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Home / Engine Parts / Lycoming / Magneto Parts /SureFly SIM6C 6 Cylinder Continental Magneto Replacement
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SureFly SIM6C 6 Cylinder Continental Magneto Replacement

9 Reviews 8 Answered Questions
$2195.00/Each
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Part# 08-17077
MFR Model# SIM6C

Overview

Now approved for the replacement of both mechanical magnetos on most certified four- and six-cylinder Lycoming and Continental powered aircraft with dual SureFly Electonic Ignitions. Please review the Engine and Airframe STC's and installation instructions for further application information.


Note: SIMs require a Slick style ignition harness. If you are replacing a Bendex style magneto, you will need to source a Slick style ignition harness. If your aircraft has pressurized magnetos, is turbocharged, or you routinely operate at altitudes above 10,000' call SureFly for suggestions regarding ignition harness selection.

SureFly strongly recommends the customer purchase a NEW slick-style harness and fresh spark plug set when installing a SureFly SIM.

Replaces 6-cylinder magnetos on Continental engines. 5.0 lbs.

SureFly is an FAA certified electronic (solid state) magneto replacement. The SureFly Ignition Module replaces one magneto - generally the left or impulse-coupled/starting magneto on most aircraft. 4 and 6-Cylinder models are available for Lycoming and Continental engines.

Replacing just one magneto eliminates magneto maintenance and cuts associated costs in half! Zero maintenance. Zero rebuilds. Zero overhauls. Most fixed-wing single engine aircraft can enable SureFly's advanced timing feature for improved cruise flight efficiency. Many other aircraft will be able to use the advanced timing feature as the FAA extends SureFly's Airframe STC AML.

In the Box

  • SureFly Ignition Module (SIM)
  • Power wire harness (84" long 14ga. wire with inline fuse holder, 10A fuse & ring terminals) If your battery is located in the tail of your aircraft, you will need to purchase a longer power wire.
  • Manifold pressure hose (36" long 1/8"ID x 1/4"OD high temp. rubber hose)
  • Engine STC paperwork
  • Airframe STC paperwork
   
California Prop 65 Warning Symbol

WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

Features

Reliability
For SureFly customers, 500 hours is simply not good enough. SureFly Ignition Modules provide operators a 2,400 hour operating service time. No inspections, no rebuilds, no overhauls. That prevents scheduling headaches and down time. That saves money. Period.

Safety
SureFly Ignition Modules have no mechanical parts that wear and all solid-state electronics. There's no need to disassemble a SIM like a magneto every 500 hours - which eliminates the chance of introducing a maintenance related failure.

Performance
SureFly Ignition Modules deliver a more consistent spark energy with higher accuracy than traditional magnetos. Variable timing advance provides SureFly customers real fuel savings. Low power consumption and light weight (up to 2 lbs. lighter than a Bendix magneto) make SureFly Ignition Modules light on fuel and light on the wallet too.

Better Starts
SureFly perfectly controls timing at TDC below 400 rpm which combined with longer spark dwell and the option to use wider gapped spark plugs, makes starting a breeze, greatly minimizing wear and tear on high performance starters and electrical systems.

Trusted
SureFly Ignition Modules are hand built in Granbury, Texas almost entirely from components manufactured in Texas and Michigan. Designed, engineered, created and supported by the same team that brought you Sky-Tec starters and Plane-Power alternators, our approach to SureFly shares the same commitment, experience and passion for creating and bringing sensible, affordable solutions to the piston engine aviation market.

Value
With the low cost of the units, combined with SureFly's potential fuel savings and low maintenance/replacement costs, there is simply no better value in magneto replacements for Lycoming and Continental engines.

Specifications

  • Aviation spark plugs – gapped .016 to .036
  • Slick style harness – Shielded aviation harness
  • Input voltage 6-30 volts
  • Avg. Current @2700 500mA
  • Retards spark to TDC for starts
  • Up to 38 degrees Ignition advance – RPM & MP based
  • Hall Effect sensors provide velocity and position input
  • Manifold pressure sensor range – 6-74 inHg
  • Operational temp range -35 to 250 F
  • Minimum MTBF 2000 hrs
  • No interval inspections
  • RPM range 0-3500
  • Voltage to bridge .036 spark plug gap
  • Minimum 35mJ spark energy
  • 50mJ nominal energy

Benefits

    Intelligent Timing Advance
  • All SureFly SIMs can be configured to operate in either fixed or variable timing. Variable timing controls spark advance up to 38º before TDC as determined by manifold pressure and RPM (engine power setting). Each engine's base timing advance is read off the data plate and set into the SureFly Ignition Module or, "SIM" at installation. The timing advance schedule is hard set at the factory, when the SIM is manufactured, to provide the highest possible combustion efficiency.
To operate the SIM in variable timing mode, the engine onto which the SIM is installed must comply with the following requirements:
  • 1. Normally aspirated,
  • 2. Have Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) monitoring capability,
  • 3. Use minimum of 100-octane low lead aviation fuel.
    No Mechanical Points
  • Not only are points and condensers a point of failure in magneto ignitions, so are rotors and caps as they carbon track and provide alternate paths to ground as resistance builds in the system. That's why SureFly utilizes none of these antiquated technologies. SureFly components are all solid state and industrial-grade electronics.

    The result is zero maintenance, zero overhauls, no rebuilds, and no maintenance costs whatsoever! Nothing to wear. Nothing to maintain. Run it to 2,400 hours of SIM operation.

