MSD Enhancer

The other Alex

The other Alex

(Jetdude)
Location
Lake St. Clair--
What exactly does it do? And where is it located? Pros and cons?
I've heard good things and not so good things, just curious to see what everyone else thinks about it and if it is wise to have on a ski?

Thanks
 
Waste Land

Waste Land

Non Multa Sed Multum
Location
Florence, AL
Advances Timing...New Timing Curve....Hotter Spark....Longer duration for a complete better....adjustable rev limiter

Pros: makes goooood power
Cons: They are known to fail & cost too much
 
Mouthfulloflake

Mouthfulloflake

ISJWTA member #2
Location
NW Arkansas
ive got a couple of used ones ive used for a LONG time, and ive never had a failure.

I ride freshwater though.

they cost about $179 new, and they replace your CDI inside your electronics box.

here is a graphic comparing the msd enhancer timing curve with the stock curve. ( alot more advance for better bottom end, then retard at top end to run safe)
 

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keefer

keefer

T1
Location
Tennessee
I have had my enhancer along with the MSD coil for about 8 years with no problems. Just keep your electrical box dry and do not crank the ski with the plug wires disconnected unless you ground the wires to avoid feedback to the CDI. The MSD website used to have a comparison timing curve chart that showed the difference between stock and the MSD curve. It aint total loss but it is an improvement over stock. http://www.msdpowersports.com/2004_watercraft_enhancers.html#Yamaha650
 
The other Alex

The other Alex

(Jetdude)
Location
Lake St. Clair--
So, if you wanted to take out the MSD, you would have to get a whole new Electrical box/CDI?
What happens if it does go bad? Does it damage anything else if it goes?

Sorry for all the questions..
 
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Mouthfulloflake

Mouthfulloflake

ISJWTA member #2
Location
NW Arkansas
you just swap back your old CDI if the msd fails.

I would not pay $250 for one.

modify your stock cdi to remove the rec limiter, and then advance your timing with the stator plate.

almost as good, but you have to watch the Wide open Throttle runs.
 
keefer

keefer

T1
Location
Tennessee
The enhancer just bolts in where your stock CDI used to be. So if you keep your old CDI then if the enhancer ever goes bad you can just put the stocker back in. Anything can fail but I have never heard of the CDI taking anything else out when it goes. I would not worry about it, you can always just have your stock CDI modified to have an adjustable rev limit but you will not get any other benefits like an improved timing curve and more spark energy.
 
The other Alex

The other Alex

(Jetdude)
Location
Lake St. Clair--
jetdude said:
Ok one more question to clear up to make things easier..
What exactly does a CDI do? I always thoguh the CDI was referring to the whole electrical box
Click to expand...
And ONE more question haha- If the MSD enhancer fails..while riding, what happend? Will the engine still run and limp back home, or do you lose all spark and all chance of starting the engine until you swap it out?
 
keefer

keefer

T1
Location
Tennessee
If it fails completely you will not have any spark = NO GO. It is possible that there could be a partial failure = limp home. This is possible with the stocker also. Like mouthfulloflake said you can always just pay someone to modify the stocker and advance the static timing. You will have to be careful of WOT runs if your setup is much beyond stock. Lots of variables here, Fuel, compression, pipe, air temp, water temp, etc.
 
Adam

Adam

Location
FL Panhandle
jetdude said:
And ONE more question haha- If the MSD enhancer fails..while riding, what happend? Will the engine still run and limp back home, or do you lose all spark and all chance of starting the engine until you swap it out?
Click to expand...

Faulty enhancers have tendancies to work one day, and fail the next. If it goes bad while you are on the water, your pretty much out of luck and will need a tow in.

If you get a motor/ e-box that already has an enhancer, you should send it to me and I will give you a stock CDI in exchange :)
j/p.....keep it brotha, the snappyness it gives you is WELL worth it, besides, some enhancers last forever, some dont. You could be a winner!
 
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keefer

keefer

T1
Location
Tennessee
Like I said earlier, I have had mine for 8+ years and no problems. If I had a good one I would keep it. You should be able to find a stocker floating around pretty cheap if you need one on hand for just in case. I would not stress it. Ride it like you stole it and dont look back. :headbang:
 
Flash-FX

Flash-FX

No Square..No Round..FX-1
Location
South Jersey Shore
If you use the "Enhancer", also use the MSD coil as a set. My luck with the
enhancer and a stock coil :frown: . The stock coil might-will go bad quickly.Like maybe in a weekend? But it is hard to trace for a newbie. It will idle on the trailer and seem to rev up, but, in the water it will break up real bad. Get ready to chase your tail. Been there...Done that. $$$$$.
 
LBE

LBE

Eddie Would Go.
Location
Charlotte, NC
I have run mine for 5+ years without problems and I ride in salt water. I have heard that they fail when there is a bad ground. I dunno if this is true but I buy dielectric greae by the bucket. It goes on all my electrical parts/connections. I'm currently rebuilding a motor and thought bout selling the enhancer while it is working, prolly get at least $150 for it, and pick up a stocker for $40-50 and modify it. But I will prolly just keep running it.

I have a question that might go in this thread: If I run the enhanser on my Yami 760, should I still advance the static timing on the stator? I was gonna run 4 deg advanced on the stator. Bad idea in addition to the enhanser?

:hijacked:
 
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