My instructor started my plane (O.S. 60FP) this way this weekend and I thought "wow that's pretty slick. No starter required and no wear and tear on the spinner".

He said it's not difficult but you have to get it primed correctly (nice and loose) and then watch to ensure the motor starts in the right direction.

I had never seen anyone start an engine this way. Is it common?

Don

Pretty common. I've never had much luck with it myself, but a lot of guys do it

My tt 46 will do it, but only after it has run and is warm. It will not do it cold. I haven't tried it on my OS or Magnum engines, I just use the starter.

I will often chicken stick start either by bumping or turning the engine through the compression stroke. If the engine is being difficult I'll use the starter, but most starts just take a flip or so.

I usually start them like that. Saves the trailing edges of wood props especially and also the spinner from wear.

My OS flip started on the second try right out of the box. Never have used a starter on it. Proper priming is required or it will start in reverse, but it won't hurt it when it does this. Easy way to tell if that happens is to 'feel' which way the wind blows from the prop. On my OS, if it does start in reverse, usually a blip or two of the throttle will send it in the right direction.

I have only seen this used with four stokes. My two strokes if primed and ready to go, start pretty easily by flipping through, going the right way.

I generally grab the spinner between my thumb and middle finger of my right hand and then simply snap my fingers. It looks like magic to people that haven't seen it before.

My instructor used to do the same with my OS 46AX back then
i remained pretty impressed as well...

Very common thing to do with Saito.

I do it with my os 46, os 55 and my saito 125. Engine warm and broken in well helps me the most. Just as easy as snapping your fingers.

I got into the habit of doing it with my AX engines. It takes less effort than flipping it through the compression stroke.

Does anyone have a video of this? I would love to see how this is done, I have used a chicken stick on my engine but the starter is so much faster for me, But I would still love to see how this is done. Thanks all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3wPYQpWMDg BUT USE A STICK!!!

Thats really cool! I will definitely be trying to learn that art. (I will use my chicken stick tho) Still have not maidened the decathlon just in case anyone was wondering, we have picked up 2.5 ft of snow in the past two weeks.............................I am getting really sick of winter, the skis went back on the cub today, going to try out the newly installed flaps as soon as the wind goes down. Thanks for the Vid link!

Hi

I genrally try flicking with the spinner first, some engines seem a lot easier to start that way than others.

I think any would but with some getting it primed correctly is a lot more critical, a bigger prop size for a given engine seems to make it easier.

If that fails i try a chicken stick and then somtimes have to resort to a starter.

Simon

I don't have a starter . Me and my friend only uses chicken sticks. My ASP 46 started correctly almost first turn everytime or either then the second and sometimes the third (barely). The ASP 61 I have now seems to start on the second throw. I just prime and hope for the best, but it seems that a prime my engines just right everytime (someone must be looking after me ).

I have a question though - does a 4 stroke tend too start more difficult than a 2 stroke? Because my friend has a 4 stroke and sometimes I feel so bad for him, because he struggles a lot with it.

My experience with 4 strokes is very good and they allways start on the 2 or 3 flip. During my 7 years experience with rc planes I`ve never owned a starter!

All of my OS AX's start this way, even when cold.

I use this technique on some of my larger Glow 2 strokes. The Moki 180, and 210, and the OS 160 both start very well this way. I have an older Supertigre 90 that starts well this way too. I would still reccomend beginners using either a chicken stick, or more desirable would be an electric starter. It's not that you can't start them this way, but since you are fairly new at this hobby, you are still concentrating on the upcoming flight, and not having your mind on starting the engine is a great way to get into trouble. Those whom I train, don't get their hands close to the prop.

Bill, Waco Brother #1

REFERENCE PILOTFIGHTER...[:@]


using fingers is JUST PLAIN STUPID I WOULDN'T BE IMPRESSED, I WOULD BE AMAZED YOU ARE THAT STUPID!

...who cares about wear on your spinner???

I'll put scratches on my spinner any day over losing a finger...and a good aluminium spinner isn't even effected by a starter...

Spoken by someone truly ignorant of just how safe starting by hand actually is WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING! What you have to know is DON'T PUT YOUR HAND BACK IN THE PROP WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING! Sheesh.

Hi

Indeed

Simon

Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us Chuck. I understand just how generous that gesture was.

If done right your fingers are never in line with the prop. If they are you are doing it wrong.

David