MSD MC-3 MOTORCYCLE IGNITION
Contents
1. MSD MC 3 MOTORCYCLE IGNITION PN 4223 The MSD MC 3 Ignition can be used on 1 2 or 4 cylinder engines using one or two coils The MC 3 will operate with conventional points or from the amplifier of an electronic breakerless system Capacitive discharge CDI units cannot trigger the MSD WARNING During installation always disconnect the battery cables When disconnecting the battery always remove the Negative cable first and install it last Note The MSD MC 3 will not work with capacitive discharge CDI motorcycles Parts Included 1 MSD MC 3 Ignition Control Unit 6 RPM Modules 5 000 7 000 9 000 10 000 11 000 12 000 rpm 1 Motorcycle Cable Assembly 1 Parts Bag Note It is recommended that you have the Service Manual for your motorcycle for the installation TECH TIPS The following are technical tips that will help you get the most out of your MSD MC 3 Ignition Battery The battery is a very important component of your ignition system The battery should be rated at no less than 10 amp hours whether you have a charging system or not If you do not have a charging system allow at least 10 amp hours per each half hour of use Never start or run the engine while a battery charger is connected Some chargers can produce voltage spikes that may damage the ignition components Coils The MSD MC 3 will work with factory and most aftermarket coils Better spark energy is received at the plug if lower resistance coil2. coil COIL A terminals One to coil negative the other to positive It does not matter which wire Connects to the back coil COIL B terminals One to coil negative the other to positive It does not matter which wire WIRING TO THE STOCK IGNITION SYSTEM Note The MC 3 will not work with Capacitive Discharge Ignitions or 4 cylinder engines with an individual coil per cylinder The Yamaha V Max is one bike that cannot accept an MC 3 Note The factory rev limiter and timing curve will still function with the MSD installed To disable the factory rev limiter and timing curve an aftermarket stand alone trigger amplifier is required 1 Locate the ignition coils and identify which side of the coil s has 12 volts going to it If the polarity of the coil is not identified follow this procedure Figure 2 A Disconnect the coil wires and remove them from the terminals B Using a voltmeter connected to one wire and to ground turn the ignition to the On position and check for 12 volts Note Make sure the wires do not make contact with any engine components AUTOTRONIC CONTROLS CORPORATION e 12120 ESTHER LAMA SUITE 114 EL PASO TEXAS 79936 915 857 5200 e FAX 915 858 9241 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 3 C The wire that shows 12 volts is the positive side Turn the ignition Off and mark that coil wire as positive and the other as negative If necessary mark which wires go to Coil A and Coil B NOTE DISCONNEC
3. the LED begins flashing erratically it is indicating a problem The battery may be getting too low for full power operation or a coil positive wire may be grounded AUTOTRONIC CONTROLS CORPORATION e 12120 ESTHER LAMA SUITE 114 EL PASO TEXAS 79936 915 857 5200 e FAX 915 858 9241 CHECKING FOR SPARK The following procedure will determine if the ignition is producing a spark 1 With the ignition Off remove one of the plug wires from the spark plug Use a spark tester tool such as the ST 125 or position the wire so the terminal is about 1 2 from ground Disconnect the White wire of the MSD Turn the ignition On DO NOT CRANK THE ENGINE ROP Tap the White wire to ground several times A spark should jump to ground when the wire is removed from ground If it sparks the ignition is operating properly Repeat the procedure with the Green wire if your engine has two coils 5 No Spark Substitute another coil and test again If there is still no spark and all of the wiring and connections have been inspected and confirmed contact the MSD Customer Service Line to send the unit in for repair CHECKING THE COIL Using an Ohm meter you can check the resistance of the coil s The following specifications are for MSD s PN 8204 Motorcycle Coil Check your Service Manual for stock coil specifications If either measurement is out of specification the coil must be replaced Primary Resistance Check the resista
