I have a BME 110 that is less than a year old, has about 2-3 gallons though it. I have not flown the plane in about 5 months, it ran great the last time I flew it but today there seems to be an ignition problem. I have bypassed the switches used two different batteries and no spark. The engine has the factory CH Ignition. I can't figure out why it would go bad just sitting for a few months but apparently it has. Anyone know if the CH Ignition is covered under the two year warranty these engines have?

Are you absolutely sure you're getting fuel to the motor?

I am pretty sure that C&H warranties their igntions for 1 year.

Yep, and I am 100% sure there is no spark.[]

Go to the C&H site, they have a comprehensive trouble shooting guide on line.

The spark plugs looked fine but when I changed them out it fired right up. Problem solved.

Looks like 100% is not what it seems

Oops, I am back to 100% sure I do not have spark. Just before I switched out the plugs I took the ignition box apart to look for anything out of place (loose wires, broken solder joints ect) all seemed ok. I then switched out the plugs and it fired right up.

Today when I got to the field (same plugs ect that worked last night at the house nothing changed at all) all of a sudden no spark again, not even a sputter. I pulled the plugs they looked fine. Cleaned them, grounded them against the head and had a buddy spin the prop no spark at all. I even tried a spark tester, no spark. batteries all good switches all good. I am thinking there is a loose connection somewhere in the ignition that I must have moved when I too the ignition apart. Apparently its lost connection again. So looks like I will be sending the ignition back to BME or CH.[]

Better to find out on the ground than comming out the bottom of a blender...

Swat----It could be the hall sensor.
Sometimes the wire breaks where it attaches to the motor on the bracket and can give you intermittent problems.

Also to check the ignition go to the CH site and follow the directions. If you briefly ground the white wire and release ( I think it's white, but check first) you should get a spark.

Do not send them in until you do the basic diagnostic tests, It could be what I mentioned above. If it turns out to be the hall sensor, call Keith and he or CH will drop you a new one in the mail.

I believer it is the Hall sensor. I did the diagnostic test and it sparks when the switch is turned on. I called Keith and he is sending me a new Hall sensor. That was a week ago so it should be here soon.

Remove the heat shrink from around the sensor and wires.
I have had one which had a broken wire and gave me an intermittent run.
Solder the wire back together and run.

I had the very same problem. It was the hall sensor so I replaced it today for another one and the problem was solved...but it lasted only one fligth. I will open it as you mentioned and check for a loose wire. If it is not: what I am doing wrong to break two hall sensors in short time? BTW:The engine is shaking quite a lot because is new and it is well grounded. [][].
Have you Keith´s e mail?
Thanks . Alex

I talked to Keith and he is supposedly sending me a new one but its still not here yet. There is a Hurricane this week anyway hopefully I will have ti by next weekend though.

I think Keit's E-mail address is:

[email protected]

I thought he had an AOL address

Could be I am not sure, his e-mail address is not on the BME website anymore. I sent an e mail to that address and it hasn't come back as a bad address.

Thanks! I have the aol address, but it seems that it is not working. The wires of the sensor were ok.Lets see. Alex

I had the same problem and confirmed it with the troubleshooting procedures on the CH website. Ordered another sensor from CH and it burned out within 5 flights. CH sent another one that had an extra ground wire. Haven't had a problem since then.

Make sure you check the timing after replacing the sensor, mine was off by over 3 degrees.

Well, I replaced the hall sensor and it flew great for about 5 flights I would say. I have the engine in a new all composite Edge 540. The engine ran great last week in the garage but I got out to the field today to do the maiden flight on the Edge and no spark. I guess I will order a few this time so I have some spares. I wonder why these things keep blowing. I will try and get a few of the newer version from CH with the extra ground wire.

Swat---CH should be able to set you up, if all else fails Keith now is using Falcon ignitions too. I do not know what they cost but it is an alternate, you would have to re-time your engine with the Falcon ignition.
I have never heard of someone having this many problems with CH. In fact a lot of uav platforms have gone to CH d/t the lower failure rate in a harsh environment.

I like the C&H but it will become damaged from excessive vibration.

No, this isn't from vibration. It goes out from sitting tuned off. Its never caused the engine to stop while running. Its the next day when you are ready to go fly again that it doesn't work.

I also had one go out on me, same thing, ran well one day the next dead. Maybe the bought some bad sensors,,,,everyone else tells me it is very rare, usually the wires break........I plan on flying tomorrow, I hope I did not jinx my self

Swatcop, I would suggest that you look for a grounding problem, intermittant. That usually is the reason got the sensors going bad. The ground MUST be attached to the engine some place that it doesn't shake loose. On the C/H I attach the ground to the hex part of the sparkplug with a small hose clamp an in all my years of using C/H have never had a sensor burn out.
I think its a ground problem

I believe you are right, I don't know why there is no ground wire on these ignitions. According to someone on an earlier post there is an updated sensor that has a ground wire. The ignition I have has no ground wire that is connected to the engine.