Hey Guys,

So I just got a nitro plane and took my first flights today. I had started the engine last week, but just putting some fuel in the carb and then using a flip stick. It started pretty easily like this. Today my friend had a power starter and we used that. It was cold today, so I don't know how much better that may have worked than if I tried to flip it.

I have nitro cars and when I started - I was told a bump box makes it so much easier. Well, after learning how to properly start and engine and really understanding them - I find the bump box to be a pain in the butt. Just something else you have to bring and something else you have to remember to charge.

I actually prefer the pull string and have recently gone back to it.

So - does anyone out there prefer to manual start their planes rather than bring something else to charge and remember?

Also, manual filling the tank? Yes or no? Again, it doesn't seem like that big of a pain to just use a big syringe to fill it up. Opinions? I'm kind of a minimalist when it comes to rc, as it's a part time hobby and not a full time. I like to spend more time using them and less time charging and fixing etc.

Thanks!
Tim

I prefer to manually (flip) start my engine. My engines generally start right up, and if they don't I know something is wrong, and I feel that I have a better 'feel' of the engine using the chicken stick. Now on a cold day it's not so easy and I'll bring out the starter.

Manual fueling lets you count the amount of turns needed to fill the tank, and then how many to refill, so you can understand how much fuel you're burning during a flight.

For an electric starter, there are starters with battery packs that strap right on, so they are very easy to transport. Mine stays in the car though, unless it's cold (actually then it still stays in the car and I borrow one because mine's not big enough anyway =)

Just my $.005 - I'm still new at this so my experience only counts 25% (I have burned through 16 gallons or so this summer, so I've started my engine A LOT!)

He's not talking about a hand-crank pump. He's talking about using a syringe. Much like a fuel bulb. I keep a fuel bulb handy, but they're not as delightful to use as a pump is. I can't think of a time when I've used a bulb where I didn't make a bit of a mess.

Hand-crank pumps are cheap and reliable. Electric starters are nice to have. This is a hobby that requires a bit of support equipment. As a person progresses, they tend to take more and more stuff to the field with them. Why? Because of the time that they lost a day of flying because they didn't have item X or item Y with them. Time is precious.

Personal preference I guess, some people like to have the latest gadgets and some like to have everything electric. I guess if your dragging a large 12V battery along you might as well use it.

For me I've found that I rarely do much useful changes or tinkering a the field, and now prefer to bring as little stuff as possible. Spare props and glow plugs etc. Hand fueling with suringe and handflipping engine etc. no batteries needed apart from a handheld glow driver, and not even that for the diesels.

Hi tr all the guys are right,we have them all in my club!

For me i have to learn how to hand or finger flick them safely(backwards)it's the direct and a little bit unsafe way to connect with the whole starting process.Who needs huge and heavy multiple field everything? i run mine beforehand and know they are right to go.Nothing worse than wasting your's and others flying time because you did'nt do your homework.Good flying mate.

I have never owned an electric starter and have no problems whatsoever getting glow engines to run. In cold weather, a small shot of lighter fluid in the carb venturi makes them light off like it was Summer. Once you learn how to prime engines and not flood them, it usually only takes one or two flips and the engine is running.

I would rather keep my field box simple and light.

Safety: I feel that a chicken stick can start an engine just a safely as an electric starter can. Just about every prop accident I have witnessed happened with an engine that was already running, usually while adjusting the needle or an unexpected throttle-up while the pilot was in front of the plane. Electric planes have caused some serious prop injuries and you don't even have to start them.

When I bought my first piston-engined model I got the one of the best recommendations I have ever received in the RC hobby. As I doubted the need for an electric starter the clerk stared straight at me and said: "Life is too short not to use an electric starter."

As for fuel pumping, go with a hand-cranked pump. Syringes are a waste of time and effort.

I do both. Depends on what engine I am using at the time. Some of you will hand flip 0.049's, I use an electric starter. I hand flip my 4s engines. Finger over the carb or muffler, flip a couple times, hook up glow plug clip, flip backwards, they fire right up. Most of my engines are started with the starter. I have (2) 6 cell cars packs tie wrapped on them so I do not have the cords dangling around the prop.

I have 15% plane, 20% car, YS 20-20, 5%, 20% helicopter, 10% all castor fuel cans. I just put a $10.00 hand crank pump on each one. With the Dubro fuel can fittings, they stay pretty much air tight. Have had a can for 2 years and it still runs well.

We each find what we like. One field I fly at is just over 90 miles each way. I take a bunch of stuff. I hate to be there and not have a small thing that keeps my from flying a plane or helicopter. I also go camping/flying where I take a bunch of stuff with me. Then there are times I take a can of fuel, plane, Tx, glow plug clip and fly all day.

When all I flew was glow helicopters, I started to take just a small bag of tools, fuel, radio, helicopters. I could carry (2) helicopters, the tool bag, radio box in one trip. Simple can be nice too.


