no spark for me

[briwarr]

Variables:
1. Mallory Coil
2. MSD Pro Billet P/N 8578 magnetic pickup
3. MSD 6AL Ignition

This problem has me going bananas. Car has been starting and running just happily for some time now. Attempt to go for a ride today, starter turns the engine fine but car will not start. Attach spark tester between coil and distributor, turn car, no spark. Measure voltage on the orange wire connecting to the positive side of the Mallory coil from the MSD 6AL when the engine is turning, it reads .08 volts. Perform MSD diagnostics detailed here (http://www.msdignition.com/7530html/trouble.htm )by jumping the Green and Violet magnetic pickup wire, test is successful, getting a spark during test. I’m stuck.

If anyone has any idea as to what may be causing this issue input would be very greatly appreciated.

[HighPlainsDrifter]

Hi,
Pretty sure it's the coil. Mallory coil uses a lower voltage, a resistor is used to drop the voltage. I would put an MSD coil in designed for multiple capacitor discharge! The test probably worked because you grounded out the white wire and discharged the high output of the capacitor in the MSD box.
Good Luck,
Perry.

[Rick Parker]

Be sure the coil you are using is compatible.
With the key on check to if you get a strong spark at the center coil wire while grounding it and while jumping the violet & green wire. Next crank the engine with the distributor cap off, verifying that the rotor is spinning while cranking the engine. If you have strong spark at distributor wire and if distributor is spinning move to the module in the distributor. Use an ohm meter in the connector to check the module for continuity. If there is none replace it. The module and the spinning reluctor create the voltage signal that swithches the MSD internals and causes the electrical field in the coil to collapse creating the spark that goes to the distributor and is directed by the rotor to the correct plug wire. Sound simple huh???

PS: With a little ingenuity you can use the armature (the part in the distributor with the windings) from a standard mid 70's application.

Rick

[Steve R]

hmm,
O.K. I have the 6al box, the msd distributor and a power master coil. My hunk a junk runs fine. here's what I get:
pull the coil wire off the distrib and place next to ground. Crank car= big nasty sparks. same config. plus monitoring volts at
coil pos. orange wire= meter barely twitching. (25vdc scale) (meter verified good, verified good ground) I don't know why, but
that's what it is. (almost no volt reading at coil) You say you got good spark by tapping the green and violet together. Well, that
tells me the coil is working, the 6al box is working. Do this: tap the green and purple wires together again accept this time have
your buddy crank the eng while your doing this. if you still have good spark, I think it is either the distributor pickup or it's
wiring. (Or the guts of the distributor ain't turning like Rick says) look at the connector coming from the distrib. look at it's pins and make sure one is not pushing back when you connect
it up. (do the same at it's mating connector) If you have a buddy who has one of these distributors laying around, borrow it and
plug it into the system and spin the shaft while in the run config. if you get spark, this is further evidence the pickup is bad. Going
back a little, if there is no spark while you are tapping the green and violet while you buddy is cranking the eng,
look to your ignition switch or the wiring to it.
Lemme know what ya find.
Steven

[Ron61]

I am not sure if the MSD and Jacobs has the same set up for the trigger lead but I just got throught fighting a similar problem in my Jacobs. I finally traced it down to a spade connector in the trigger lead that had came apart inside the plastic factory cover. Sometimes I had spark and other times nothing. Replaced the connector and now don't get closer than 8 inches to the coil. Just a thought as I said, I am not familiar with the new MSD set-up.

Ron

[Steve R]

test

[briwarr]

Steve you were right on the magnetic pickup went bad. Put a new one in and everything is just happy now. I want to thank you and everyone else who responded with help. A frosty cold one will be raised in your honor. THANKS!!

[Steve R]

no problemo