Allison XR-700

[frank13]

Hey all, anybody have the Allison XR-700 or MSA Crane XR-700 installed on their Zed? And if so Can ant member post the wiring diagram. I just came across one. Optical twin LEDs in the dizzy with a three wire plug. This goes to the box along woth a black, purple, and red wires. Thanx. :devious:

[Bambikiller240]

Sorry, I can help. I tossed all of that stuff when the XR700 packed up and started leaving me stranded. Switched to Pertronix and haven't looked back. Cheaper, more reliable, completely contained inside the dist.

[SER240Z]

I've got a XR 700 on my Z. Don't have a way to post the wiring diagram though. I don't recall seeing a purple wire either, you may have an older version. Send me a PM and maybe we can meet up so you can sheck it out.

[frank13]

Hey Carl, what kind of problems did this set up give you? Any ways you know of to test this unit? I would like to power the pick up and even see if the LEDs light up. Then check the resistence or voltage change when the pick up is interupted at the box. Thanxs for the heads up Carl. I would like a Pertronix, but I came across this unit in the breaker yard. So I brought it home.

SER240Z, yes I believe it is an older unit. Now MSA sells the same model as a Crane Cams. So the wiring should be easy to figure out by looking at yours. I did PM you earlier. Thanxs guys. :devious:

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by frank13

Hey Carl, what kind of problems did this set up give you? Any ways you know of to test this unit? I would like to power the pick up and even see if the LEDs light up. Then check the resistence or voltage change when the pick up is interupted at the box. Thanxs for the heads up Carl. I would like a Pertronix, but I came across this unit in the breaker yard. So I brought it home.

Frank:

I'll start by saying that the Allison (now Crane) XR700 has been sold for AGES, and more than a few people have it and I guess they don't have a problem with it. But you won't catch me going back to it.

I bought one 3.5 years ago and it ran OK for almost two years though I had problems keeping the LED trigger device adjusted properly in relation to the shutter wheel. The screws on the mounting arm would not keep the LED and the receiver (there is only one LED, under the shutter is the receiver that "sees" the LED light and triggers the ignition via the "black box") securely in one place.

After about 20 months or so I started experiencing a sudden shut down of the engine while at speed. Needless to say, this can be very disconcerting (and dangerous) when on the freeway or in traffic where you have no place to go when the engine suddenly dies. After the car would sit for anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, the engine would restart and run normally for about 30 to 45 minutes, before suddenly shutting down again. I could not get any information on how to test the unit from Crane, though they offered to check it out if I sent it to them. Well, that wasn't an option for my dailey driver, so I spoke with many mechanics and emailed some knowledgable folks on the IZCC mail list. What I learned was that a component in the black box called the "power transistor" can develop a sensitivity to heat and when it gets hot, it ceases to function which shuts down the ignition, when it cools it will function again until it gets hot again. Seems this is a fairly well known and common problem with that XR-700 system.

I ordered a Pertronix from Vic British, ripped out the XR-700 and installed the Pertronix (an easier install) in about an hour, timed the engine and never looked back. The car ran (IMHO) much better, the system stays aligned properly. I am much more satisfied with the Pertronix than I ever was with the Crane. That mounting arm for the LED/Receiver always seemed rinky dink to me anyway, and I hated drilling holes in the inner fender to mount the damned black box (though I'm stuck with the holes now).

just my $.05 ( it's a long reply so it warrants more than $.02)

[frank13]

asked for. Thank you Carl. Everything you said makes perfect sense to me. Yes I totally agree the Pertronix is a completely simple install. But since I came acroos this unit and have been wanting an electronic after market upgrade it ended up in my gruby little hands. The faulty power transitier sounds like cheap parts. This is also what happens to poorly sourced OEM components. Thanks Carl. :devious:

[Bambikiller240]

Hey, at least you got your on the cheap. I paid almost $100 by the time you figure in shipping. I had thought long and hard about which system to get and chose Crane and spent the bucks. If you end up with any problems, just dump it and go Pertronix, or do Kyle's GM-HEI upgrade with JY parts.

[HS30-H]

I clicked on this thread thinking it was going to be about aero engines:stupid:

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by frank13

The faulty power transitier sounds like cheap parts. This is also what happens to poorly sourced OEM components.

Probably IS cheap. In more ways than one. I couldn't find a way into the black box to even look around on my XR system. No screws, tabs, latches or anything was visable.