Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Why all the failures with the MSD boxes lately?  It appears they have cost Schatz at least a couple of features. Why are these systems failing and what can be done to make them better?

I've been thinking the same questions. I have no answers.

Next...

Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!

I keep thinking "ignition box" is the same as NASCARS"cut tire"-don't embarass  the major sponsor

So in other words, you have no idea and choose to ridicule those who ask totally legitimate questions.....super

That's OK dsc, I don't take it so much as ridicule as I do an extremely failed attempt at sarcasm.  He seems to attempt that often.

Traction contrl baby. They must have that box dialed in badly and its going bad as the traction control is controled by that. They need to get it adjusted right to that Ford engine so Donny can finish the races. Sweet has got his clicking. Notice he has very little tire spin and is running the center of the corners like Donny did years ago. Also he has a Chevy under the hood and not that Evil Ford. 

Ignition boxes should be made illegal.  Go back to running the mag and you won't have to worry about it. 

The ignition box is a very common fail point on a sprintcar. The placement is critical and vibration can break a solder on the board than next thing you know you have no spark to the mag. 

Ignition boxes and traction control are a well guarded secret. Seems odd with all the money in the world the 15 is struggling. They never ever had DNF's with the old Shaver Chevys. Donny's luck seem to run out as fast as Jimmie Johnson's did.  

An old earth magnet magneto  will take all traction control theories as well most electrical issues out of the picture.

www.harleytrikes.com

Can you explain what you mean by this?

Is it possible that the Ford has a different affect on the box, from a different torque curve or slightly stronger electrical requirement,?

Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!

I am told by someone who deals with electronics that the box is old technology that MSD has never updated.  It has way to many parts and modern day technology would get rid of over half the parts.  Could compare it to a 30 yr old TV and a modern day flat screen TV.  Another problem is the magnetos keep sheering a roll pin that hold gear in place.  This also can be solved if they wanted to do it quite easily.

meaning you blame the ignition box when the issue is really something else-NASCAR drivers would allways say they "cut a tire" after ANY tire failure so not to make Goodyear look bad

Thanks for the explanation.

So, you're saying that Goodyear is causing all the problems with the ignition boxes? ( ;) Just kidding!)

• I do not understand your lingo.  If a ignition will not fire, and you put another ignition box on and it fires and runs perfect, any idiot would know it is 99% sure the ignition box failed.  It is very dommon for the coil to fail or transistors.  There are several companies that repair the boxes and they are busy.

Sorry,didn't know you were on the crew and watched them put a new ignition box on the same engine and fire it up!

No I am not on pit crew but I can listen to broadcast and watch them change box.  Pit reporter also said they changed box.  You must have been out after another beer not to see.  Also Wayne Johnson did not have ig. problem but sheered the cam drive spud that turns fuel pump.

It was not the ignition box that failed on the 15.

 Even though they are brand new from MSD, most engine builders send them out to get reworked or "beefed up."  Meaning the shabby wiring and connections assembled by minimum wage workers that don't care.

 You can't use the old points style mags as they don't provide enough amps or spark to ignite these 16:1 compression ratio engines.  Been there, done that.