The electronic ignition for the 009 simply replaces the points and condenser with a solid state switch triggered by a small magnet. Setting the timing is a dilemma if you are hand propping. You would like the advance set to zero for starting. If you do that you will not get 30 degrees of advance from the 009. So now it is a trade-off between zero and 7 degrees or so for static timing. You can see the amount of advance the 009 is doing with a timing light and 1500 rpm or so.
Guideline for hand prop starting is avoid too much spark advance, wear leather gloves, do not wrap the fingers around the prop blade. Also mount the prop so it is in the right position relative to one cylinder firing. Maybe you start with the prop at 1 oclock and have the cylinder fire when the prop is at 4 oclock. You can use the flat of your hand to push the prop blade from up to down as you are ready to back out of the way. I have experienced the wrong way to do it. Engine fired backwards and the prop got my hand. I had no gloves, timing was too advanced, I had wrapped my fingers around the blade. I am pretty sure it broke the bone in my index finger. Now the finger is a little crooked and has a more limited range of motion and some numbness. I am just thankful that I still have all the fingers and still functional. It is too easy to forget that safety should be first before doing something dangerous.
That is why we want our ultralight to get some altitude and we always have a place land with no power. Plan ahead.
Norm Heistand my .02
