Hi,

I posted before about starting problems, what happened before was when i tried to start the plane after filling the tank the spinner just span off, with adivce from some guys on here ive learnt now to remove the line to the exhaust then fill the tank using the filler line until fuel came out of the line for the exhaust then i reconnected the exhasut so i know its filled, and havent flooded the engine. I then connect the glow plug and glow plug starter, but now all that happens when i use the electric spinner it just wont turn, seems to lock.............. but when the glow plug is off the engine or loose it will turn..........

So please help someone this is driving me nuts as when the planes running it runs fine........ btw this is still a new engine its had about 7 tanks through it so i gather it should be run in now.

Could this be caused to under primming ? as my instructer told me its not nessasary to prime the engine ? but the maual for the engine states to open the throttle fully and place your finger over the carb and turn the propellers by hand for about 5 spins ? So im abit confused.

Are you using a panel with the glow driver and the starter both being powered from the same source?
I had this problem once. If the battery powering the panel wasn't absolutley topped off it did the same thing you describe.
Finally went with a seperate battery for the starter, and a McDaniel glow plug igniter.
Some engines are really hard to turn over when new. Had an O.S. .25 that I could not turn with the starter until it was broken in, even though the same starter would fire my S.T. .60 right off.
Double check the status of your starter battery.
Finally, how are you getting it started, By hand flipping?

Jetts

The source the electric starter is powered from the 12v battery via a power panel and the glow plug is a seperate remote with a battery ontop.

When it does start it sometimes starts with the spinner, but thats like 1 in 10 goes which includes it kicking off the spinner nearly everytime

Do you think i need to prime the engine ?

No, in fact, try this- after you fill it, if at all possible leave the line going to the carb off, and spin it through with the starter, THEN put the feed line on, attatch the glow driver, and try it. Usually spitting the spinner off is cause by flooding, or over priming.
You may also want to try giving it a flip BACKWARD with the prop against the compression, glow driver on.

Jetts

if your tank is too high, it will flood your engine also. i had that problem i lowered the tank to where it should be(top of the tank even with the carb, my instructions were wrong)

maybe you are mounting your spinner wrong also.

I second that one, and thanks, brshmd for refreshing my memory!

Jetts

When spinner comes off, the prop nut is not tight enough and comes loose or the motor is hydraulic locking caused by to much fuel. Spin engine over with glow plug removed to get fuel out of crank case then put plug back in and see if it locks up. ABC engines will lock at top of stroke, wind prop clock wise before turning with electric starterwill give free travel to get motor turning over.

if you install the spinner incorectly it will come off everytime, mine did that

Horrid shades of the past.....

The cheap-o lead-acid battery (the one with refill plugs like a motorcycle battery) won't turn the engine over unless it's, as previous stated, on a brand-new charge - period. When you get some spare bucks, replace a lead-acid with a gelcell lead-acid - also, no maintenance, eh?

With that said, is that the only problem? It just won't turn over? I was always proud to hand-start my engines. It's a skill that brings you right up-close and personal with your engine. Unless the engine is some sort of weird high-powered thing or totally played out, it'll hand-start, and it's pretty easy once you have yourself and the engine trained. Try it!

Once the starter fails to turn it over, can you turn it over by hand? If not, you're flooded. If it'll turn over by hand, then you need a new battery. My two sense

While I'm on a roll: engine manuals will assume the use, generally, of an electric starter. "Turn it over 5 turns" is very generic. The way I do it? Fill your tank. Open the throttle. Cover the carb throat with a finger. Turn the prop by hand until fuel is sucked up the fuel line. STOP turning the engine when the fuel (you've got clear or translucent lines, right? You can see the fuel in 'em?) JUST touches the carb. The fuel in the line will advance up the line as you turn the engine. Stop turning it when the line is full, but before fuel is sucked in - or just after the fuel touches the carb. Experience will show you.

The only exception I had to this was a Fox .35 C/L engine - it had to be dripping fuel before it would start.......

Is your instructor not helping you? Seems like you are really new and could use the help before you do damage to the engine trying to turn it over flooded. You can bend things inside like the piston rod if you spin it hard with a starter when it is flooded. Sounds like that is what you are doing. Get your instructor to help you so you don't ruin the engine. That way you won't be tempted to taxi or accidently get it in the air and total the plane too.