I have a Saito 56 that has been running well for about a year now, idle around 2100 rpm and peak just under 10,000rpm with an APC 12x6 prop.

Generally I have always started with an electric starter but last week I arrived at the field with a flat starter battery and had to hand flip. After priming by opening the throttle full and blocking the exhaust and then rotating 3 full turns on the prop (I can see fuel being drawn into the carb), attaching the glow starter and trying to flip - nothing. Not even a bump.

I then had the idea to connect my electric starter to my car battery and after 3-4 seconds the engine fired and ran great the whole day.

Yesterday I did not have my starter with me (think the brushes are stuck - another story[&o]) I again could not get the engine to start. After 30 min or so of priming flipping, removeing the glow plug to check if it was flooded etc. I eventually use a syringe to drip about 10 drops of fuel into the cylinder barrel through the glow plug hole. The engine fired on the first flip but died after a second or two, then would not restart. Again I added fuel to the barrel through the glow plug opening - 15 drops this time, the engine fired first flip and stayed running. I did not have to even adjust the HS needle for local conditions all was in order and I flew for 10 min and landed.

I let the engine cool down, refueled and the engine restarted on the first flip again.

Any one have any ideas why the engine struggles to fire on the first stat of the day? Fuel is definitely in the crankcase as fuel drips out the crank case vent when I flip the prop but it is not passing into the barrel.

Note - I do not normally use after run oil.