well canada post dropped off 5 props for me today. and after i got home i went and put on on my trainer. off course i then went to start my engine in an attempt to tune it before my next flight. But when i started it up the third time i noticed something was backwards, the rotation. Im not sure how it happend but some how the engine was turning clockwise instead of the other way. First i thought i had turned the prop the wrong way, but i started it again and was sure i was turning it the right way but same thing. There was a lot of fuel coming out of the carb and a clicking sound when i throtlled up a little and it would eventually die if you throttle up too much. Any idea to what the hells going on? and i also want to know if transmitter batteries have memories, by which i mean if you charge the battery without fully draining it it will eventually not hold a charge.

Your engine is backfiring when you start it. I have a 4 stroke that this happens on when I start with a chicken stick. With an electric starter I don't have this problem. There are tricks to getting it to go the right way without restarting it...but I wouldn't recommend it for a 'beginning' forum topic.

As for TX batteries - if they are NiCad's - yes they can. The best thing to do - cycle the battery every month, and you should be fine. If you don't have a battery cycler- just turn the TX on and let it run for about 1-2 hours....unless you TX have an auto-shut-off.

It sounds like your engine is set rich and it started backward. That can happen. Try leaning it slightly and holding the starter on it just a bit longer. Once it is running in the right direction, adjust the mixture properly.

Yes, batteries can get a memory. Ni-cads will anyhow. Running them down now and then and fully recharging them can be beneficial. www.batteryuniversity.com has some good information.

Nothing is wrong except for an overprimed condition and it can be common on two stroke engines especially when using a chicken stick. One starting technqique involves deliberately bumping the engine backwards when just the right prime has been acheved but I would not suggest this for new folks just learning to operate their engines.

John

The engine starting in the wrong direction is pretty normal. It happens to me pretty often (I use a chicken stick). What works the best for me is to gently spin the prop clockwise until it gets to the end of the stroke, then start with the stick or starter, giving the prop a 'running start', i.e. giving the piston some momentum through the compression stroke. I didn't know this was related to over priming, but it makes sense as it rarely happens when the engine is warm.

ok thanks, I forgot to ask about receiver battery memory, how do u know when the battery is near dead or barlly tapped. is it a good idea to charge before every flight even if the battery was charged not long before?

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT BATTERY MEMORY.

To ensure you always go flying with a full charge go to your favourite discount electrical store and buy a cheap 24 hour timer switch

like http://www.presentsforyou.com/e1020cintermatic.html?

Plug your charger into this and set it to charge for 1 hour a day.

When you come home from flying use the over ride to charge for 6 hours if you had 2 flights - 12 hours for 6 or more. [ pro rata ]

[BTW 6 + flights on standard rx packs is pushing your luck. ]

Then the timer will top it off everyday.

I agree, no need to worry about memory. Memory doesn't happen with our airplane batteries because they are not utilized in such a way that is conducive to getting memory problems. I only cycle my batteries twice a year: once at the beginning to establish capacity (make sure the battery is holding rated capacity) and in the middle of the season to make sure the battery status isn't changing. That's it.

Hi F-18
If you are using an electric starter it may be running backward because you have the polarity to the starter backward. Most DC motors, like our engine 12 vold DC starters, can operate in either direction, depending on which wire is + and which is -.