[frankenvette]

I recently installed a MSD Pro-Billet tach drive distributor and it's chirping like a bird. . . sounds like a fan belt. I used an auto stethoscope to isolate the chirping and it's definitely the distributor. I have posted on the MSD Tech Forum, but no response yet.

Any ideas what to look for?

[Will H]

I have a machanical tach drive MSD Pro Billet and it started chirping once. Mine has a grease zert in the shaft housing. I pumped some Mobile One grease in it and the chirping stopped. That was over a year ago and no chirping since.

[Classix_Lover]

Originally Posted by jsdailey

I recently installed a MSD Pro-Billet tach drive distributor and it's chirping like a bird. . . sounds like a fan belt. I used an auto stethoscope to isolate the chirping and it's definitely the distributor. I have posted on the MSD Tech Forum, but no response yet.

Any ideas what to look for?

I have an msd as well, however does yours only chirp while you rev the engine or continuous chirping? Been wondering why it would be doing this and what a good solution could be. Made a thread a while back, but nobody here seemed to chip in a good idea.

[Classix_Lover]

Edit: Weird posting problems tonight

[k-star]

I have not had that problem with the MSD'S, but i have had other distributors on my distributor dyno make the Chirp sound. Usually if you move the cap a touch it will stop.


Keith

[frankenvette]

I posted my problem on the MSD Tech Forum and here's the answer I received. . . .











Nothing!

I posted on the Corvette Forum and one of the guys said to check the plug wire connections on the cap, could be an arch. So, I'll start the car in the dark and look for a show.

Will H, I will grease the tach drive, but I did check this area with the sthetoscope, and nothing from the housing or cable.

Classix_Lover, my chirp is constant, idle or at rpm, very annoying!

k-star, I took the cap off, and the rotor to look for foreign objects, still chirps.

Will do some more discovery tonight and post again.

[Will H]

It could be the tach cable. You do know that it's adjustable to get a straighter shot through the firewall? Did you use the little adapter that came with it to adapt the Corvette cable to the dizzy? Does your tach stay steady or does it jump around?

[frankenvette]

Will H, the cable was replaced early spring, it's as straight as is possible through the firewall, no issue there. I did install the adapter, and the tach does jump occasionally at higher rpm's, have a replacement as part of my winter projects. The chirping is coming from under the cap. I can hear the chirp louder on the passenger side than the driver side, and seems to be coming from inside the cap. Still nothing from MSD, so I'll call the tech center today and get an RMA and send it back for repair. Too cold to drive now anyway!

[k-star]

I typed this a few time and can't get it to come out right..here it goes..


Does it sound like a 8 beat chirp??? like everytime the rotor passes the cap terminal?? or is it slower more intermittent???

Does that make sense???what i am asking??

Keith

[frankenvette]

k-star, does make sense, and yes it is consistant. I did not have an opportunity to run the motor in the dark last night, but will tonight. Thinking is it's the plug wire aching I could see it.

I contacted MSD and they said to get it out of the engine and return it, could fail and cause much more problems, so I think I'll return it. Better safe than sorry!

[k-star]

Sounds like the best thing to do..

If you can, find out from MSD what it was and let us know..

I can tell you that of all the ignition systems that i have run through my shop the MSD is always rock soild. I feel they also have good customer service..

Keith

[Classix_Lover]

Originally Posted by jsdailey

I posted my problem on the MSD Tech Forum and here's the answer I received. . . .











Nothing!

I posted on the Corvette Forum and one of the guys said to check the plug wire connections on the cap, could be an arch. So, I'll start the car in the dark and look for a show.

Will H, I will grease the tach drive, but I did check this area with the sthetoscope, and nothing from the housing or cable.

Classix_Lover, my chirp is constant, idle or at rpm, very annoying!

k-star, I took the cap off, and the rotor to look for foreign objects, still chirps.

Will do some more discovery tonight and post again.

Hmm.. mine only does it under a quick snap of the throttle. A chirp will sound for a split second exactly like the sound of a slipping belt as you described, but it's clearly towards the back of the engine. Not sure what to make of it to be honest.

As k-star said, let us know if MSD informs you on what the problem could potentially be.

[frankenvette]

Ordered and received a new distributor from Jeg's (overnight, these guys are the BEST) and installed it this afternoon, problem solved. The original distributor had a real problem, when I spun the drive it made a grinding/crunching noise, and it was hard to turn. Not good! Glad I got it out before it had a chance to fail!

I just got back from the post office and shipped the defective distributor back to Jegs's for credit.

[Derkyb]

Wish I had read this early I would have let u known it was the distributor. I had the same problem along with an Irractic Tach replaced it with a Summit brand and problem sloved.