4. CN When the LIGHT BLUE wire is grounded the Low module is engaged When the LIGHT BLUE wire is not grounded open the High module is engaged Choose the rpm module you wish to set at low rpm and insert it in the LOW module holder Insert the high rom module for over rev protection in the HIGH holder Figure 11 Wiring the Two Step Module Selector MSD offers additional rom modules in sets of five or an adjustable module selector The module selector is an adjustable knob that provides several rom settings for even easier adjustment The module kits come in increments of 200 rpm within a range of 1 000 rpm 8743 3000 3200 3400 3600 3800 8749 9000 9200 9400 9600 9800 87441 4100 4300 4500 4700 4900 87501 10100 10300 10500 10700 10900 87451 5100 5300 5500 5700 5900 46 6000 6200 6400 6600 6800 7000 7200 7400 7600 7800 1 7300 7500 7700 7900 88531 al C4 AUTOTRONIC CONTROLS CORPORATION e 12120 ESTHER LAMA SUITE 114 EL PASO TEXAS 79936 915 857 5200 e FAX 915 858 9241 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 7 RETURNING TO STOCK IGNITION To return the ignition system back to standard operation points and standard electronic trigger systems only simply unplug the MC 3 control cable and insert the jumper plug supplied into the cable connector If using high performance low resistance coils a 1 5 ohm ballast must be wired into the GRAY wire going to the positive si
5. T WIRE FROM COIL BEFORE CHECKING FOR 12 VOLTS Note If 12 volts is not present on either coil wire the motorcycle may have a Capacitive Discharge Ignition and cannot use an MSD MC 3 2 At this point all of the coil wires should be marked with its polarity and which coil A or B the wires connect to Single Coil Attach the coil s negative wire to the White wire of the MSD Figure 3 Dual Coils Attach the Coil A negative wire to the White wire of the MSD and the Coil B negative wire to the Green wire of the MSD Figure 4 TO STOCK WIRING HARNESS 3 Connect the MSD Gray wires to the coil s positive wires Figure 2 Checking for Coil Note The MSD has two Gray wires and it doesn t Wire Polarity matter which wire s connect to which coil in dual coil applications For single coil installation connect both Gray wires to the original coil positive wire These wires provide a switched 12 volt source to turn the MSD on and off 4 The following wires connect directly to the coil terminals The MSD Black and Purple wires connect to Coil A The Orange and Yellow wires attach to Coil B It does not matter which side of the coil the wires connect to If you only have a single coil seal the ends of the Orange and Yellow wires 5 Review your wiring with Figure 3 or 4 and make any corrections If everything matches connect the heavy Red wire to the battery positive terminal and the heavy Black wire to the negative b
6. attery terminal The wiring is complete YELLOW NOT USED ORANGE NOT USED GREEN NOT USED ORIGINAL COIL ORIGINAL COIL COIL A WHITE COIL B GREEN PURPLE Figure 4 Wiring to a Stock Dual Coil Ignition System AUTOTRONIC CONTROLS CORPORATION e 12120 ESTHER LAMA SUITE 114 EL PASO TEXAS 79936 915 857 5200 e FAX 915 858 9241 4 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AFTERMARKET AMPLIFIER TRIGGER By using an aftermarket trigger system on some bikes the factory timing curve and rev limit may be bypassed Use the same wiring procedure as described in the Wiring to a Stock Ignition section Figures 5 and 6 show a typical aftermarket amplifier trigger TO IGNITION SWITCH COIL B TRIGGER B WIRE TRIGGER A WIRE SWITCHED 12V NOTE DO NOT USE THE MC 3 WITH AFTERMARKET CDI IGNITIONS Figure 5 Typical Aftermarket Amplifier Trigger without MC 3 ORANGE WHITE TRIGGER A WIRE SWITCHED 12V FROM IGNITION SWITCH Figure 6 Wiring the MC 3 to an Aftermarket Amplifier Trigger INITIAL START UP Before starting the engine review the wiring steps and make sure all of your connections are tight and secure Make sure the spark plug wires are installed and the battery terminals are tight then start the engine If the engine runs a short time then stalls the engine may be equipped with an electric fuel pump relay and might require an MSD Tach Adaptor PN 8920 Contact MSD for information After wiring th
