sc2dave wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2017 11:46 pm
Trying to see if my Neg mag. pickup wire is giving a signal to the MSD box for it to signal. I have tried grounding the white wire and the box makes the coil spark, but I want to find out if the mag is indeed sending some signal. Can I check this with a multimeter?
Let's start over.
What you were calling mag pickup wires are really the outputs of the stock ignition. These outputs are open collector transistors used to ground the coils during dwell, then unground them to make the spark.
A good way to test them is to use an old fashioned 12v test light. Connect the alligator clip of the test light to 12v, then probe the "Neg mag. pickup wire". The light should blink as you crank the engine. The light will turn on during dwell, then turn off when your stock ignition triggers the MSD.
What you were calling mag pickup wires are really the outputs of the stock ignition. These outputs are open collector transistors used to ground the coils during dwell, then unground them to make the spark.
A good way to test them is to use an old fashioned 12v test light. Connect the alligator clip of the test light to 12v, then probe the "Neg mag. pickup wire". The light should blink as you crank the engine. The light will turn on during dwell, then turn off when your stock ignition triggers the MSD.
Ok. I'll try this tomorrow. Sometimes the bike don't even want to turn on. if I ground one of the wires so that it makes the coil spark, it'll start after, when I crank it
sc2dave wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2017 11:46 pm
Trying to see if my Neg mag. pickup wire is giving a signal to the MSD box for it to signal. I have tried grounding the white wire and the box makes the coil spark, but I want to find out if the mag is indeed sending some signal. Can I check this with a multimeter?
Let's start over.
A good way to test them is to use an old fashioned 12v test light. Connect the alligator clip of the test light to 12v, then probe the "Neg mag. pickup wire". The light should blink as you crank the engine. The light will turn on during dwell, then turn off when your stock ignition triggers the MSD.
Now, this "Neg mag. pickup wire" would be the neg wire from the stock bike wiring, and not the wiring coming from the msd box?
Ok. I hooked up a test light to one of the neg wires. The test light was lit up before I cranked it. Once I cranked it, the light went dimmer. I don't believe that it turned off and on when I cranked it.
I read the instructions and this is the only part that I read about triggering; "The MSD MC-2 Ignition can be used on 2 or 4-cylinder engines using two coils. The MC-2
will operate with conventional points or from the amplifier of an electronic breakerless
system. Capacitive discharge units cannot trigger the MSD" The stock ignition is not C.D.
Yes, the MSD will trigger from points or from the OUTPUT from an electronic ignition, but it cannot trigger from the input wires that trigger your electronic ignition.
The test light shows your ignition module is bad. Replace it then verify the engine runs normally on stock ignition before installing the MSD.
Do you think that it's possible to install an HEI module, with the right amount of pins, to replace this ignitor box? I know i'd have to make connectors for it