I've posted here and asked a few questions and have got to the point of assembling my first conversion, a Ryobi 31cc. I have the piston with new Bowman rings in the cylinder and the cylinder is bolted to the crankcase, without a gasket or gasket maker at this point just to make sure everything works before I start finalizing it all. I also have the flywheel with the prop shaft adapter, some washers as needed and a APC prop mounted so I can turn it over. The plug I have installed is a Champion RDJ7Y, not the resistor type but that is coming tomorrow from the auto parts store.

I noticed that the rod had some slop where it connects to the piston before I put it in the jug. I have a couple more Ryobi pistons and checked them and they had the same slop so I assumed thats just the way they are. My problem or at least I think it is a problem is that when the crank pin and the bottom of the rod are at about the nine o'clock position looking from the back of the engine I am getting a clicking sound. I looked at the bearing after I soaked and cleaned all parts in gas and they appeared to my untrained eye to be okay. If it was at TDC I would check it with a gasket installed to see if the piston was maybe hitting the plug or the top of the cylinder. I ported the exhaust to 150 degrees and very slightly rounded off the top where the rings slide by. I really can't think of anything else to say about what I've done to this engine that might help anybody that may want to offer an opinion as to what is causing this clicking.

Before I close I would like to say thanks to everybody that has contributed to this conversion forum. I have been reading it for months and have finally got all the parts together in one pile to try and do a conversion. I designed and built the plane and have finally got to the the point where I need to install the engine after breaking it in with the new rings and tuning the carb, a new WT-391 that I got from an auction site.

Thanks in advance,

Bill