7. de of the coil Figure 12 Note In the event of having to run the motorcycle without a battery unplug the MC 3 and return to standard operation Operating without a battery could cause severe damage to the MC 3 8 PIN CONNECTOR Caution If using MSD pickup To BIKE triggers DO NOT USE the bypass connector The coils will be damaged BYPASS CONNECTOR Figure 12 Bypassing the MSD MC3 TROUBLESHOOTING WIRING CHECK WARNING The MC 3 produces very high voltages Never short the battery or coil terminals Use caution when checking connections and while troubleshooting e Check all of the wiring connections making sure they are clean and tight If connectors have been crimped on make sure they are tight and sealed e Confirm that the battery is fully charged and properly connected Also check that the MSD power leads are connected properly and are tight e Check that the only wires connected to the coil s are from the MSD e After checking the wiring for loose or faulty connections follow the next procedure to confirm that the MSD is sparking properly WARNING Do not connect any test equipment to the coil terminals Figure 13 LED Monitor LED MONITOR The MC 3 is equipped with an LED monitor Figure 13 The LED will light every time there is a spark At above idle engine speeds it may appear to be on continuously Also the static timing can be checked and adjusted by watching for the LED to light If
8. e MC 3 take time to review these steps e The only wires on the coils should be the PURPLE BLACK and ORANGE YELLOW wires DO NOT hook any other wires to the coils e The GRAY wires should be connected to a switched 12 volt source allowing the system to be turned on and off by the ignition switch AUTOTRONIC CONTROLS CORPORATION e 12120 ESTHER LAMA SUITE 114 EL PASO TEXAS 79936 915 857 5200 e FAX 915 858 9241 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 5 TACH ADAPTER INSTALLATION If the engine started then stalled within a couple of minutes you will have to install an MSD Tach Adapter PN 8920 The cause for this is due to the fuel pump not receiving a strong enough trigger signal through the MSD The Tach Adapter ensures that the fuel pump receives a strong trigger signal Figure 7 TACH TERMINAL FUEL PUMP RELAY TRIGGER WIRE L EE CMP ORIGINALLY FROM NEGATIVE SIDE fF 4 OF STOCK COIL TO FUEL PUMP Figure 7 Installing an MSD Tach Adapter TACHOMETER OUTPUT The MC 3 Ignition has a built in tach output terminal Figure 8 This terminal will directly drive many models of tachs The output combines both input signals from either the points or electronic ignition amplifier into one signal Due to this it is possible for some tachs to read double the engine rpm If the rom reading is doubled when using the tach output terminal splice the tach wire into either the WHITE or the single GREEN wire SHIFT LIGHT A Shift Light can easil
9. nce between the positive and the negative terminals It should be 1 2 1 4 ohms Secondary Resistance Check the resistance between the spark plug terminals It should be 11 000 11 500 ohms 11K 11 5K Service In case of malfunction this MSD component will be repaired free of charge according to the terms of the warranty When returning MSD components for service Proof of Purchase must be supplied for warranty verification After the warranty period has expired repair service is charged based on a minimum and maximum charge Send the unit prepaid with proof of purchase to the attention of Customer Service Department Autotronic Controls Corporation 12120 Esther Lama Suite 114 El Paso Texas 79936 When returning the unit for repair leave all wires at the length in which you have them installed Be sure to include a detailed account of any problems experienced and what components and accessories are installed on the vehicle The repaired unit will be returned as soon as possible after receipt COD for any charges Shipping is covered by warranty All units are returned regular UPS unless otherwise noted For more information call the MSD Customer Service Line 915 857 5200 MSD technicians are available from 8 00 a m to 5 00 p m Monday Friday mountain time Limited Warranty Autotronic Controls Corporation warrants MSD Ignition products to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and if prope
10. rly installed for a period of one year from date of purchase If found to be defective as mentioned above it will be replaced or repaired if returned prepaid along with proof of date of purchase This shall constitute the sole remedy of the purchaser and the sole liability of Autotronic Controls Corporation To the extent permitted by law the foregoing is exclusive and in lieu of all other warranties or representations whether expressed or implied including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness In no event shall Autotronic Controls Corporation be liable for special or consequential damages FRM18379 Revised 03 97 Printed In U S A
