I dont no if this has been posted on here already but I am new to this hobby and was wondering how hard it is to start a .40 sized engine with a chicken stick rether then an electric starter just wonderin before I invest in a starter.

Rappy77,
Since your new to the hobby, I would recommend that you go ahead and get the starter and save yourself alot of frustration, any engine can be hand started with ease as long as you have the experience and engine tuning skills. It's also alot safer to use a starter.

If there is someone around who has experience hand-starting their engines in that size that you can work with, you won't have any trouble. It's a bit harder to pick up on your own, but not really that tough with most engines. However, it can be frustrating if things aren't set up right.

I also agree that you're probably best off just getting the starter.

That said, you will learn a lot more about making your engine run right if you hand start. There are quite a few guys at my field who really only know the basics about running engines, but they know enough to have fun most of the time, so they're fine with it.

It also depends a lot on the engine. Some engines are easier to hand-start than others. The key thing to hand starting for most engines is getting the prime right. Not enough fuel and it won't start, too much and it won't start. And I've found that different brand engines seem to like different amounts of priming.

Rappy,
If the engine is broken in and properly tuned it can be very easy to start.
If it is out of whack in any way your arm may give out long before it starts.
Get the starter, make sure all is running well, use the chicken stick as a backup.

I've seen guys land and kill the engine or dead stick, walk out on the field and make a quick adjustment, start it right there with a chicken stick in their pocket and take off again. A good thing to know how to do but don't depend on it.

Good Luck,
KW_Counter

rappy77,
If the person knows what they are doing it's fairly easy to start the engine with a chicken stick. In fact, I use a chicken stick to start all of my engines all the way from a .15 OS up to Zenoah G-26. But the important thing to point out is that if the person knows what they are doing. As was stated above, find an experienced pilot at your field to teach you how to do it. Once you see it a few times it's pretty easy to duplicate.

Hope this helps

Ken

Besides, when a newbie shows up at the field, the regulars will usually be glad to loan you their starter if you're having trouble.

I have always found that starters don't bleed fingers do.

chicken stick all the way!

No sirously if your engine is running good and broken it one flip of a prop and its going now for the first start and break in you may want a starter I honestly dont own a starter. When my engine was new somone took there starter and got it to run the first time (large club= no problem)

I see no reason as to why carry around another battery n stuff

Nahhhh. That's misleadin. No comparison. I'd MUCH rather hand start a gas Zenoah G-26 with a built in magneto, "real" spark plug and a big 'ol 16" wood prop for leverage than an OS .40, or any glow engine for that matter.

Thanx for the input guys i think im just gonna get a tower starter its only 20 bucks and will probably save me a head ache for later.

Rappy77

And possibly a "hand" ache too.
Some see no sense carrying another battery and the starter, I see no sense fighting a stuborn engine. I also seem to have to help a lot of people start their mis-tuned/flooded/under-primed engines at the field and also having to use my glow ignitor because they forgot to charge theirs.[:@]

Ya get a starter. With a decent 12V 5or 7 amp hour gell battery you can also use the battery for your glow driver, fuel pump and starter. Up here electric fuel pumps are the same price as hand pump so thats what I use. Most good engines will start in a flip or 2 after they have been running and adjusted but the first start of the day can take 5-6 seconds of high speed spinning with the electric starter. Helped out lots of flyers that didn't have a starter sitting there getting frustrated doing one flip at a time hoping the engine will start. Down the road if you have a plane with incowl engine where its difficult to cover the carb opening to prime, a starter is a must! BTW, if you can get the HD version for $10.00 or so more, do it. It makes it much easier to start the larger 75/90 engines down the road. [8D]