND THE CAR RAN POORLY OR WOULD NOT START?
A: WHAT HAPPENS IS THE COIL WILL CARBON TRACK ON THE SECONDARY LEAD ON THE COIL. THIS COULD CAUSE FAIL THE COIL OR DAMAGE THE CIRCUIT BOARD. THE COIL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED IF CARBON TRACKED. IF THE BOARD FAILS, THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO DECIDE ON A NEW POINTS BOX OR REPAIR THE ONE THAT HAS FAILED. THIS DEPENDS ON THE COST OF THE REPAIR. ALSO, REPLACE THE COIL WIRE. NEVER USE THE SAME COIL WIRE AFTER THIS TYPE OF FAILURE.
MY ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING ON ALL 8 CYLINDERS. I THINK I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY MAG OR POINTS BOX? CAN THE MAGNETO SYSTEM NOT FIRE ALL THE CYLINDERS?
A: YES, IT IS MECHANICALLY POSSIBLE, NOT ELECTRICAL, IF A TAB HAS BEEN KNOCKED OFF THE RELUCTOR, BAD SPARK PLUG WIRE OR CAP. THE POINTS BOX IS AN ELECTRIC SET OF POINTS THE MAGNETO TELLS THE BOX WHEN TO FIRE THE SPARK PLUG. THIS PROBLEM IS USUALLY FUEL RELATED.
CAN THE MSD POINTS BOX HAVE A TIMING CURVE INSTALLED INTO THE CIRCUIT?
A: THE MSD POINTS BOX IS AN ELECTRONIC SET OF POINTS ONLY. THERE IS NO PROVISION IN THE CIRCUIT FOR A PROGRAMABLE TIMING CURVE. THE ONLY TIMING EVENT YOU CAN DO IS A RETARD. BY REPLACING A RESISTER ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD, YOU CAN RETARD THE TIMING BUT NOT ADVANCE. WITH THIS INSTALL YOU ARE LIMITED TO A FEW TIMING RETARD OPTIONS. THE RETARD STARTS AT 1000 RPM AND CONTINUES TO MAX RPM.