Hi Planecracy,
I have talked with DA about doing this and they said that the sensor position wasn't critical on the DA's. They said you could run it all the way back or all the way up and it can't hurt the engine. Too much advance is what will kill one but there is enough movement in the sensor to do that on the DA's.

Kent,
You may want to wait a while before tinkering as the 50 is not broken in yet and the idle will get much better as the engine breaks in and you go leaner on the mixtures. It takes a whole year of flying to get one of these engines really fully broke in. The initial breakin is just to make sure the rings seat good and to wear them in so the cylinders don't get scored, but after that it takes a long long time for the engine to loosen up on the bearings and for the cylinder to get worn in real good. That 50 is one honking engine! Before you do anything I would talk with Dave or somebody to make sure it's something you really want to do. I don't wanna suggest that this will work for everybody as I don't really know why it's working so well for me. I also have pipes installed in my airplane and am running premium fuel so all that combined could effect the results of what I'm seeing. I have read where Dick Hanson has run alot of engines fully retarded before and had good luck. I'm hoping he will See this and reply. Really what I'm looking for here is ***why*** this is happening so that i understand fully what is going on. I also want to make sure this is working as it should, and continue to work as it should. I really recommend that anybody who reads this not do this until we understand fully why my engine showed what was posted in my last reply. These engines are expensive and I wouldn't want anyone to do anything that could be detrimental to their engine. There are many variables with these engines. I have a high load prop also on my engine which could have an effect on what I'm seeing. I'm running a 25-12 3 blade which is alot of load at 5800. I would like to say that the engine did not seem to run hotter and there was no hint of detonation as this engine runs very quiet and I'm feel certain it could be heard. The engine, pipe, and prop combo I'm running is as quiet as they make at this point in time. It has tested quietest of the meet at just about every meet I've flown in except for one where there was a 1.40 sized airplane which was obviously quieter. Normal ground tests come in at 87dB and the highest recorded was 89dB...on the 89dB reading there was a tree line at that particular field that I feel certain was reflecting some sound back at the meter. Just thought I would give a little more info on my setup, and thought I better warn against this until we understand more about the why part.