MSD Ignition Crank Trigger Wheel

MSD Flying Magnet Crank Trigger Wheels: The Standard in Race Ignition Timing

When it comes to extracting every last ounce of performance from a high-output engine, ignition timing accuracy is non-negotiable. MSD Ignition has long been the name racers and engine builders trust, and nowhere is that reputation more evident than in their line of ignition crank trigger wheels. These precision components sit at the heart of what MSD calls the Flying Magnet Crank Trigger system — a design that has redefined how performance engines receive their trigger signal.

Why Crank Trigger Wheels Matter

A distributor-based ignition system, while reliable for street and mild performance use, introduces mechanical variables through the timing chain, camshaft, cam gear, and distributor shaft before a trigger signal is ever generated. The MSD Flying Magnet Crank Trigger System is among the most accurate ways to trigger an ignition, because the trigger signal comes directly from the source of piston position — the crankshaft itself. When you start increasing compression, cylinder pressures, and extreme RPM, a distributor falls far short of accuracy, resulting in timing inconsistencies and lost performance.

The Flying Magnet Difference

What sets MSD crank trigger wheels apart from conventional designs is the engineering behind the Flying Magnet concept. Although similar in appearance to other crank triggers, the MSD Flying Magnet design works on a different principle — most crank triggers have a wheel with steel studs sticking out, bolted to the harmonic balancer; as the crankshaft turns, the studs pass a stationary magnetic pick-up, but this pick-up can be triggered by other bolts, debris, or even vibrations, causing a loss of power or engine damage.

The MSD Flying Magnet Crank Trigger uses four magnets secured in the aluminum trigger wheel that pass by a stationary non-magnetic pick-up to trigger the ignition — this "flying magnet" design produces accurate trigger signals, and the non-magnetic pick-up cannot be falsely triggered. With the MSD system, there are four rare earth magnets embedded in an aluminum wheel 90 degrees apart (three magnets at 120 degrees on even-fire 6-cylinders).

Construction & Application Coverage

The kit installs easily and uses rigid aluminum mounting bracketry and hardware that will not flex and cause timing fluctuations, and powerful magnets are embedded in a 3/8-inch thick aluminum trigger wheel that sends a clean signal for every firing. Each Flying Magnet Crank Trigger includes a two-piece mounting bracket for the non-magnetic pick-up that in most cases will work on either the passenger side or driver's side of the engine, and the CNC-machined aluminum bracket securely holds the pick-up in place and is slotted to provide a wide range of timing adjustments — spacers are also included so you can mount the bracket on engines with standard motor mounts or engines with a .25-inch motor plate.

MSD offers a number of kits for Chevy, Ford, Mopar, and other GM applications including LS engines. Specific fitments span Small Block Chevy (6.25 in., 7 in., and 8 in. diameters), Big Block Chevy (8 in.), Small Block and Big Block Ford, Chrysler Small Block and B/RB, and LS Gen III/IV platforms — with both standard and Hall-Effect sensor variants available. Options include color choices (red or black anodized finish), with or without Hall-Effect sensor, and complete kits that include an ignition box, spark plug wires, distributor, coil, and other components.

Seamless Integration with MSD Ignition Systems

These systems will trigger MSD 6, 7, and 8 Series Ignitions and all MSD Timing Accessories. MSD introduced the Flying Magnet Crank Trigger over 25 years ago, yet it remains among the most accurate ways to trigger the ignition — it can be used for both distributor-fired ignitions as well as coil-per-cylinder systems such as their Pro 600 CDI Ignition. Whether you are building a dedicated drag race engine, a road racing platform, or a high-horsepower street/strip combination, MSD crank trigger wheels deliver the timing stability your build demands.