Dru.

It really is just a personal preference.
One method is not "better" than the other.
I like the convenience of electric starters and electric fuel pumps.
Charging the field box battery is no more inconvenient (to me) than charging the transmitter and receiver.
I have all of my wall wart chargers plugged into a long power strip. I flip the switch at the end of the strip on Friday when I get home and flip it off Saturday morning when I'm ready to load the truck.

A personal thing, do what works for you. I have an electric started and some of my engines need it. Some of them like to be back snapped to start but only during the summer. I also have the small glow igniter or hot shot but this time of year I can get more heat from my power pannel igniter and my engines like that. What ever floats your boat!! I have it all and use it, I also prefer an electric fuel pump but I also have A hand crank pump in my box. When I take out anything 1/2A I use A bulb to fuel up.

I almost always use an electric starter and a syringe for fueling, my flying buddy always backflips with his finger to start the engine but uses and electric pump t o fill the tank...Rog

I've never been gotten by a prop except the time I was hand starting her...I like starters
Good Flyin to all

I always use an electric starter. I've had guys that use the fingers to manually flip start their engine on occasion borrow my starter.
Yeah, I like gadgets. I also like to put the key in, turn it and it goes.


Have fun.
Frank

Do anything you can to keep fingers as far as possible from a spinning prop. Make sure you clean up the sharp edges of the prop and balance it as well. They can be nasty little things. My thoughts always use an electric starter, much safer.

I have eschewed electric starters all my life mostly because I tend to be an ornery maverick who refuses to be like everybody else. I also tend to build my own planes instead of just buying an ARF or kit. I just gotta do it the hard way but once I learned the tricks, it stopped being "the hard way".

Even in high school, I rode motorcycles instead of driving cars and owned just about anything but a Honda. What was wrong with Hondas?
1: Everybody had one
2: They had electric starters

Now if I can only figure out a way to put a crank on my car..........

I'm a believer in electric starters especially in the winter. You flip-start guys keep flipping, I'll be flying.

I am not a very experienced pilot, but I have an electric starter, I have it connected to my flight box, I only have to carry the box from the truck to the pits which is only 50 feet or so, I allows me to have everything that I really need and only make 1 trip and keep things organized (at least as much as I am organized ), if my plane is running well, I charge up my started battery 2 or 3 times a year I also use this http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062273 to help charge my battery when I am going down the road.

It is a personal choice.

Jon

I've got a gel-cel motorcycle battery in my field box that powers my starter and glow-driver. When I get home I plug it into a powerstrip on a timer that charges it for 1 hour every day (along with the receivers & transmitters and their various chargers) so I'm always ready to go. I finger flipped my free-flight and control-line of bygone days but I am a fan of electric starters now, I'm afraid. Never did get one of the Ni-Cad wireless glow-drivers. I may be in a big minority with that.

I hand flip the gas engines, but they have big 'ol 16" or 18" props and I wear a double padded glove. Whole different animal.

My fuel pumps are manual Dave Brown six-shooters of various tubing for glow or gas. Manual in & out. Takes a little longer, but so far they're foolproof.

I'm new so I use a manuel fuel pump and a chicken stick (what ever I can find to flip the prop), but there are people with just one or 2 planes that have manuel pump and a starter and there is one guy at my field that has a van full of planes with a 50cc edge, countless profles, with a electric pump and he starts em all with a good ole chicken stick. I guess its whatever YOU prefer

most of my planes are powered by 4stroke engines, and are cowled,and the require a electric starter, I prefer the ease and safety of a electric starter the 12V gel battery isn't heavy at all there cheap and work well .

as for fueling I have the EZ fueler and I don't mind pushing a button to fill my tank with larger fuel tanks either a electric or a crank fuel pump is the only way to go.

if your running a small tank 1/2A or a small engine then the bulb is fine after a while its just a waste of time and effort,for a 91 4stroke with a 16oz tank no way, I would spend half the day filling tanks up.

the difference in price 1$ between the electric and the manual version of pumps.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXVZ41&P=0
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXMA93&P=0

I love my electric starter and my electric fuel pump.

Im just transitioning into glow after flying electric for the past year. My problem is with the hand crank fuel pumps. they seem to just break. I have used electric ones that seem to stop pumping after and the plastic hobbico hand cranks simply stop turning. Am I doing something wrong or these just cheap cranks. (this has happened twice)

i use a hangar 9 hand crank, and havent had any trouble with it. when i used it for gas, it got a little tight, but it still works. Im a broke student, so i still use the chicken stick. really hope that santa will get me an electric one! i read an article where someone made a stand to hold the starter and it was engaged by pushing the model against it. i really want to build one, cause it always makes me a bit nervous being in front of or beside a spinning prop.

Blonde or brunette... (or redhead )

Blonde or brunette... (or redhead ) it's all what you like and feel comfortable with.