I made it out to the airport today, soldered up the CAS and installed it.  Before I cranked it over, I put it in mode 8 and fired it off.  The usual nice blue sparks.  Then set it to mode 0 and cranked with the plugs out and pumps/inj off.  No spark.  Cranked and looked again.  Every so often there would be a weak spark or 3, but most of the time, nothing.  So little or no spark.  I measured the gap between the CAS and the wheel and I get between .045 and .050  (I don't have the right feeler gauges).  This contrasts with Mark having to move his CAS to .020  to make it work.  The flange that the CAS sets on is part of the cast casing and is machined flat where the CAS is bolted in.  It looks like this sould be the correct setting and would never have concidered this to be the problem (still don't know for sure if it is) if Mark hadn't mentioned it.  Have any of you Renesis people run into this?  Some possibilities are that it needs a smaller gap for the EC-2. or that this being a "grey market" engine, they let the builder figure it out the spacing.  It could be something else, but my plan is to grind the flange down to a gap of .020 and try it.  It will be a bitch to get to.  I can add spacers if I need to move it back out.  Anyone else have any suggestions as what else might be the problem?  Bill, Tracy and Dennis, did you have this problem with spacing on the Renesis, or did you just install the stock CAS and go?  I checked the factory Manual on CD and they have no specs on the gap.  BTW no RPM display at these low cranking speeds.  Lynn, I am running a stock 13b autotrans starter.  It cranks well, until the battery runs down.  Yes, I have my 12 lb Catto prop installed.  I put a little oil into the plugs holes before cranking. 

Dennis, I'll put that inverted drain valve at the top of the radiator housing this weekend.  I also have 2 air purge lines, one running from the rear top of the engine and the other from the radiator, radiator cap, both going up to the surge tank to purge air out of the system.  Bob, I think your harnesses are fine!  Picked up some Marvel MM oil for squirting into the plug holes.  Bill, I have been cleaning my plugs with carb cleaner, then blowing them dry.  If that doesn't work, I'll use the rice hulls. I will attempt to fire it off once the urathane sets and I get the flange cut down.  Guys, thanks for all the suggestions!  I'll keep you posted.

 

Don Walker