11. s are used 1 5 ohm However for maximum ignition output an MSD Motorcycle Coil PN 8204 is recommended The MSD coil is designed specifically for use with the MC 3 Ignition It has less resistance and a high turns ratio to match the full capability of the MC 3 WARNING Do not touch or connect any test equipment accessories etc to the coil terminals Spark Plugs The increased spark energy of the MC 3 allows you to run a wider spark plug gap 045 060 The result is more predictable ignition and improved performance Spark Plug Wires Only magnetic suppression wires should be used with the MC 3 Ignition Magnetic suppression wires such as the MSD Heli Core or Super Conductor wires suppress electro magnetic interference EMI that is emitted If not suppressed this EMI noise may interfere with any electronic components on the motorcycle DO NOT use Solid Core wires CYLINDER SELECT The MC 3 is programmed at the factory for 4 cylinder four stroke or 2 cylinder and one 1 cylinder two stroke engines To program the unit for different applications see the chart in Figure 1 CYLINDER FOUR STROKE TWO STROKE CUT LOOP NO MODIFICATIONS ae CUT LOOP NO MODIFICATIONS 4 No moprricatrons Figure 1 Cylinder Select Wire Loop AUTOTRONIC CONTROLS CORPORATION e 12120 ESTHER LAMA SUITE 114 EL PASO TEXAS 79936 915 857 5200 FAX 915 858 9241 2 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS MOUNTING The MC 3 Igni
12. tion Unit may be mounted in any position The unit should be mounted at least one inch from the exhaust pipes to avoid excess heat The suggested location is ahead of the engine at the top of the down tubes Make sure the mounting location does not interfere with the normal operation of the motorcycle To mount the MC 3 use it as a template and mark the mounting hole locations Drill the four holes using a 3 16 drill and install four vibration mounts and the MC 3 WIRING WIRE FUNCTIONS The following chart describes what each wire of the MC 3 is used for Connects directly to the battery positive terminal or starter solenoid 12 volt terminal cts to the battery negativ terminal or the engine ground Connects to switched 12 volt side of ignition switch It switches the input voltage from the RED wire on and off ts to the COIL A trigger wire from the points or electronic amplifier ers the PURPLE and BLACK wire coil nects to the B COIL trigger wire from the points or electronic amplifier triggers the ORANGE and YELLOW wired coil BROWN Shift Interrupt wire interrupts the ignition output when applied to ground LIGHT BLUE Activates the low rpm module when connected to ground SHORT BLUE Cylinder select wire loop LOOP The following groups of two wires connect to the same components in different applications Connects to the front
13. y be connected to the MC 3 Figure 8 shows a common setup with an MSD Shift Light IGNITION SWITCH SHIFT LIGHT PN 8952 Figure 8 Wiring an MSD Shift Light AUTOTRONIC CONTROLS CORPORATION e 12120 ESTHER LAMA SUITE 114 EL PASO TEXAS 79936 915 857 5200 e FAX 915 858 9241 6 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS PROGRAMMING SHIFT INTERRUPT FEATURE The MC 3 Ignition has a special Shift Interrupt feature When applied the ignition output will be interrupted thereby unloading the transmission and allowing the shift to occur This system is different than normal ignition kills which simply interrupt the power to the coils causing a spark to occur at the time the switch is released which may result in severe backfires The MC 3 Interrupt feature only operates in the output section of the ignition allowing all of the timing functions to keep operating properly This ensures that no backfires will occur Figure 10 Wiring the Air Shift Interrupt Feature To incorporate the Interrupt feature connect the BROWN wire of the MC 3 to the Normally Open NO terminal of the Shift Kill switch Wire the common C terminal of the switch to ground Figure 10 THE TWO STEP MODULE The Two Step feature of the MC 3 provides the capability of switching between two rpm limits that are set using plug in modules To use the Two Step feature connect the LIGHT BLUE wire to a switched ground see Figure 11 CLUTCH SWIT
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