I just installed a brand new FPE 2.4 and tried to start it for the first time. The instructions said to put the choke on and open the throttle to full and flip it til it pops. I never got a pop. The ignition wire fits the plug very loosely. It hasn't fallen off, but it's by no means snug. I didn't receive any instructions at all on hooking up the ignition system. Are you suppose to crimp the end of ignition wire around the plug? That doesn't seem right.

The plug wire should fit very snug, dont fly unless its secure!. Is it a rubber bootie or is it a bosch type end? Is your ignition battery charged fully? Do you have the braided ground wire clamped to the base of the spark plug or to the head? Do you have the correct spark plug intalled? Can you see gas in the fuel line? I dont have experience with FPE engines but when trying to start it, usually you have the throttle at idle. I know on the Brison engines much throttle and it will backfire. For safety I would not like to be flippin props above an idle.

Good luck,

Jerry

Another thing, go to C & H ignitions (use Google.com to find there address) and look at there ignition guide. I dont know if FPE uses C & H Ignitions but that would give you some information. I also think somebody here said BME had good instruction at there web site.

Jerry

I have one too, and that is the way the plug fits, it's acually very secure. I had a problem w/ mine drawing fuel and it was hard to start. turned out the choke plate was off just a small amount and would not close tight. It would not draw fuel up to prime. I just loosened the screw on the plate and repositioned so it would seal, and my problem was solved. You can ck spark by removing the plug and grounding to engine, then w/ switch on, rock the trigger magnet back and forth past sensor. You should see or hear the plug fire. Make sure you have the plug grounded! You can also just grab the wire and rock the crank, Ask me how I know . If you still dont have any luck try www.fpengines.com

I did squeeze the plug wire just a little with pliers. I used a small needle nose pliers and was careful not to bend anything enough to damage it. It does fit noticeably tighter now. I don't think there's any chance of it coming off, but you can rotate the wire on the plug. It's still not as secure as a automotive plug wire would be, but it's probably ok.

This engine doesn't have a C&H ignition, I don't know if FPE makes it, but I have never seen another like it. There's a coil and a little black bag containing the other ignition stuff. The ground wire from the coil is attached to one of the engine mounting bolts. The wire from the sensor by the hub can only plug into the connector from the little black bag one way, so it must be correct. I need to double check the wire from the coil to the little black bag. I am not sure if that wire can be hooked up backward or not. I did get the engine to fire this time.

After several flips, it was 24 degrees here so I didn't expect it to start on the first flip, it fired with the choke closed and the throttle wide open. That's how the instructions said to do it. The problem is that it wants to run backwards. I am not overly comfortable flipping an engine that wants to run backwards. After the engine fired with the choke closed, I opened the choke and set the throttle at what I thought was just above idle. It fired with the choke open, but it still wanted to run backwards.

What could cause this? Could I have the throttle too far open? I am tempted to try starting it with my Sullivan Dynatron.

Thanks for any info, this forum is really an excellent resource.

Sounds like a timing problem, you had better contact FPE since it has fixed timing.

I have two of these and they start great and my 3.2 does the same way.. It sounds like you are trying to hard. Simple start. 1 - Turn off ignition battery 2- close choke on carb 3- give about one notch above idle on the throttle 4 - put finger over carb and crank two or three times till you get gas on your finger 5- open choke half way 6- turn on ignition 7- flip prop in proper direction fliping prop by hub. When it starts open carb let warm up a minute hit throtle and pull up. mail me with any questions also fpe's # 724-588- 9559 he makes the parts there in PA [email protected]

A properly timed gasser, with a qood ignition, will start with one finger and will not run backwards..

My first thought was maybe I wasn't using high enough octane gas. FPE said he had customers running them on coleman fuel which is only 80 octane. He thinks the problem might be the coil. He is going to send a new one priority mail, so I should know in a few days.

FPE support seems to be pretty responsive. I talked to someone very knowledgeable and he's helping out immediately. I hope the coil is the problem.

The coil can't be the problem if it fires at all..The ignition circuit determines the firing point..IF IT RUNS BACKWARDS THE TIMING IS RETARDED OR THE PRO SPARK IGNITION IS BAD....If the timing is fixed it was installed in the wrong place, or the hub somehow slipped on the crank...This is not rocket science...