I need the most basic advice. Can anyone direct me where to find info on how to start a glow engine.
-how is it primed?
-does it always need to be primed?
Thanks.

first u put fuel in the tank and then put your finger over the carb and turn the prop until you see fuel going into the carb. Then u put the glow plug on it and using a starter or chicken stick turn the prop. to get it started it usally wont go the first time. but if you use a electric starter it goes ALOT quicker

I am assuming you are not talking about a Cox TeeDee.

On practically any engine my sequence is as follows:

Fill tank.

Open needle valve about 3/4 turns farther than the instructions call for.

Full throttle.

Put your finger over the carb hole and flip the engine over till you see fuel enter the carb.

Leave your finger on the carb and flip about 6 times more, the engine will loosen up and you will feel the fuel lubricating the engine.

Low throttle, a couple of clicks off idle.

Connect glow plug battery.

I then grab the prop firmly and pull it through compression. If the engine is ready to start you will feel a bump.

Leave at low throttle and flip it through smartly.

Normally, your engine will be running.

Open the throttle and you should be running sloppy rich, I do this for safety sake so I don't run the engine lean.

Close the needle valve slowly until you are just in a 2 cycle, not too lean.

Once the engine is broken in you will be able to adjust the idle and transition. This is the subject of another thread.

You should never "grab" the prop with a glow igniter attached. This is an accident waiting to happen. By saying "grab," you are implying to wrap ones fingers around the prop and give it turn. I don't care how slow you turn the prop, if the glow igniter is attached, and the plug is hot, the engine could fire and your hand would be history. I've even had an engine start without an ignitor attached. It was still hot from the previous run. It died while taxiing, and I was just going to give it a spin to make sure it hadn't seized up or anything. It started. Surprise! Good thing I hadn't grabbed the prop! The rest of the advice is ok, but grabbing the prop can result in the quick removal of digits!

Been doing it that way for 30 years, works for me every time. Engine can't start if you are holding the prop firmly in your fist.

Like most I also have had an engine start without the glow plug battery attached, it is called diesling, usually only happens on a hot day with a hot engine. Wakes you up right now

I'm not saying YOU shouldn't do it. Personally, I would never do it, but that's my opinion. If you feel safe doing it, then by all means do it. But, this guy has never even started a glow engine, so I don't think we should be recommending for him to do this!

No offense taken, I am also one of those morons who comes out with a starter and then flip starts his engine. Old habits die hard

Thanks folks - that's what I needed to know.
Just to be on the safe side I'm off to the hardware store to get some welding gloves!

Buzz, go your local hobby shop and get a small 12V gel cell ( motorcycle battery size) and an electric starter. You will never regret it. Its not too unsafe to start by hand but it takes a very well tuned engine and some experience to be able to get it to start reliably consistantly. Its not uncommon for even the best glow engines to get a little contrary and ruin your day. An electric starter will convince a cold natured engine to start and run, sometimes a chicken stick just wont do it even for themost experienced modelers..

With all due respect to Hank and his obvious years of experience and expertise, grabbing the prop in any way shape or form is an unsafe practice with the ignitor on, plain and simple. You may get away with it for 50 years and nothing ever happen but you are really tempting fate and trusting that you will have the focus to NEVER have a brainfart. You just shouldnt get into the habit of putting your fingers into the prop with a potential ignition source in place, period. It invites a disastrous moment. Hand starting is a somewhat risky endeavour regardless so why tempt fate.

I would advise you setup a startup ritual that leaves no room for a blonde moment that leaves you permanantly injured. On my big 3W75 gas engine I try to be super careful to never wrap my fingers over the prop, I always have a human holder to secure the plane and I wear a glove and press my index fingers against the prop as close to the spinner as I can get and still turn it. That way if it backfires Im at the dullest slowest point of the blade and by not getting my fingers in the line of rotation,,, its going to be pretty tough to get bit... Even then people still get bit..

Buzz, one safety step seems to be left out. Taking the glow battery off.
DON'T reach over the prop to remove the glow battery.
Get behind the prop to remove the glow battery.

Also get behind the prop for any throttle adjustments - So basically NEVER REACH OVER OR AROUND A PROP!!!!!