Msd 6421 6AL-2 Ignition Control Installation- User Manual

Msd 6421 6AL-2 Ignition Control Installation

Msd 6421 6AL-2 Ignition Control Installation– User Manual, read for free online in PDF format. We hope this helps you resolve any issues you may have. If you have further questions, please contact us through the contact form.

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Table of Contents:

  • Page 2 – W W W . M S D P E R F O R M A N C E . C O M; in detail on page 5.; GENERAL INFORMATION; with a supply voltage as low as seven volts.; Solid Core
  • Page 3 – both; MOUNTING; Compression Spark Plug Gap
  • Page 4 – WIRING; GENERAL WIRING INFORMATION; Power Leads
  • Page 5 – PROGRAMMING; CYLINDER SELECT; Figure 2 Adjusting the Rev Limits.; Ballast Resistor; Figure 1 Programming the Number of; Figure 2 Rev Limiter sample setting.
  • Page 6 – PRESTART CHECK LIST; TROUBLESHOOTING; LED
  • Page 7 – Tachometer Compatibility List; AFTERMARKET TACHOMETER; NO-RUN ON FOREIGN VEHICLES; Figure 5 Wiring the Dual Ballast Resistor.
  • Page 8 – Figure 7 Installing the Diode to a; MISSES AND INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS; Most other applications:; Figure 8 Wiring the Dual Ballast Resistor for Run-On.
  • Page 9 – CHECKING FOR SPARK; If triggering with the Magnetic Pickup:; WHITE WIRE TRIGGER
  • Page 10 – MSD SYSTEMS Installing to Points/Amplifier Style Ignition.; NOTE: On dual point setups, it is recommended; to remove the trailing set of points.; OR; MSD SYSTEMS Installing to an MSD Distributor/Crank Trigger.; NOTE: Ballast Resistor is not necessary.; connects to MSD White. The positive wire connects
  • Page 11 – MSD SYSTEMS Installing to an MSD Distributor PN 8360.; MSD SYSTEMS Installing to a Hall-Effect Trigger Distributor.
  • Page 12 – MSD SYSTEMS With an MSD Timing Control (points or amplifier).; T M
  • Page 13 – GM IGNITIONS Wiring a Dual Connector Coil.; NOTE: If the vehicle is not equipped with a factory; tach, there will only be one white wire; PN 8876, that makes this a splice free; NOTE: MSD offers a direct plug in harness,; PN 8877, that makes this a splice free
  • Page 14 – GM IGNITIONS Wiring with an MSD Wiring Harness.; MSD SYSTEMS Wiring with an MSD Power Grid
  • Page 15 – GM IGNITIONS GM Large Cap HEI Distributors; of the distributor. Count the number of terminals on both ends of; NOTE: The GM Ignition Module and condenser are removed; and replaced with the supplied PN 8861 Harness.
  • Page 16 – FORD IGNITIONS Wiring a Ford DuraSpark using White Wire Trigger.
  • Page 18 – FORD IGNITIONS Wiring a Ford TFI with Harness, PN 8874.; NOTE: Installation of a Timing Control with the Harness, see page 15.
  • Page 19 – CHRYSLER IGNITIONS Wiring a Late Model Dodge with 2-pin connector.; MSD offers two direct plug-in; HONDA IGNITIONS Wiring a Honda with Internal Coil.
  • Page 20 – HONDA IGNITIONS Wiring a Honda with a Blaster Coil and Power Cap.; MSD offers a Power Cap to convert your; HONDA IGNITIONS Wiring a Factory External Coil Honda/Acura.
  • Page 21 – Wiring a Toyota with a Tach Adapt PN 8910HEI.; The negative wire connects to MSD
  • Page 22 – AFTERMARKET COMPONENTS Wiring to a Pertronix Ignitor Kit.
  • Page 23 – WIRING ATOMIC WITH PN 6421
  • Page 24 – WIRING ATOMIC WITH PN 6421 TO USE WITH TIMING CONTROL
  • Page 25 – TECH NOTES
  • Page 28 – INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS; Limited Warranty; or consequential damages.; Service; When returning MSD components for warranty service,; Proof of Purchase; must be supplied for verification. After; M S D; Revised
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M S D

•   W W W . M S D P E R F O R M A N C E . C O M   •   ( 9 1 5 )   8 5 5 - 7 1 2 3   •   F A X   ( 9 1 5 )   8 5 7 - 3 3 4 4

Parts Included:

1 - MSD Ignition

1 - Screwdriver

4 - Vibration Mounts

1 - Harness, PN 8860

1 - Parts Bag, ASY 28928

WARNING:

During installation, disconnect the battery cables. When disconnecting the battery always

remove the Negative cable first and install it last.

