MSD TL talk

[Mouthfulloflake]

I wouldnt think its that hard, but I figure the devil is in the details, and making it live a long time. dealing with moisture, all of that jazz.

if its easy, why havent you already made one?

 

[scottie mac]

I had a Vilder on a Limited SJ and it was very nice....... until it died. But, that may he been self inflicted, who knows. For a limited to mild set up, they are nice, but in NO WAY can they compare to the power you get with a properly set up MSD TL. And the stock Yamaha may be rated up to 20,000 volts, but I can garrantee you that it never actually gets to that point. Do a spark check on a stock based ignition, then do the same with a MSD TL system and you can visually see the difference. And make SURE you aren't touching anything connected to it! (right Kawi66!!!) We learned that one the hard way.

Also, you can go to the MSD site and plug in what timing specs you want to run and they have a calculator that will tell you how to set the box up for that timing.

I have ridden skis with advents, advents with lighten flywheels, Vilders, vilders with vilder flywheels and none of them have the "hit" that the MSD has. MSD might not be the most user friendly of the group, but in terms of power, it is pretty much the top dog. Especially if you have John @ Jetski Solutions set it up - (SHAMELESS plug for one of my sponsors!!!!)

Scott

 

[Matt_E]

John has very nice stuff to complement MSD TL's....his grommet is essential, IMHO.
You can indeed see a visual difference in spark. An MSD spark is bright blue in bright daylight. Can't say that for stock.
It gives off a purdy good shock, if I do say so myself.
Note to self....when checking timing by rotating the coupler by hand, make sure the plug is grounded.
Ouch.

 

[63chevyll]

how much battery life are you MSD TL guys getting?

 

[Matt_E]

I get about six to eight hours of heavy use (lots of starts) and two 500GPH pumps on all the time.

 

[scottie mac]

Note to self....when checking timing by rotating the coupler by hand, make sure the plug is grounded.
Ouch.

Man, you should have seen it when Joe, Jeff, Robinson and myself were messing around with his HX in the water one day. Soemehow, the spark grounded onto one of us then into the water and hit the rest of us. Hurt like crap! Definetly something you only do once! You have never seen four guys duck and cover faster in your life. Needless to say, all of us are now good at making sure everything is grounded when we do anything electrical related!

Scott

 

[norcal ex]

I dont understand how to check the timming with the coupler.. can you explain?

 

[Matt_E]

I was reaching into the bilge, rotated the coupler by hand.
My TL Brain has the timing LED burnt out, so I have to check it visually by observing spark on the plug.
I just needed to rotate the flywheel past a pickup.

 

[norcal ex]

so thats how you do it? and you measure when the spark occurs and when the BTDC is?

 

[Matt_E]

Weeellllll......that's how I set it up very roughly to get going. After that, I check timing with a timing light to make sure.

 

[norcal ex]

hmm... how far can it really be off? i have it all lined up with the stock marks.. or is it different with MSD because you use all new stuff?

 

[Matt_E]

It can be off a couple of degrees. If you value your motor and want the most out of your ignition, it is highly advisable to double-check the timing (static timing at idle, mostly) with a light.

 

[D-Roc]

matt, could you explain how to check the timing with a light? You must have a custom flywheel cover right? then do you make a mark on the cases at TDC and point the light at that mark? i have always been unclear about this part. also do you need a 2 stroke light or does a typical 4 stroke engine timing light work. you time it off the front cylinder right?

 

[Matt_E]

It's pretty easy.

I used a spare flywheel cover. I cut off the portion that keeps the bendix in place, along with three bolts. Mark TDC (doesn't matter whether front or back cyl). on the cases, very visibly. Mark the flywheel with 0, 10, 20, 30, whatever degrees, visibly.

Put a regular timing light on battery and plug wire, and go to town. I am using an automotive light. It works - not sure why it wouldnt, though I have heard of special CDI timing lights.
For every SJ ignition EXCEPT the dual channel MSD TL, it doesn't matter whether you monitor front or back cylinder. They fire at the same time, every time.
For the dual channel TL, just switch to the other channel if the timing marks don't line up at all.