I was wondering. Me and my friend was thinking about getting a electric starter for us. Here by us we are looking at R 475.00 - Is a electric starter really worth it?

At the moment we are using chicken sticks obviously. Our winter is also drawing closer and apparently, he says (since I haven't flown in the winter), that the engine does not really start very easy when it's cold in the morning (this I can understand) - will an electric starter start it much more quickly than us with the chicken sticks spinning and spinning or not really? Is there perhaps any other advice you can give too make it start easy in the cold if this becomes a problem?

You can get a Hobbico Torqmaster for $30 and a battery for $20, unless you have a lawn mower/motorcycle battery laying around. I started with a chicken stick but after using a buddy's starter I was sold. The engine starts right up if primed in warm weather. In the cold you can keep the engine spinning while it sucks up enough fuel and heats up. Chicken sticks in the cold are not fun at all. So yeah, cold weather or not, it's definitely worth it.

I used a stick all summer last season. Last two days of the season I was struggling with it due to the cold, and a starter was really nice to have. I am stubborn; I had an electric starter all season but refused to use it. Partially because my OS engines like to start with only a flip or two and I like to show off a little.

LOL okay I think then thats the way too go, since we fly at around 6:30 in the morning when it's still cold.

why beat up your prop and yourself...get the starter.....after all there are no more crank starts on cars is there

A couple of things come to mind. I need to preface this by saying that I am not trying to talk down to anyone, but am basing the comments on 60 years of building and flying model aircraft.

1. Regardless of your starting method, make sure that there is someone nearby, so that if the unexpected happens, you have help.

2. Never apply starting energy to a model engine unless you intend it to start. Flipping a hot, wet engine can cause ignition, even if there is no glow ignitor attached to the plug (I know it's rare, but it has happened).

3. If one is available, always use an electric starter instead of flipping the prop with your hand, or a stick.

4. Always have a helper to restrain the model when you are starting the engine.

5. Never reach over a running prop to make any adjustment, or to remove the glow ignitor.

6. Never start an engine when bystanders are within the arc of the prop.

7. Have as much (or more) fun with the hobby as I have.

8. Don't wear loose clothing when starting an engine (especially unbuttoned sleeves).

Bill, AMA 4720
Waco Brother #1

I don't have a clue as to what an R475.00 is but it looks like a lot to me. I am seeing a few of the big cordless electric drills out at the field with a starter cone attached for starting gassers and they work great. Here in the states a starter cost about $25.00 to over $100.00 so they are worth having. I don't know what cold is in your country either?? Here in my area it only gets down to the mid 20sF and other places it's well below zero. A couple drops of lighter fluid in the carb will light up an engine when it's cold without doing any harm to the engine. A trick taught me by a friend in New York that does a lot of winter snow flying. If you have the money a starter is a good idea. A note about Sticks rules. I was telling a young student about how a four stroke engine could start without any power to a glow plug, I had never seen it myself but have heard of it hapening. As I was telling him and showing him how to rotate a prop safely just in case the engine did fire, my trusty YS engine started right up!! It was on the ground for a while too, I had landed and refuled it and was just pumping the tank back up and off it went!! Another thing to remember is if you wear a neck strap [I do] to always flip it over onto your back before starting an engine.

if my math is working, R475 = $47.50. $1 = R10

Number 5 Don't ask how I know but it only take a second for something to go wrong. It only take a small distraction and OOOPs there goes a finger!!!!

I have heard that a starter is hard on the bearings;plus if the engine back fires it can bend the shaft. I dont have one but I will and I will use it only when I really need it. I have an O.S. so a dont need a starter

After getting my share of rapped knuckles, I bought a starter and battery. Sure makes start-ups a lot more pleasant and IMHO is a lot safer. Definitely worth the money.

I started off with the chicken stick and was blessed with an engine that started on the first or second flip 98% of the time.
My second engine was again exceptionally easy to start and I thought the electric starter was a waste of money.
Somewhere along the line I got a coupon for a discount on the Tower branded heavy duty starter and battery combo and needed another item to get up to the $$$ off amout so the starter and battery were added to the purchase.
They sat around for long time and were never used, and then a new engine entered my life. I charged the battery and dragged the starter to the field.
I have never used the stick to start an engine again, as far as i am concerned the electric starter is better than sliced bread.
Even the engines that start on the first flip get the starter, touch it and they are running.
So I heartily endorse the electric starter.

And that would be correct.

Thanx guys, spoke too my buddy yesterday - probably going too get one just before winter time since we both have new engines which start up pretty easy when the weather is "nice".

That which was mentioned by fly boy (I think), about the possibility about bending a shaft or something when the engine backfires- I have also heard this and that is what bothers me - basically the only thing.

I use a Chicken Stick on my Scale and Warbirds, I don't like scuffing my props or plastic nose cones. On trainers and my everyday beat on aircraft I use my electric hand starter.

You aren't going to hurt the bearings and when people talk about bending something inside the engine it's when the engine is vapor locked [fuel inside the cylinder locking it up so it won't spin] and using a starter. When using a starter you roll the engine over by hand and stop it just off the compression stroke then hit it with the starter. You just checked to make sure the engine is rolling free. As to the back fire bending something?? Never seen that happen. If there was any problems hurting engines with electric starters then here in the states our land fills would have as many RC engines in them as plastic baby diapers, almost every one uses them summer and winter.

It may have not been back firing; I do remember the guy saying about something bending when the motor does something.

Just because I haven't seen something happen doesn't mean it can't happen either. I have had my engines back fire on me [four strokes out of tune] and not had anything break. If I was strong arming it when it happened it could probably break or bend something? I just haven't seen it or had it happen. [Yet!!] One day at the field I stated I had never seen any two stroke engine flying a plane at high RPM break anything, I used to pit for a racer and a guy was flying a plane pulling more RPMs then I have ever heard at that moment. Just about then the engine broke the crank and rod!!![:@] Now I can't say I haven't seen that happen!!

I went for the longest time without a starter, but I sure do love having one. I learned pretty much with a chicken stick, and if everything is right, it will start pretty quick. I feel the starter is a luxury, but it sure does make engine starting more pleasurable and I think safer. Even engines that are balky. I can tell quicker if I need to check things when I'm using my starter. With a starter, starting can be almost instantaneous.