Note:

Solid Core spark plug wires cannot be used with an MSD Ignition.

Note:

Do not use digital or dial back timing lights.

LED INDICATOR

There is an LED that monitors the status of the Ignition. The LED monitors the trigger signals and will

flash to warn if the supply voltage drops below 9 volts while under 3,000 rpm.

OPERATION AND FEATURES

DIGITAL OPERATION

The MSD 6AL-2 uses a high speed RISC microcontroller to control the ignition's output while constantly

analyzing the various inputs such as supply voltage, trigger signals and rpm. The high speed con-

troller can make extremely quick compensations to the output voltage, multiple spark series, timing

and rpm limits while maintaining accurate timing signals to within 1° and 1% of the rpm limits. The

circuits and controller of the 6AL-2 have been thoroughly filtered to create protection against Electro

Magnetic Interference (EMI).

CAPACITIVE DISCHARGE

The MSD 6AL-2 features a capacitive discharge ignition design. The majority of stock ignition

systems are inductive ignitions. In an inductive ignition, the coil must store and step up the voltage

to maximum strength in between each firing. At higher rpm, since there is less time to charge the coil

to full capacity, the voltage falls short of reaching maximum energy which results in a loss of power

or top end miss.
The MSD Ignition features a capacitor which is quickly charged with 520 - 535 volts and stores it until

the ignition is triggered. With the CD design, the voltage sent to the coil is always at full power even

at high rpm.

MULTIPLE SPARKS

The MSD produces full power multiple sparks for each firing of a plug. The number of multiple sparks

that occur decreases as rpm increases, however the spark series always lasts for 20° of crankshaft

rotation. Above 3,000 rpm there is simply not enough “time” to fire the spark plug more than once,

so there is only one powerful spark.

PROTECTION

The MSD 6AL-2 has a built in reverse polarity protection circuit. This will protect the ignition in the

event of wrong connections. It will also shut off for protection from a surge in power. The ignition will

still operate once the surge or polarity is corrected.

MSD 6AL-2 Ignition Control

PN 6421

ONLINE PRODUCT REGISTRATION: Register your MSD product online. Registering your product

will help if there is ever a warranty issue with your product and helps the MSD R&D team create

new products that you ask for! Go to www.msdperformance.com/registration.

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Summary

Page 2 - W W W . M S D P E R F O R M A N C E . C O M; in detail on page 5.; GENERAL INFORMATION; with a supply voltage as low as seven volts.; Solid Core

2 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS M S D •   W W W . M S D P E R F O R M A N C E . C O M   •   ( 9 1 5 )   8 5 5 - 7 1 2 3   •   F A X   ( 9 1 5 )   8 5 7 - 3 3 4 4 REV LIMITER This Ignition features a built-in Soft Touch Rev Control with two different rpm limits. The Soft Touch circuitry provides a smooth...

Page 3 - both; MOUNTING; Compression Spark Plug Gap

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 3 M S D •   W W W . M S D P E R F O R M A N C E . C O M   •   ( 9 1 5 )   8 5 5 - 7 1 2 3   •   F A X   ( 9 1 5 )   8 5 7 - 3 3 4 4 Routing: Correct routing of the plug wires is also important to performance. Wires should be routed away from sharp edges and engine heat sour...

Page 4 - WIRING; GENERAL WIRING INFORMATION; Power Leads

4 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS M S D •   W W W . M S D P E R F O R M A N C E . C O M   •   ( 9 1 5 )   8 5 5 - 7 1 2 3   •   F A X   ( 9 1 5 )   8 5 7 - 3 3 4 4 WIRING GENERAL WIRING INFORMATION Wire Length: All of the wires of the MSD Ignition may be shortened as long as quality connectors are used or...

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