"What eventually happens is the backplate of the spinner breaks away from the backplate on the prop shaft, so the prop/spinner assembly is turning while the engine is not."

1 of 2 problems. Either your prop nut is not tight enough, or your engine is flooded. A stronger starter will only loosen the prop/spinner with more vigor.

If you're using a 4 way prop/glowplug wrench to tighten your prop nut, stop. use a box end wrench and make it TIGHT.

Now, when preparing to start your engine, choke and turn the prop to prime the engine. Watch the fuel lines. Turn only 1 turn after fuel reaches the carb. When using electric starters especially, more prime is bad. If you prime any more than this, you run the risk of hydro-locking the engine, and then your starter will bend the conrod or break the crank. After priming the engine, before attaching glow, always pull it thru a half dozen rotations, to ensure it is not flooded, and that the fuel is distributed thru the engine. If you cannot turn thru compression, STOP. The engine is flooded. Remove the glowplug and turn the engine until fuel stops spitting from the plughole and muffler. Then reinstall the plug and try again, but don't prime any more.

"Is there a different way to start an airplane engine than using a starter and spinner? "

None you wanna try, other than the obvious chicken stick....


"I have a chicken stick and it doesn't work-there is so much compression that the prop cuts right through the chicken stick. "

This indicates a flooded engine. After priming (as above), be sure the engine flips thru compression without the glowplug attached before attempting to start. When you're flip starting, you've got 2 choices. A fast backward spin of the spinner, with your gloved hand, so the engine hits compression (going backwards), ignites, and starts forwards. Described in the post someone linked above, I'd bet. Or, use the chicken stick. Turn the engine ccw (from front) until it begins to hit compression. Place your chicken stick on teh prop's trailing edge, about 1-1.5" out from the hub. Hold plane with left hand, quickly turn engine with chicken stick. If you do this too slowly, the engine may pre-ignite and kick back, cutting your chicken stick. But an engine in the .75 size should be an easy hand start, if it's not flooded.

"So anyone know of a way to attach a starter to the prop itself without using a spinner? "

Nope. That'd likely be dangerous when the engine did start, and now there's something in the way of the prop.....

Good luck,

J