T28c

My Feedback: (4)

I have a Zenoah G26 on a Greatplanes Stearman. I can start and run the engine no problems with a starter. But its kind of hard with the spinner on it. I have seen guys with G26s that can hand prop theres with not problem. When i try to prop mine, I start like the book says, start 90 degrees before the compresion. I do that and the engine will pop once and kick back. It will do that a number of times but there is not enough poop to kick it around again. Like i said, once running it runs great at idle, mid and full throttle. I hate to mess that up. Any Ideas?

ahicks

My Feedback: (2)

Mag engine or EI?

Have you tried enriching the low speed or giving it a tad more throttle when starting? A slightly lean engine can be a real bear to start...

karolh

If your engine is the magneto type ignition, the key to hand starting is correctly positioning the prop in relation to the magnets in the hub as indicated in the manual. I had similar problems trying to hand start my Zen engines but after using the recommended sequence it all came together. As the engine breaks in hand starting becomes noticeably easier too, however I eventually converted my engines to CD ignition which makes hand starting a breeze.

Karol

T28c

My Feedback: (4)

Mine is a Mag type ignition. I though i might try enrichening the low end, im just afaid of messing things up. I will try that.
When my engine is at compresion, the prop is vertical. I start flipping it at 90 degrees prior to compresion (horizontal).

karolh

That is okay to generate some prop speed, but where is the first hub magnet in relation to the sensor when the prop is at 12 o'clock, as the ignition does not fire on compression.

Karol

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

You got to make sure that when the magnets come by the coil that the prop is moving as fast as you can make it go.

T28c

My Feedback: (4)

I remeber reading that somwhere on here that you need to take mark where those points of contact are so you can mount the prop corectly. I did not do that. i just have it 90 degrees from the start of feeling the compresion. The way it is set up now, i do get it to pop once but thats it.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

A crankcase vauum leak will cause them to just pop once.

A friend propped on his BME 50 most of the day and all it would do is pop once.

That night at home he found that the arm had come loose on the throttle. He had proped all day with the throttle closed.

T28c

My Feedback: (4)

I know the throttle works. I can start it with a starter. I didnt think of a vaccum leak, I did have that motor apart to change out a prop shaft. Before I tore it down though, you still could not hand prop it.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

If it had a vacuum leak, you couldn't get it to idle worth a toot.

Brian Smith

My Feedback: (117)

I have had 6 or 8 mag G26s and I only had one I could hand start with any regularity. Used a Sullivan dynatron most all the time. Not sure that will make you feel better or not. (smile) Now the ones I sent to Ralph Cunningham and had his ignition installed on them started at the slightest flip of the wrist..Brian

T28c

My Feedback: (4)

Yea i dont mind useing my dynatron. Just that the scale nose cone is a very blunt rounded nose cone. Its hard to keep the starter on it. Whats it cost to have a ignition installed on them?

Brian Smith

My Feedback: (117)

I understand, and starters can ruin the looks of nose cones.. It was $125 with a lifetime warrenty... but I'm not sure he still does it. He goes by Antique here on RCU. Brian

thepamster

I hand start my mag type g38 all the time. If you have the prop on as mentioned on previous posts I am wondering how is your prime. I prime my g38 until  fuel is gushing out the carb, extremely wet, and it will start. Flip that prop like you mean it, HARD.

The Pamster

Brian Smith

My Feedback: (117)

Ditto on the G38s. I hand started mine too, but not the G26s. Brian

T28c

My Feedback: (4)

I think a guy at the field long ago told me that it may have to primed pretty wet. When you prime, you close your choke but do you open your throtle all the open and flip it though?

thepamster

Open throttle all the way, iginition off obviously, fully choke carb, I use thumb,  and rotate prop until soaking wet, then set throttle a little above idle position and making sure plane is secure, and start her up. That is what I do on my g38. As the previous post said however not with g26s. I don't have experience with g26s but not sure why that won't work.
It seems like to me that if it starts with starter either you aren't wet enough or not flipping prop fast enough, passing magnets through coil to get good spark.

The Pamster

karolh

Before I had Ralph (Antique on this forum) convert my G23 to CD ignition I could reliably hand start it. As mentioned previously, you have to get them dripping wet and then flip the prop like you really mean it and it's off and running. Now with the electronic ignition you only have to think about starting it and brrrrrrrr.

Karol

spaceworm

Take a look at Toni Clark's website for good hints to starting Zenoah engines. All of the above but more detailed as to prop position before flipping and why.

T28c

My Feedback: (4)

Whats toni Clarks web address?

Brian Smith

My Feedback: (117)

Again. I could hand start my G23s.. They had a smaller carb and were more user friendly. The early ones had points and they were real easy to hand start.. When they designed the G26 they went for all the power they could muster and used a bigger carb, that to "me" was not very user friendly. They did have a lot more power than my old G23s.. My take on that. I would give these other suggestions a try and let us know how it went. Won't cost you anything. I hope you can do it for the sake of your model and spinner. Brian

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

http://www.toni-clark.com/index_en.htm

T28c

My Feedback: (4)

Well... I tried richening the low end and still the same single pop. I had even primed it till fuel was coming out the carb. I had the cowl off so i was able to really give it a good whip. I checked the prop placement and tried a few diferent positions and still just the one pop. I havnt checked the compresion, but in know its real good. Even though i have spark there, maybe its not enough spark? I will try a new plug. Tomorrow i think i wall bull the motor and check the placement for sure of the mag and the where the prop should be mounted.
Thanks guys for all you help so far.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

Get the "RED" coil?

T28c

My Feedback: (4)

Red coil huh? mine is gray. I havnt looked yet, but where do i find a red coil?