(2)If the
engine isn't preheated and the weather is cold enough, the first
combustion cycles will create enough water vapour in the cylinders to
frost the sparkplug electrodes and short them. My old A-65 is famous
for this. You get a very brief run and then it dies, and no amount of
fooling with it will make it go.


Very interesting. I never heard of that. Is it common? I did note
that the engine did sputter briefly on my first try. I wonder if it was
not adequately preheated (used forced air for only about 2 hours).
Well, I have an A&P looking at it over the next couple of days. I will
report his findings. Thanks for all the sage advice.

-Sami