I have finally prepared my air plane for it first flight and can't wait to start learning. Unfortunatly I can't get my engine to start. Can any one give me directions on how to start an engine, Properly.

Thanks,
Dave

Also does anyone sugest I buy the 2-stroke Glow Engines and or How to's book, each by the best rc magazine in the world "Model Air Plane News"

are you using a starter or a chicken stick i suggest you use an electric starter

I have an electric starter but i need a 12v Battery, What is a chicken stick?

Dave,
A chicken stick is used to flip the prop so you won't cut your fingers. They sell them on Tower and at most LHS's, which are sticks with rubber on one end. I made my own. I cut off a section of old broom handle and then wrapped electrician's tape around it on one end. When the tape starts getting cut up I just wrap some more around the stick. Call me cheap, but I don't like to pay for something I can make. I've been flying for almost 10 years now, it's got a lot of tape wrapped around it now, but it still works great!!!

Ken

Personally, I think 'Learn by screwing-up' is the most permanent way to learn anything. Just ALWAYS be aware of the prop arc and stay at least twice as clear as you THINK you need to be.

Please tell us what type of engine you have and what you have tried.

I will assume it is a small 2 stroke like a .40 or .46.

There are three things which must be present simultaneously for the thing to fire, compression, fuel and spark (heat). I often had trouble starting early on because I had too little fuel in the engine to start with. Put your finger over the carb and turn the prop (WITHOUT THE GLOW IGNITER CONNECTED TO THE PLUG), until there are no bubbles in the fuel line and there is a VERY slight increase in resistance. Then (USING A CHICKEN-STICK), and with the glow igniter connected, turn the prop in either direction with one smooth stroke. Your stick and all nine (just kidding) of your fingers should be far away from the prop arc at the end of the stroke. If the engine begins running backward, blip the throttle a bit and re-start if it dies. Often it will run correctly even if you start it backward. I usually start mine backward, I don't really know why.

Hope this helps. AND No, you will not damage your engine by starting it backward.

HINT: If air is rushing toward the tail, it's running correctly forward. (This is not meant to be a joke).

Tuning is usually covered in the manual, but there is an art to it. Just keep working with it and your instructor will tell you when it's right. There should be a smooth transition through the throttle and at full throttle, there should be a slight amount of visible smoke.

Good Luck!!

My engine is a Magnum XL 25.

Hand starting a cold engine can be difficult.
If the your starter has the large clamp type connectors, you can use your car battery.

No, no, no, Ken. THIS is a "chicken stick".

First, let’s discuss the Manual Engine Cranking System (MECS), erroneously and popularly known as a “chicken stick.� Now everyone knows neither chickens or sticks can fly very well, unless you’re referring to the popular Ugly Stick airplane, which flys very well, and is certainly not a chicken, thank you very much. Most R/C’ers think a “chicken stick� is the method you use to start your engine when you are too cheap to buy an electric starter. WRONG!!! A “chicken stick� is the method you use to pin down the last piece of white meat with your fork before your brother gets his grubby little hands on it. A quick look around the table, one fast thrust with your fork, and the bird is yours; as opposed to a lazy look in the sky, a quick flip with the MECS, and the bird is started! As you can see, they are quite different, in tools used, method, and desired effect! So let’s keep this one straight: MECS=plane start, chicken stick=food grab.


Dr.1

Good point Dr.1!!

Ken

I think new engines are intended to be hard to start to force the beginner to have experienced help and prevent the plane from having a less than 30 second life expectancy. Get some experienced help both with the engine and with your maiden flight.

Other than that, follow the advice above on priming, make sure your glow starter is fully charged. Backward flipping is a very good way to start a possibly flooded engine (read "just primed"). It will cause the fuel to ignite prior to the piston reaching Top Dead Center, causing the prop to turn in the correct direction while clearing the excess fuel from the cylinder.

Good Luck!
Brad

Hmmm.

Just a curiosity... Try searching on google images:
MECS
Chicken Stick

http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&q=

After this search, i think i will continue to call it "Chicken Stick"

I have Evolution's .46 2C engine which came with my P51 Mustang PTS, boy, it runs smooth and gives good power. But the best engine I heard about a lot in here is O.S .46AX.


Happy flying

Mody

Hey Dave, please wait until you have some help with the engine for lots of reasons. Some of them are, if you do get it started and let it run too lean you could damage the engine. If the throttle cable and servo arm isn't adjusted properly you may not be able to stop the engine by using the transmitter. Then how do you stop it?!? Engines are easy to adjust with experience but can be very confusing until you know what is happening. It may sound good and idle nice but as soon as you throttle up it may instantly quit on you without warning. Get with an experienced pilot and things will work out. Have fun, Fast![8D]

I always tried to learn from other people screwing up. It was alot less costly. With the size of our field and the hundreds who use it, I had an abundance or idi/, sorry, I mean teachers