Every single person who has ever physically broken one of our starters has been running a crank trigger or a distributor with locked advance. About half of them were using electronic start retard which doesn't seem to always work very well.

We recommend two triggering devices with the second trigger retarded about 20 degrees from the first. You can add a second pickup to the crank trigger arm, or you can add a pickup to the distributor. Start the engine using the retarded trigger and then use a switch on the dash to move to the advanced pickup after the engine starts.

The single light spring in the distributor mechanical advance will work but make sure the advance mechanism always returns to zero. If the mechanism gets a little sticky, the weights won't return all the way using only one light spring.

Anyone running locked timming on the street?

My distributor has been locked for 6 years..Compression ranging from 11.8 to 13.3....no start retard or anything, has never kicked back, and start it with the key just like from the factory.

I like it, makes tming it easy(if your light is good)

I run the springs in my MSD dist, no problems with
starting at 14.1:1

I always lock them out, run better, idle better, never a problem staring even with my 13-1 engine... Ive even locked out stock mopar distributors...

Locked in at 35deg .

will the lean burn distributor work for a locked distributor?

Since it appears most are in favor of locking out the distributor.. Whats the easiest way to lock out a MSD?

Big block?
http://www.msdignition.com/uploadedFiles/MSDIgnitioncom/Products/distributors/8546_instructions.pdf

Small block?
http://www.msdignition.com/uploadedFiles/MSDIgnitioncom/Products/distributors/8534_instructions.pdf

It's on page 4. -Tom.

Is this on a MSD or a Mopar dist. I have a set of morso light springs I have thaught of putting in my MSD.

Yes, every engine that idles above 3,000 RPM will do quite well with locked advance.
Others... not so much.

If your engine runs the same with and without advance, there is something wrong with your cam, carb or both.