I figured I might find something on this in a search, but nope.
Has anyone set up a cordless drill to use as an engine starter, how did it work? Or did it?

It has actually been talked about here a lot. I didn't think it would work but there are a lot of people that do it and say that it works well.

Drills work fine for starters... get one that has a high gearing with a fast spin...

I used one for a long time with an older helo that needed the narrow nose and handle vs. a regular starter

I've done it for Gassers.

yeh i've heard there pretty sucessful too but be careful of the more powerful ones, i've seen someone ruin there engine due to hydraulic lock

Cordless drills?

Generally speaking, the larger the engine the lower the rpm necessary for starting, and the better the drill will do.

Cordless drills usually don't turn too fast. If you have an idle speed less than 1800 rpm or so, the drill should work fine.

However I knew a fellow who used a cordless drill with excellent results on an OS 32 FH.

But since a dedicated starter can be had so cheaply...

Bill.

Buy a starter...you don't want to get laughed at by the folks at the field.

The new keyless chuck drills seem to come undone when turning in reverse. Just my 2 cents.

Wow you must have a bunch of tough critics at your field... When I showed up with my cordless drill in a holster on my hip, went and went to the line with a glow driver, fired it up and took off I had several guys stating that was the coolest thing they had seen.

To each his own I guess.... Must be the culture differences. Guys at my field often use items not normally intended for the hobby trade in their hobby. Example, no one laughed at a friend of mine who used an old Ironing board base to hold his flight box. He could easily adjust the hight, it was plenty stable and light, and it didnt cost him a dime.

"one laughed at a friend of mine who used an old Ironing board base to hold his flight box. He could easily adjust the hight, it was plenty stable and light, and it didnt cost him a dime."

Did not cost him a dime? I would guess this would cost me a lot more than a dime if my wife found out where her ironing board was going every sunday!

Mike

Let 'em laugh. Who cares.