MSD question

Schurkey · Jan 19, 2022

Wild guess with no evidence: Failure started with layer-shorting of the coil. The windings have a varnish insulation, over time/vibration/heat the varnish melts or wears away, so two adjacent conductors touch. This reduces the resistance of the coil. Less resistance draws more current, which leads to more heat.

More heat is hard on the insulation, so more windings short together. Even less resistance. Even more current draw. Even more heat.

Thermal runaway.

I would be VERY concerned about the ignition module and the wire harness having supplied what is surely an excessive amount of current.

thegawd · Jan 19, 2022

Thanks Schurkey! I dont need to derail the thread anymore... It was kind of interesting seeing it melt but I really thought the bike was guna go boom..... I pushed it out in the open away from everything. you know my buddy wont always listen to my suggestions and I told him to shut the bike off earlier or go drive it cuz its air cooled, and then it got cooked. besides the coil hes lucky everything else appears fine.

mountie · Jan 24, 2022

I took good care of my '88 C2500. ....... MSD for street applications is JUNK. I replaced an MSD dist. cap 3 times in 3 months. Replaced MSD complete plug wires twice in 2 months. Compare an MSD dist cap to a standard cheap 'parts store' dist cap..... The only difference is the color. MSD is not what they used to be in the '70's.

thegawd · Jan 24, 2022

that's the definition of crazy.... repeating the same thing expecting different results.

I cant believe how many negative reviews I have heard about msd and yet people are still buying.

Hipster · Jan 24, 2022

thegawd said:
that's the definition of crazy.... repeating the same thing expecting different results.

I cant believe how many negative reviews I have heard about msd and yet people are still buying.

They have their place for high output engines etc but one of my favorite sayings is to leave the race car parts for the race cars. What's good for the track is not necessarily better or durable for the street. It's already been said many race cars are running dual ignition boxes to circumvent failures. Imho it's a shame Crane Cams no longer produces ignition boxes. Always felt their's was a bit better and less prone to crapping out.

Schurkey · Jan 24, 2022

Some, perhaps most, or even all of the Crane ignition stuff is now sourced from FAST, the division of Comp Cams.

I bought a couple of formerly-Crane ignition coils from them. What FAST has for spark-boxes, I've never looked into.

Erin · Jan 24, 2022

My dad had an MSD kit on his 1979 CJ7 for years with no problems. That jeep has been long sold, and I still miss it.

Hipster · Jan 24, 2022

Schurkey said:
Some, perhaps most, or even all of the Crane ignition stuff is now sourced from FAST, the division of Comp Cams.

I bought a couple of formerly-Crane ignition coils from them. What FAST has for spark-boxes, I've never looked into.

I didn't know they were sourcing stuff from Comp. Last I looked into the ingnition boxes was shortly after S&S Cycle bought out Crane after bankruptcy. Shortly thereafter a lot of products were dropped.

Schurkey · Jan 24, 2022

I gave the wrong impression via poor choice of words.

Crane is not sourcing from FAST. FAST bought the rights to those products from Crane, or whoever held the assets during the bankruptcy. Now consumers source the former Crane ignition stuff from FAST.

So, for example,
www.summitracing.com/parts/fst-6000-6400

FAST 6000-6400 FAST HI-6R CD Ignitions | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - FAST HI-6R CD Ignitions with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Ignition Boxes at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

1998_K1500_Sub · Jan 24, 2022

Schurkey said:
Note "coil oil" in jar.

You must be registered for see images attach

I assume that oil is PCB-free. 1978 is reportedly when it PCBs were no longer manufactured domestically.

When I was quite young (6 or 7) I remember a local electrician talking to my father about penetrating oil. The electrician made some remark to Dad about getting "oil from the transformers" and how it worked so well as a penetrating oil.

In later life I learned he had died of cancer.

MSD question

Schurkey

Supporting Member

thegawd

I'm Done!

mountie

I sold my '88 C2500 to a happy guy in Germany

thegawd

I'm Done!

Hipster

I'm Awesome

Schurkey

Supporting Member

Erin

I'm Awesome

Hipster

I'm Awesome

Schurkey

Supporting Member

FAST 6000-6400 FAST HI-6R CD Ignitions | Summit Racing

1998_K1500_Sub

Nitro Junkie

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