Pro Mag 44 starting troubles

Hello,
Recently switched to a MSD 44 mag set up. I run a Chevy with on board starter. I plug in a remote battery pack with 24 volts to feed the starter. With my old mag no problem, but the 44 won't fire. It fires fine with my blower starter and 48 volts. I even fired it with my on board starter using 48 volts but I'm afraid the on board starter won't hold up to 48 volts. How do pro mods and AA/gassers start with on board starters? Any suggestions...
Thanks

 

If you have an older style ignition box, it might be set up to fire only after a certain rpm (I think it is 400 rpm). Your blower starter might be spinning it that fast, but probably your on board starter is not. If you look at the aluminum plate on the back of the box, I believe this feature is identified with a stamped "X". If so, you can send it back to MSD, and get them to remove this feature.

Also, starting a blown motor with an on-board starter is not easy, especially if you have high compression. Use as much battery as you can to make sure the motor spins over as quickly as possible. Sometimes a mixture of gas and alcohol is best for a primer, alcohol doesn't ignite really easy at low rpm's, especially if the motor is cold.

 

Hello Blown Altered,

One other thing that was not mentioned is if you run MSD's 8973 programable timing box with your promag then you can not use the cranking delay that is a feature of the box. If you do the motor definatly will not fire on the starter, I as well a Mike C hypothesize that it is due to the rotor phase change brought about by the timing control.

Richard Gavle

 

What the hell is a cranking delay?.....thanks for clearing that up Mike, I was having one of those senior moments and could not recall what MSD called it.

 

you have to get it spinning good before you flip the switch on if the switch is on when you try to start it it wont be spinning fast enough to start needs to spinning at least 250rpms and up are it wont start spin the shit out of it then throw the switch a little gas will help it light quicker

 

Had the same problem when I switch to the 44 mag. MSD said the minimum is 400 RPM, nothing less. I bought an starter from Mike Dunn it is a 1.5 hp and starts my HEMI every time on 24 volts. Also ground your start directly to the frame as close to the starter you can. This will also help.

 

we start are hemi with a 16 volt bat and a power master starter no prob at all even with a dam tight 1471 blower thanks to mr blown altered

 

Thanks for all the pointers everyone. I do not run the programmable timing control. I always start with gas and have tried spinning starter up to speed and then flipping switch but no luck.

 

I use 2 16 volt batteries in series and csr platinum starter set for 24 volts tried other brand starters but they did not hold up

 

Are you using a crank triger? If so, will it start on the mag?

 

crank trigger

R u running a crank trigger? We had a ton of problems trying to start on the trigger..we got a crossover switch from Dave at EMI and we use to flip the switch to mag to start and then flip it back after it started to the trigger. If ya got a trigger on it then just unplug it and plug straight into the mag and try. We have to be self starting so it was a hassle.
We no longer run a trigger and our starts just fine on 24 volts.

It is my understanding it needs over 500rpm to start on a trigger...not sure if that is true or not!

 

For good starting the mag and trigger need be to set at same timing, i.e. 28 degrees, also trigger air gap should be around .050" or try a liitle less. If using the large cap, check rotor phasing, if using small cap and have a problem with rotor phasing there are other MSD rotors with "fat tip" that really help. Plug gap at .015" also helps.

 

start

couple question
crank trigger?
sbc or bbc?
if it's a sbc with crank trigger it want start even with 24volt

I added a 24 volt relay to switch out the crank trigger
the relay is wired to starter buttom so it's automatic

 

Yes this is a sbc engine with crank trigger. The mag and crank trigger are both timed at 32 degrees. I have tried starting on the mag pickup and the crank trigger with 24 volts but no luck. How does the relay you mentioned work? Also some replies have mentioned rotor phasing. I have a spare cap with a hole drilled by number one. How do I check rotor phasing, With a timing light at the terminal on the cap? If so what part of the terminal should it fire?

 

Also thanks to aj481x yes I run the big cap with fat rotor tip, my plug gap is .018 and crank trigger gap is .050...

 

been there !!!!!

I have seen this same problem , with a blown pro, mod , after hrs of , switching out , 3 mags , 3 coils , boxes , trying to phase in the mag, with a set up cap , with no spark, , we for sure where confused , so we just turned
the crank to 27 deg, btdc , on # 1 cyl , pointed the rotor to number 1 in the cap , & it started right up , no problems , if you read the small print in the pro mag catalog , it says you cant use the set cap with a on board starter ,
you wont get any spark , with a perfectly working , ign system , the supplied test spark plug , that clips on wont spark !!

 

Hey Nitrohemi thanks for the pointer but what do you mean by can't use the set cap with on board starter?