Msd 6520 Digital 6-Plus Ignition Control Installation- User Manual
Msd 6520 Digital 6-Plus 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.
Table of Contents:
- Page 2 – GENERAL INFORMATION; Figure 1 Tach Terminal
- Page 3 – SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES; Solid Core spark plug wires cannot; could occur and cause engine damage.; MOUNTING
- Page 4 – WIRING; GENERAL WIRING INFORMATION; Power Leads
- Page 5 – PROGRAMMING; CYLINDER SELECT; Figure 2 Programming the Number of Cylinders.; Note: Positions 8 and; Figure 3 Programming the Compensation Circuit.
- Page 6 – REV LIMITER; Figure 4 Adjusting the Rev Limits.; -Step Limit: This rpm limit is activated; RETARD STAGE; Note: This retard will only operate
- Page 7 – PRESTART CHECK LIST; TROUBLESHOOTING; improper installation or poor connections.; LED; a sustained amount of time.; Tachometer Compatibility List; AFTERMARKET TACHOMETER
- Page 8 – NO-RUN ON FOREIGN VEHICLES; Figure 8 Wiring the Dual Ballast Resistor.; Ford: Install the Diode inline to the wire going to the “1” terminal.
- Page 9 – MISSES AND INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS; Figure 11 Checking for Spark; If triggering with the Magnetic Pickup:
- Page 11 – MSD SYSTEMS Installing to Points/Amplifier Style Ignition.; NOTE: On dual point setups, it is recommended; to remove the trailing set of points.; MSD SYSTEMS Installing to an MSD Distributor/Crank Trigger.; NOTE: Ballast Resistor is not necessary.; negative wire connects to MSD White. The
- Page 12 – MSD SYSTEMS Installing to an MSD Distributor PN 8360.
- Page 13 – MSD SYSTEMS With an MSD Timing Control (points or amplifier).
- Page 14 – GM IGNITIONS Wiring a Dual Connector Coil.; NOTE: MSD offers a direct plug in harness that
- Page 15 – GM IGNITIONS Wiring with an MSD Wiring Harness.
- Page 16 – GM IGNITIONS GM Large Cap HEI Distributors; base of the distributor. Count the number of terminals on both ends; NOTE: The GM Ignition Module and condenser are removed; and replaced with the MSD PN 8861 Harness.
- Page 17 – NOTE: Some 5-pin models may experience a; hesitation or stall on deceleration. If this; FORD IGNITIONS Wiring a Ford DuraSpark using White Wire Trigger.
- Page 19 – FORD IGNITIONS Wiring a Ford TFI with Harness, PN 8874.; NOTE: Installation of a Timing Control with the Harness, see page 15.
- Page 20 – CHRYSLER IGNITIONS Wiring a Late Model Dodge with 2-pin connector.; drawing shows the installation with the coil already modified.
- Page 21 – HONDA IGNITIONS Wiring a Honda with Internal Coil.; MSD offers a Power Cap to convert your
- Page 22 – Wiring a Toyota with a Tach Adapt PN 8910HEI.; The negative wire connects to MSD; HONDA IGNITIONS Wiring a Factory External Coil Honda/Acura .
- Page 24 – AUTOTRONIC CONTROLS CORPORATION; AFTERMARKET COMPONENTS Wiring to a Pertronix Ignitor Kit.; Limited Warranty; or consequential damages.; Service; When returning MSD components for warranty service,; Proof of Purchase must be supplied for verification. After; All returns must have a Return Material Authorization (RMA) number; issued to them before; M S D
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
1
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 7 - 5 2 0 0 • F A X ( 9 1 5 ) 8 5 7 - 3 3 4 4
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 7 - 5 2 0 0 • F A X ( 9 1 5 ) 8 5 7 - 3 3 4 4
Parts Included:
1 - MSD Ignition
1 - Harness, PN 8860
1 - Parts Bag, ASY 19864
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.
Important: When installing a Digital Series Ignition, the timing must be checked and reset to your engine's
specifications.
REV LIMITER
This Ignition features a built-in Soft Touch Rev Control with two different rpm limits. The Soft Touch circuitry
provides a smooth and accurate rev limit by dropping the spark to individual cylinders. The Soft Touch
produces a load-free rev limit that is within 1% of the selected rpm.
You can select two rev limits; one for a low limit that can be used when staging the car, and another limit
for top end overrev protection. Both rpm limits are adjusted in 100 rpm increments with the sealed rotary
switches on the side of the ignition. Using and programming the Two Step is explained in detail on page 6.
OPERATION AND FEATURES
Note: Do not use digital or dial back timing lights.
DIGITAL OPERATION
The MSD Digital 6 Plus 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
controller 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 Digital 6 Plus have been thoroughly debounced and isolated to create protection against
Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI).
CAPACITIVE DISCHARGE
The MSD Digital 6 Plus 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 3,300 rpm there is simply not enough “time” to fire the spark plug more than once, so there is only
one powerful spark.
MSD Digital 6 Plus Ignition Control
PN 6520
ONLINE PRODUCT REGISTRATION: Register your MSD product online and you’ll be entered
in our monthly 8.5mm Super Conductor Spark Plug Wire give-away! Registering your product
will help if there is ever a warranty issue with your product and helps the MSD R&D team create
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Summary
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 7 - 5 2 0 0 • F A X ( 9 1 5 ) 8 5 7 - 3 3 4 4 RETARD CONTROL There is a single stage of retard that can be adjusted from 0 to 9.9 degrees in 1/10° increments. The retard is activated whe...
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 7 - 5 2 0 0 • F A X ( 9 1 5 ) 8 5 7 - 3 3 4 4 SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES Spark plug wires are very important to the operation of your ignition system. A good quality, helically wound wire and...
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 7 - 5 2 0 0 • 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 ...
