I finally got my carburator problems solved and got the fly the other day (with skis). The engine was running ok and then just quit like the ignition was turned off, which is apparently what happened. I landed ok on the runway with no damage. There is no spark. It has the stock electronic ignition that comes with the engine. I have a manual switch and a radio operated switch (EDR-107). When both switches are on the led lights indicating power to the unit but no spark. That is about the limit of my knowledge of the electronic ignition system. Any help or advise. Should I try to wire around the radio switch? I really don't thank it is the problem. Is there any way to check the EIC unit? Should I just order another one. This one didn't last too long. It is soft mounted in the firewall with foam rubber and tie wraps. Does anyone make a better onEIC for this engine????

Is it the one that is silver and say's Melony or something like that.

Milton

Take the plug out and with it firmly mounted in the rubber boot of the CDI hold it against the cylinder head and with ignition on slowly rotate the prop past the magnet on the prop shaft. See if it sparks when passing. Make sure your CDI batteries are charged etc. If you have the original Melody CDI module with the SPE26 them the chances are that it may be cactus. Mine lasted a few flights before failing, the next one lasted a few more and eventually I purchased a RCXL module that has worked well ever since.

Thanks. That is what I was afraid of. I already tested as you directed. No spark. I'll look into the RCXL module.

Milton,

Yes it says Melody on it and is the stock unit. Since I bought the engine used and there is no warranty, I decided to take the unit apart. I found a loose part. Looks like a piece of coated chewing gum with small wires coming out the corners, a resistor I think. This is mounted vertially with no other support. I looks like with vibration it broke loose. I have soldered it back and now I have a spark. I may have mounted it too ridgedly, wrapped with foam rubber and the plastic tie wraps holding it to the fire wall. Now I have used a lot of foam rubber and mounted with rubber band. I don't want to order a replacement as I believe this is a design defect that makes this unit very susceptable to vibration. What is best replacement unit????

Though I would give an update. Steve Chao from Cermark sent me a private e-mail and asked me to call him. I did and told him of my ignition problems as I have related them here. After I soldered the loose part back in the module it still was cutting out. He asked what color was the rubber inside the spark plug boot. I told him it was black. He said that was an old model with which they had problems, and he would send a new system free of charge, and only asked that I send the old one back. This is what I call really great customer service, especially since I bought the engine used. I'll report further after I receive the new unit and test it.

I have seen allot of posts by Steve and comments about his service in the last few months. He has really been doing some very good work.

I got the new ignition system as Steve from Cermark as promised. I have not had a chance to fly as the weather here has been nasty. But I ran it on the ground with the new ignition system and a new Champion RDJ8J plug. It run good on the ground with good transition and good idle. Idle is at about 1,700 rpm. Full power with an 18-6 prop is 6,350 rpm. I think this will do good for sports flying or scale. The prop is on the large end of the scale for this engine.

I finally got a chance to fly the plane with the new ignition system and spark plug. Good enough power for scale, and a little more on Great Planes Super Stearman. This is a heay plane at about 15.5 lbs. Run good. No cutting out. It seems the new ignition system solved the problem. As for how long it will last, we will see. Only complaint I have now is a popping sound when engine is unloaded. None or less on take off and during vertical or steep climb, usually when flying level. Is this normal? I've seen other gas powered planes flying, some sounded this way and others didn't. Should I try a different prop? Does it need high speed needle adjustments? OR is this just the way it is??

Used the same 24 oz fuel tank as with the OS 120, converted to gas. Found I don't need near that big a tank. Uses very little fuel compaired to the large glow engine. I'm still new to gas engines and still learning but I thank I'm a convert. Easy starting, good power, long idle period no problem and NO MESS.

Leaned out the high speed 1/8 turn. RPM with 18x6 Master Airscrew Prop 6,600. With JZ 17x6 7,700rpm. Flew with the 18x6. Good power no poping sound at high speed or 1/2 throttle. Some lower. More than enough power for the Stearman, good verticle but not unlimited. Cermark stood behind the product. I think this is going to work. We will see if the ignition last. Check voltage and didn't seem to be too much drain.

Well, After reading this thread I checked the ignition module that came with the SPE 26 that I bought from a friend ( still in the box) and I could not find a name on the ignition. It is silver and black with the black rubber boot in the plug cap.. This is my first gas engine and I am hoping for a smooth transition to gas.

scosby:

If the rubber inside the plug boot is black, you have the old Melody Ignition system which has reportedly given people trouble. The new system that Steve send has gray rubber inside the plug boot and a red band around the outside of the boot. Let me know how it works out. Now I have my SPE 26 sorted out I think it is ok. I followed the starting proceedures as set out in SPE manual and it started up manually with no problem. In cold weather 28 degrees F, rotated prop 30 revolutions with choke on and throttle closed. Turned on ignition. After 4 or 5 flips it fired. Opened choke halfway. In two flips it started. Let it warm up some then opened choke. Let it run more at high idle for 30 sec to a minute. Slowly opened to full throttle. Checked transition- ok. Flew the plane. No problems.

Fired up the 26 today on a test stand. I only got one tank run through it because of losing daylight, but it ran very well. Will see what the tach says with a 16x8 tomorrow. Should I be using a 5 cell NMH? with the older Ignition?

Thanks

Either a 4 or 5 cell should work fine, just be sure its charged up. Got to fly again the other day, with skis. The engine started again manually with no trouble and ran great. Even though it turns up more rpm with the 17-6 prop, it seems the plane has more power with the 18-6 prop. This may be because of the large radial engine cowling on the Stearman.

RBean, How much time did you get on the original ignition before you started having problems?

Thanks

I Started having ignition problems right off. Then it quit. Still working. I now have nine or ten flights on the new ignition and its doing fine.

I had the similar problem with spe 26 ,high voltage on ignition systems will find shortest route to ground ,is called "arcing " from the boot to the braided ground wire bypassing the spark plug , solved this by soldering a heavy wire to the ignition box & connecting it to the engine, it run perfect ever since . Sorry no photos ,sold 26cc ,moved to50cc. I was running an APC 17x8 on a 68 inch edge 540 , 10lbs it flue very well.