Electronic ignition system

[JimAllmon]

Are there any electronic ignition systems approved for the Lycoming engine on the Shrike Commanders?

[appleseed]

Hi Jim,

I wish I could offer you some useful info on your two valid questions, but I don’t know the answers. We could really add value/utility/reliability to our planes with some good tech support sharing. Other type websites and owners groups are better in that way, but it is not a thing as much here.

I can offer some arguments against electronic ignition. This coming from someone with dual elec ignition on my experimental.
1 - There have been a lot of failures and faults on the systems. Experienced mechanics at my home airport are recommending against installing them, and often replacing previously installed e mags with regular mags. E-mag, and Surefly specifically are systems that mechs got tired of troubleshooting and warrantying.
2 - The performance benefits on parallel valve Lycs are real and measurable, but on our angle valve 540s they are barely discernible.
3 - Easy starting is the other benefit of elec ignition. It would be appreciated, but practice and good technique have proven adequate for our planes.

[Bruce Byerly]

If everything is running as it should and timed right, it should start up like a car and run smooth as silk from rich to shutoff. If it doesn’t, something is amiss. Wires, plugs, mags, injectors need to be right. I have looked into electronic and found no real benefit but a lot of risk imho.