Documents

Eligibility

View the latest eligibility chart at SureFly.aero Application Guide

If any of the following items apply to your installation, please call SureFly at 817-373-5161 before proceeding with the purchase or installation of a SureFly Ignition Module:
  1. Your aircraft tachometer is one of the following:
    1. Horizon,
    2. Electronics International,
    3. EFIS or Engine Monitor that requires magneto P lead inputs,
    4. EFIS or Engine Monitor that requires a 0-5 volt square wave input,
  2. Your aircraft has more than one engine,
  3. Your aircraft has an existing electronic ignition,
  4. Your aircraft has one of the following STC’s:
    1. Western Skyways Turbo STC,
    2. Auto Fuel STC.
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Reviews

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Texas born and Texas bred, SureFly was created by some of the best people in aviation innovation. With reliability in mind, the SIM features a dependable ignition coil pack found in automotive applications. If your aircraft and engine qualifies for advanced timing, you’ll see smoother starts and a speed/HP increase. Easy to install, easy to maintain, the SureFly is a great alternative to overhauling your Slick or Bendix mags. Paired with a set of New Horizon’s Maggie Harness, you can have one Bendix and one SureFly on your engine. 100% recommended. Great support from the company.

Plan B
November 26, 2024

Very happy with the Surefly Sim6C. Would do it again.

Martin T Verified Purchase

Surefly SiM6C 6-Cylinder Continental Magneto Replacement
August 6, 2023

I installed the SIM6C onto my Continental IO-520A after a mechanical failure on one of my Slick magnetos. The engine starts noticeably quicker and runs much more smoothly in cruise which can likely be attributed to the Surefly variable timing capability with a naturally aspirated engine. Just note that if you have a digital engine monitor, you will need install Sureflys Tach2 module in order to get RPM to display from the electronic magneto.

Ken P
April 30, 2023

This company is absolutely amazing! I bought an airplane and received the surefly as part of the deal. I was told the Mag was bad. I sent one email and within a few hours received a phone call. They asked me to send it back to them. They went through the mag, completed an overhaul, and had it back to me within one week. Fantastic customer service and such great people to deal with. They stand behind their product!

David K
May 2, 2022

It worked as advertised! My 185 now starts easily hot and cold. Maybe more power at altitude…still evaluating…

John K Verified Purchase

Surefly SiM6C 6-Cylinder Continental Magneto Replacement
November 30, 2021

I have two airplanes. I installed the Surefly my with supervision. First my Cessna 172. (E2D) works perfect. More power , better lean performance, less fuel burn , easy to install. Next installed on my A-36. Easier starting, 1.5 gallon less fuel burn. The Surefly is the best upgrade for the money in my option next to gami injectors. . The tech support was perfect. Ask question at Surefly, tell them what tach you gave etc. saves time and effort.

Scott
May 7, 2021

Works as advertised. Instructions are very good. It recommends you change the ignition harness. I checked my ignition harness and found some opens in some leads so I changed it. The difficulty I had was emplacement. It is a large magneto. Emplacing it on an IO-470V was difficult because of the low cowling clearance above the magneto. It took me several iterations to get the proper placement, adjusting the position of the drive gear. I was unable to hook up the vacuum line because the IO engine has fuel injectors in the place of the recommended manifold pressure souce.

Peter B
March 26, 2020

There are no details in the instructions on how to connect it to the MAP system, no fittings provided at all. They should include some connections or at least a note suggesting how it can be done. Overall, not impressed with the MAP connection. The rating I give is purely based on the install experience. On contacting them they recommended a $5.00 connection on the cylinder head. Why not just include that in the kit? A: Too many variations in installation to manage that. My response: Include a few of the most popular fittings if they are only $5.

Alan W
April 30, 2021

Not reliable on 28-volt aircraft. Requires their PC-17V power conditioner, which is a resistor and a big capacitor that you have to mount separately on the firewall.

Gary S
March 9, 2023

Q&A

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Please note, Aircraft Spruce's personnel are not certified aircraft mechanics and can only provide general support and ideas, which should not be relied upon or implemented in lieu of consulting an A&P or other qualified technician. Aircraft Spruce assumes no responsibility or liability for any issue or problem which may arise from any repair, modification or other work done from this knowledge base. Any product eligibility information provided here is based on general application guides and we recommend always referring to your specific aircraft parts manual, the parts manufacturer or consulting with a qualified mechanic.

Q: Does it work with a Horizon tach?

Yes, with the addition of the Tach2.

Q: How much does the SIM 6C weigh? The included docs do not give this info for weight & balance recalculations....

The SIM6C is 5 pounds.

Q: Are these Surefly mag replacements pressurized?

Our electronic ignitions do not require pressurization.

Q: Does the Surefly SIM work with a JPI EDM 960 Twin?

The JPI most likely uses the screw-in sensor on the mag for RPM. When installing a SIM, just make sure the sensor is installed on the remaining mag.

Q: Does SureFly have to be installed by a SureFly approved/trained A&P?

No, it just needs to be installed by an A&P if installing in a certified aircraft.

Q: Does the p lead connection put out the same pulse wave as a standard magneto?

The standard mag puts out about a 300 volt pulse on the P-lead. The SureFly puts out a 60 volt pulse on top of a 10-volt DC voltage. brbr Also, the standard mag pulse rings so that some of it goes below 0 volts, but the SureFly is all on the positive side. This is why the Horizon Tach will not work without a Tach2 converter. They designed the Horizon to use the negative part of the pulse.

Q: In a previously (below) Q&A, the answer states that external power is NOT required, and that the SIM works like a traditional magneto, The instructions from Surefly state that power is required through a ten amp fuse and 14 ga wire. Please advise.

Battery power is required in order for the SIM to operate. We require a 14 gauge wire to be run from the battery through an inline fuse holder, directly to the SIM. The SIM does not generate its own power and requires 8 to 30 Volts to operate.

Q: What happens, or what has to be done once a surefly reaches 2400 hrs. Do you just buy a new one or are they rebuilt?

SIM can be returned to SureFly and rebuilt.

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