Am I Mental???
 

I am new to the Hobby, so I have a lot to learn about it... BUT... Is what I am seeing true???

I have been breaking in my first engine, a Super Tigre .45 ABC... It starts fine, as long as you prime it well it will start first flick...

When running the throttle response is very good, if I flick from full off to full on the eninge responds immediatly etc...

BUT I have Noticed twice now that my Super Tigre .45 ABC seems to run is reverse sometimes...

When I started it the plane lurched back, at first I though it was the ground, but them a saw that the plane actually had thrust from the prop pushing it back... Needless to say it run badly, but to have thrust in the opposite direction it must have been running clockwise, no anti as it should be?

I killed the engine, then started it again and it again run the wrong direction, then it was about to stall and it just corrected and run properly???

After that I run two tanks full of juice and it was very sweet indeed...

Any ideas?

Please do not ask me if I flicked the prop in the wrong direction when starting, I did not...

I can't say for sure that the engine is running the wrong way, but the prop is making reverse thrust, then when the engine warms a little and is restarted, everything is sweet...

It's not really an issue but I am worried the engine may be damaged...

Matt

RE: Am I Mental???
 

It's extremely common for an engine to run backwards. You won't have done any damage to it, and it's obvious when it happens as the engine is pushing in the wrong direction (obviously!)

Sometimes you can make it run in the right direction by flipping open the throttle quickly, in which case it 'backfires' and starts running in the right direction.

Don't worry about it. It's one of those things that happens with a model engine.

-David C.

RE: Am I Mental???
 

O.K.

I have heard of reverse thrust, but on a 2 stroke glow engine?

:D

RE: Am I Mental???
 

One of the easiest ways to start a well tuned engine is with a back flip! It bumps against compression and starts in the proper direction.

In your case if the engine is slightly over primed it can hit compression and bounce back in reverse.

RE: Am I Mental???
 

my OS .46 FXi starts backwards all the time as i use a chicken stick alot instead of a electric starter since it usually cranks on the first flip. normally a quick flip of the throttle will get it goin in the right direction. if not the flip will kill the motor and another flick with the stick will start it up and itll run right

RE: Am I Mental???
 

I use a chicken stick too...

The motor does not start backwards every time but it sure freaked me out when it did...

At first of course I thought I had spun the prop the wrong way, but I knew I could not have because of the way I do it...

Anyway, as long as it is not going to break the engine...

I had visions of Rods, and Pistons etc pouring out of the exhuast...

[8D]

RE: Am I Mental???
 

When you prime the motor leave one flip out that you would normally do. Should help along with flipping backwards.

RE: Am I Mental???
 

i concur,don't worry about it because it sometimes happens,i had a friend who rode a montesa motorcycle in the early 80's,it once backfired at a set of traffic lights and he thought nothing of it,when they went green he gave it a big handful,dropped the clutch and flew into the car behind him!:D

RE: Am I Mental???
 

Running backward is usually a sign that the engine has been over-primed.

Try priming it a little less

RE: Am I Mental???
 

DOH!

I would have loved to see the expression on the driver of the cars face! Then when the cops got there your friend explaining to them I couldn't have possibly backed into them....I don't have reverse!:D:D:D

RE: Am I Mental???
 

his brother is a cop!

RE: Am I Mental???
 

Don't worry, you are one of the lucky ones by getting the new ST .45 with reverse. I've have the fortune with getting one of those myself and although it runs OK in reverse, the flying backwards is a bit difficult for me. The plane just does not want to climb like it should. Guess I just need to practive more. Seems like all the controls are reversed or something. If I could just find the button on my radio that changes the prop direction in mid air, my flying would be better. The "reverse" servo dip switch doesn't seem to work......

Sorry.... Just Couldn't resist :)

Ditto what the other guys said. BTW you are not Mental... But maybe I am??? ;)

RE: Am I Mental???
 

some 2 stroke golf carts are designed to run both directions... want to back up? the engine just runs in reverse! simple, elegant, and very few additional parts.

RE: Am I Mental???
 

Messershmitt built a very small car with a 2-stroke engine after WWII, & it had to be started backward in order to reverse.

RE: Am I Mental???
 

Bittbrat, that one was way out in left field. I have seen them things. They are real off the beaten path. And here I thought I was the only nut who knew what one was:D.

Mark Shuman

RE: Am I Mental???
 

That's funny... :D (If no one was hurt)

Only Italians would add such "Useful" features to their engines...

Matt

RE: Am I Mental???
 

Will do, I guess it is finding the right balance...

Thanks for the help...

Matt

RE: Am I Mental???
 

Oh Man... Good point... imagine the explanations... HAHAHAHAHAHA

[8D]

RE: Am I Mental???
 

HAHAHA

You know though, I am not new to engines, (of other types), but honestly I stood looking at this thing with my mouth open for about 30secs before I actually believed it...

Matt

RE: Am I Mental???
 

phread59, perhaps you are as old as I am -- not many folks these days have seen a Messerschmitt car.

RE: Am I Mental???
 

SM,

You accidentally bought the RC car version of the engine. These engines need to run backwards so that the car can go in reverse, similar to an electric motor with reverse voltage applied.

Just kidding.

RE: Am I Mental???
 

Matt-

I want to clarify one thing that others have touched on, but it seems like it may have gotten lost in the discussion: When hand (or chicken stick) starting an engine, it is often desirable to flip it BACKWARDS, the opposite direction that it should be running. As someone else mentioned, the engine will 'bump' up against the compression, fire, and start running the right direction. I know it seems counter intuitive, but its true. This is basically what is happening to you in reverse. You flip it in what would be the correct rotational direction, but when it hits compression it pops back the other way. As you recognized, however, it is not good for the engine to actually start running the wrong direction.

Perhaps you picked up on this in reading others' comments, but I just wanted to make sure.

-Scott

RE: Am I Mental???
 

hey britbrat,i know what a messerschmitt car is!,when i was 15 i had a paper delivery round and one of my customers had one converted into a flower bed!,he had taken the canopy off,filled it with earth and planted flowers in it!,he was a very well known rock musician and a little bit eccentric,he even gave me a bottle of scotch for christmas-when i was 15!,i gave really serious thought to drinking it but gave it to my dad instead.

RE: Am I Mental???
 

Was that Messerscmidt a 3 wheeler? Taildragger if I remember correctly.... I have a good picture of one somewhere...

RE: Am I Mental???
 

Every time I get an e-mail saying there has been a reply in this thread, I open it up thinking it's going to be something about starting engines. Instead, they're all about Messerschmitts! Just kidding!:D I appreciate a good car story as much as the next guy.

-Scott