Hello,

I was just wondering if the Evolution .46NT engine will start with a chicken stick or if I need to go out and buy an electric starter pack?

Thanks in advance for all replies

Yes, it will start with a chicken stick. Before trying to start it, make sure that the fuel line is completely full of fuel, no air bubble. Look at the transparent fuel line and choke the engine by holding your finger over the carb while slowly turning the engine over without the glow battery attached. You will see the fuel get sucked towards the carb. After the fuel reaches the carb, give the engine two more flips while choking the carb to get fuel into the engine. Now, close the throttle to idle, connect the glow plug battery, and give the engine a flip with your chicken stick. If primed correctly, it will start on the first or second flip of the prop. If it was overprimed, it may start backwards, slowly close the throttle and right before the engine dies, it will often reverse and run the correct direction. You will know when that happens because the idle speed will suddenly be faster.

That's great but the only problem is I have no idea what anything you just said is.

If you have time to explain that would be great.

Thanks

Choking: That is stopping up the carburettor air inlet. The engine can't suck in air so it sucks fuel from the fuel tank instead while you are turning the engine. You can also force the fuel to the carburettor by stopping up the exhaust outlet. This forces the exhaust air to go into the fuel tank which in turn forces the fuel into the carburettor. You have to get the fuel to the carburettor or you will flip the engine all day long without it starting.

You can spot the people at a field who never learned how to prime an engine by choking it. They are the ones who spin and spin and spin their engines for a half minute or so with their electric starters before this finally gets the fuel to the carb and the engine finally starts. If you want to start your engine without an electric starter, you will have to learn the art of priming it properly.

Throttle: Thats the thing that the throttle servo in your plane opens and closes to control the speed of the engine.

Glow Plug: Glow engines don't use spark plugs, instead they use a glow plug in the cylinder head. It has a small coil of platinum wire that glows red hot when you connect a 1.5 volt battery to it. This red hot wire is what ignites your fuel/air mixture. After the engine is running, the battery is disconnected and the plug stays red hot from the burning fuel.

ok, thanks

by the way I know what throttle is, I've been flying electrics for about 2 years now and am looking into my first glow plane.

Thanks

Fly or Die,

Find a local club and an instructor. Click here: [link=http://www.modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx]AMA Local Club Search[/link] and search by zip code, city, etc.

They will help you with tuning the engine, help explain the terms that you may not know, etc. They are an invaluable resource because they teach you more than just flying.

Good luck!

yeah, I already have a date set up with a club member to help me get started

Thanks