MSD dizzy cap problems

[Santa's Comet]

Just wondering if any one has had problems with MSD 6al dist caps.
With 600 miles on mine I had funny ign misses showing up.
Found the carbon button in the dist cap wore down!
$40 dizzy cap every 600 miles is strange!
Thanks!
NP Dave

[Comechero65]

Check the spring contact on the rotor to make sure it's not putting too much pressure on the carbon button. Shouldn't be much pressure. Or something wrong with the rotor.
Ron

[Santa's Comet]

Thanks Ron, went on a search after I posted and found complaints about the caps.
This is a problem that MSD has known about this for awhile. I'm going to try to get in
touch with MSD tomorrow.
I'll let you know what I find out.
NP Dave

[Comechero65]

Must be a defect in those caps. I run the MSD cap-adapt cap on my autolite dist and it seems to be running just fine. If MSD can't get the problem solved would it be possible to install a carbon button from a different cap? That or go with a different dist.
Ron

[Santa's Comet]

I just got back from town and tried the MSD help line. Already closed.
Will call in the morning! Hoping they might have a fix for the cap.
spendy unit to trash!
Thanks NP Dave

[popscomet]

POP HAS 3 IN A DRAW that are trash,,,,but the set up on my comet has been on it for over 20 some odd years,unless it goes out the next time I try to start it....I put the msd set up on my 84 mercury capri..didn't last til the water got hot...sent it back to jegs and they replaced it all...has been on there for at least the better part of 20 yrs....one night GLENDA was running around in her 56,,,the dang MSD went out ,,she called my brother and he took his roll back and brought her home,,,replaced the box ,it fired up and is still doing just fine,,,that was many yrs ago...so OL POP hates it for ya,but don't feel like the LONE RANGER....been there done that !! POP good luck !!

[Comechero65]

I just got back from town and tried the MSD help line. Already closed.
Will call in the morning! Hoping they might have a fix for the cap.
spendy unit to trash!
Thanks NP Dave

If you have to replace it don't trash it just sell it and let someone else deal with it. But maybe they can find a fix.
Ron

[Santa's Comet]

Talked to MSD tech support and was told rotor contact was too light or too hard.
Soooo! I guess I'll start as lite as I can and keep checking from there!
Bummer is that my driving season is coming to an end!
NP Dave

[Comechero65]

Funny I never gave it much thought when installing a new rotor, just assumed they made them right and the spring contact would be set for the right pressure. Question here is how to tell how much pressure is on it? Can't see inside the cap and no way to test with your finger. Though if you have an old cap maybe you could cut a hole in the side and part of the top to see or test.
Ron

[Red65Cyclone]

I had the same problem. I closed the spark plug gap to .035 and the problem went away.

Don

[Santa's Comet]

Ron, now I know what to do with the old cap!
I'll also put a hole in it for rotor indexing!
Don, makes sense! less draw through rotor!
Thanks for your input!
NP Dave

[Comechero65]

Ron, now I know what to do with the old cap!
I'll also put a hole in it for rotor indexing!
Don, makes sense! less draw through rotor!
Thanks for your input!
NP Dave

That's how i check the rotor phasing by cutting a hole in the top of an old cap. You get to watch it fire as it's running. No guessing that way,
Ron