cheers for the info guys, this is going to sound funny but i thought i had fitted a delay chip, turns out i didnt lol ,would of needed two anyway, {its been atleast 6 months since i actually had this box apart} i had it in my head that i fitted one but that must of been when i played with my spetznaz gearbox again that was ages ago, anyway i split the box open before and found the cylinder head to be a real weak seal so just ordered a shs cnc double sealed one.. i did shave off a tooth and abit of the next tooth on the piston iirc so the sector gear allways picks up the first tooth on the piston and sg clears the teeth but ill use the spring spacer once the new cylinder head arrives , didnt know pre engagment could happen because of a weak spring, i am using an alloy shs piston aswelll as i wanted a decent metal tooth for the sector to pickup , but then again if pre engagment was happening would the shots/gearbox sound different ?. dry firing it sounded really good! and the cycle's sounded consistent/complete , which leads me to then think air seal problem ? , ill look further into the tappet plate/nozzle/hop ... cheers guys