ProMag 44 help

New to running a pro mag 44 and having some issues with it. Ive talked with MSD but im not sure they are really understanding my problem so maybe you guys can help. Tried to fire car and was getting no spark. Disconnected the crank trigger and plugged the mag into itself and got spark. Fired the car and the timing was way off. From what I understand the way to change this is to loosen the mag and twist it untill the deaired timing is achieved. I was able to do this and get the motor to fire at 28 degrees like we wanted. the only problem now was when i put our phaseing cap back on the mag the rotor pickup was on the trailing edge of the number 1 terminal instead of the leading edge. How is the phaseing corrected without changeing the timing? Im also assumeing the crank trigger was not workinng since everything was just out of sync. thanks in advance for the help

 

the base under your rotor is slotted 3 screws

 

crank trigger not firing was most likely due to motor not cranking over fast enough. buy yourself a crossover switch. we start on mag then change over to trigger.

set up with fuel shut off closed and recommenced no fuel in tank and lines , use timing light to get it close on timing mark

we use 24v starter

 

I have a brand new crossover switch and a used spare I’d sell cheap thanks jay 248-8842178

 

if I remove the rotor this is what I have. Im not sering the 3 slots. Im sure im missing something simple here I just want to be sure before i start messing with it

 

take out those 2 allen screws the sloted base is underneith

 

Thats the older 4" ford cap base. There is no easy phase adjustment on those style. Good chance your drive cushions are worn out causing the rotor lag. Either send it in for rebuild (System One is awesome) or convert to a big cap with the three screws for phasing.

 

what would cause the drive cushions to wear out? the moror has only been started a handful of times and has yet to have any real runs on it. sorry if these questions seem basic but like i said this is the first time we are messinng with a mag and there doesnt seem to be much info floating around on them

 

Try the rotor with the wide tip.

 

You have three options: switch to big cap with phase adjustment, take it apart or send it in to adjust the pickup for proper phasing, phase it on the trigger and send it.

 

But if the phasing is really far off and you set it on the trigger doesn’t it become almost impossible to strat with that dam crossover switch?

 

Are you holding the mag against rotation when you check the phasing or did you just plop it in and twist until it looked close???? You need to take all of the backlash out (esp with an offset drive... belt) to ensure that everything is lined up. When the motor runs it is pulling the mag therefore the backlash is removed from the equation. It is still possible the phasing is off but without a way to check it, who knows. Definitely a conversion to the pro-cap is the way to go. System One will set you up right for sure.

 

I would just get it close put the mag in which being that the mag only has a 4 tooth "gear" would knock it off a little. I would than twist the mag to get it so the leading edge of the terminal was lined up with the rotor with the crank at 28 degrees. I now know that this twisting of the mag actually changes the timing not just the phasing so when the motor ran i turned the mag back so that it fired at 28 degrees. than checked the phasing again and thats when i found that its on the trailing edge of the terminal. I spoke to someone today who said with the mag firing onfitself to not pay much attention to where the rotor is phased as long as its firing at the proper time.

 

We have a spare cap with a large hole drilled in it. Move the motor around to 28 degrees and look in the hole. The rotor is just on the trailing edge of the number 1 terminal instead of the leading edge. Ive talked to a few people and seem to get different answers from each. Ive been told that checking this in the method Im using is not exactly accurate because at rest it may show something different than while running. Ive also been told to not worry so much about phasing as long as its firing at the proper time. We are making it out 1 more time this year this coming weekend and just want to get it straightened out a bit. I am thinking we wont be able to run off the crank trigger because our cranking rpm is not high enough to get spark, although we have gotten it to fire on it with it cranking only around 170 rpm.

 

Just use a timing light to look into the hole in the cap.

Corey

 

yes that is one thing i will be trying this weekend. Unfortunately where we live and keep the car we are not able to start it up to check any changes or any tips we were given. So i like to get as much information as I can as what to do or what to look for while at the track. Thanks for all the help and anything else you can think of would be appreciated.