I am new to RC and started my engine for the first time. The problem is that the plane goes backward rather than going forward when I open the throttle. The propellor is moving in Anti-clockwise direction, any idea what's wrong?

Make sure you don't have a pusher prop on the engine. That is the only thing that I can think of that might cause this. If it is a pusher it will probably have a "P" written somewhere near the size on the prop.

No it is a normal 10x6 prop

When the propeller is viewed from the airplane cockpit, the prop should be going clock-wise. When viewed from the front of the plane it should be going anti-clockwise.
Glow engines will run in both directions. Make sure your electric starter is turning in the proper direction. (these electric starters will run the wring way if the wires are hooked to the wrong poles of the battery.
If you are hand-flipping the engine to start it, some engines will start backwards. Use an electric starter, or try flipping it backwards.

you mean to say that I try to start the engine by rotating it in clockwise direction, as viewed from the front of the plane.

On rare occasions I have seen engines starting to run backwards by themselves. The last time was two weeks ago when we were testing a new MDS .68 engine in a trainer. It was idling, and all of a sudden it was going backwards. When that happens you just stop the engine, and start it again. That usually sorts it out.

I have no idea if that is what is causing your plane to go backwards, but it is another idea at least.

Hope you get it working!

I started the engine 6 times and all the time the plane was going backward. The problem is that engine is running in anti-clockwise direction if viewed from the front but the plane is going back.

OK. if the propeller is turning anti-clockwise when viewed from the front, then that is correct. You must have a reverse or "pusher" prop on it. Look at the prop twist. picture it turning anti-clockwise (when viewed from the front). Does it look like it will be forcing air to the rear of the plane?

6 times in a row seems to disqualify my idea. The propeller turning anti-clockwise when viewed from in front of the airplane would be correct.

Still, I am afraid the only two explanations for the airplane going backwards (that I can think of at least) are that you either have got a pusher propeller or that the engine is running backwards. I am out of ideas, I am afraid.

Facing the airplane the prop should turn counterclockwise when the engine is running. Check the twist of the blades to be sure that they are pushing air away from you.

Make sure the regular prop is not on backwards.

A prop turned backwards will still push air in the direction it is manufactured to.
(Just not as efficiently)

If he's sure the engine is turning counterclockwise as normal, when viewed from front,
then he has a pusher prop installed, and there's no other answer.

Another hint... if the engine is developing full power, throttles fine, etc...
it's not running backwards, as the timing would make it run very poorly backwards.

Fit a new prop and try again.


faisalk... can you post a picture of your prop?

I was going to write the same thing as C_Watkins just did.

My father has been flying free-flight power models since the 1940's. In the old days, some people used to put the propellers on backwards when they were not in a competition and did not want so much power for a practice flight at their home field. Made the prop less efficient, but still drove the model forward.

Prop on backwards, that's a rich one!


CHassan, stop with the jokes, you're killin' me!

Thnx a lot guys but I just found out that it was a pusher prop. sorry to bother you.

sometimes ya just gotta

I'm new to this as well, with only five flights up till now. Every time I start my engine it runs backwards. I know immediately that it's running backwards because being in front of the plane, I can feel the prop's blast on me.

At first I was pretty amazed that the engine could actually run backwards (clockwise), especially since I flip the prop counter-clockwise with the chicken stick. My instructor never did stop the engine, he simply played with the throttle and managed to reverse (forward?) the engine into turning counter-clockwise once again. I learned the trick as well, just idle the throttle and then firewall it a few times (quickly). Works for me!

My engine is an OS .46FX

I have an 46FX running 15% nitro and it does that as well - starts backwards more often than not on a hand flip! I think the reason is that compression is so good that when it gets to the second pop it back-kicks and starts running that way.

Using an electic starter will get it going the right way every time though...

Find a local club or a local flier to help you. If you are trying to do this on your own expect a long road filled with many crashes costing you plenty of $$.

Hey Jharkin I was in waltham for 3 yrs. Was studying at Bentley. Where do you guys fly?

Hey Jharkin I was in waltham for 3 yrs. Was studying at Bentley. Where do you guys fly?

Charles River Club. Our power field is in Medfield off Rt. 27 on the state hospital land.

If your engine starts backwards when you hand flip forwrds, then try hand flipping the prop backwards, and the engine will start forwards.

Or flip a lot harder to drive the piston past TDC before it fires. (not what I would do though)

As it was pointed out, the flip is causing compression and detonation before the piston reaches the top of the stroke. This is also sometimes a sign that you might be pre-detonating when running. You might try lowering the nitro %, or installing a head gasket, or going to a colder plug so that ignition happens slightly later. Though I honestly think all of these "fixes" are overkill, just try flipping the engine backwards to make it go correctly.

When mine goes the wrong way, just a quick flick of power gets it spinning in the right direction