MSD ignition.

Has anyone used the MSD ignition on their bike? MSD has had four ignitions available for bikes. MC1, MC2, MC3, and MC4. The first three are just improved versions of each other. The last one MC4 is a programmable ignition somewhat different. On the MC1-3 ignitions they recommend using low resistance coils. Many of us use 3 Ohm coils and some of us use 2.2 Ohm coils on the later IC ignition bikes such as the "J" series 1000/1100s and the 750/4s. MSD recommends using 1.2-1.5 Ohm coils. I know that the MSD is a CDI ignition, but can someone explain to me what the significance of using a lower resistance coil would be, and if using a 0.7 Ohm coil would therefore make it even better? I know that they just want to sell me their #8204, 1.5 Ohm coils, but I want to know if I have a choice and use Dyna Brown (1.5 Ohm) or Dyna Blue (0.7 Ohm) coils? And also if this means that the lower resistance coils I use, the better off I will be?
Lou, I think that you might be able to answer this one, but I think that there might be others out here also. The MSD box is gi-normous and I will have a heck of a time finding where to mount it. Right now I am considering in front of the battery box, where the airbox used to be.


Otto

I would just use the recommended range for coil input impedence 1.2ohm - 1.5ohm

Having too low a resistance will likely burn up the ignition, and too high will just create more coil heat and reduce life/spark quality.

The brown Dyna coils will be perfect, and your spark will be incredibly strong.

This is a CDI ignition and reacts completely differently with coils than the ignitions we normally use. The coil dose not hold the charge as in our standard ignitions. The charge is held by the ignition box itself.

Well, I finally got hold of MSD. According to them, the lower the resistance in the coil the better. Apparently any of the Dyna coils will work just fine but the lower the resistance the better. The lower the resistance the coils the more massive the spark. MSD recommends the 1.5 Ohm coils because that is the lowest resistance dual tower coils they have. I guess it's time to pick up a set of Dyna DC9-1, Blue, .7 Ohm, coils. I was told that spark plug gap is not an issue with this ignition. The bigger the better. for both power and efficiency.

I've used MSD MC1's since the late 80's with Dyna S and Dyna coils- green 3 ohm for single plug and brown 1.5 ohm for dual plug heads.

I plan on using the the Kawasaki ignition to trigger it and will use the .7 Ohm Blue coils.

I have seen the blue coils on flea bay quite cheap(less demand?)in the past (nothing now when you want em) good luck.

I talked to MSD, and they told me that ALL the Dyna coils will work with the MC1/2 ignitions. But, the lower the resistance the stronger the spark. They told me that it is designed for the use around their 1.5 Ohm coil for a 45,000 Volt spark, but will give even stronger spark with the lower resistance coils. For the time being I will use my 2.2 Ohm coils that I have installed and wait to pickup the .7 Ohm coils when available as you said, on fleaBay. I love using the highest possible voltage with the largest possible plug gap.