I have a new Thunder Tigre Pro .40. I've put about 16 oz of fuel through it on the ground thus far. I'm new to this, so don't snicker if this is something that happens all the time, but the darn thing likes to start backwards. I flip the right way and it seems to start on back compression. Anyone?

I've never had a two stroke do that but I've had two four-strokes (a Saito and A Magnum) that would start backwards when they were new. After a couple of tanks of fuel through them they just stopped doing that and now the start and run perfectly.

Try flipping the prop backwards to start it. Don't push it all the way through the compression stroke backwards so it starts backwards. It is the same as your current method but the reverse kick will start it forward.

If you engine does start backwards it will idle for a little while but will die if you advance the throttle. I have been able to get the engine to kick back to forward from reverse by tapping the nose of the spinner. Be very careful though. It hurts to get bit by a prop and it could cause serious damage to yourself.

thanks for the info guys. Gubbs, i thought of flipping it backwards to see if it would start correctly, but never tried. I figured that it would likely just flash up in that direction, as it seems to want to rotate that way. The way that you described the engine running was right on. idle...throttle...die...flip. you can hear the difference right away when it does start correctly.

i did a little search through the forum and there seems to be a few posts about 4c's with this affliction, such as sawyer said. one thing suggestion was too hot of a plug. anyone else heard of that being a problem?

My glow engine always starts backwards. I sometimes can get it going back the right direction if I move the throttle stick up and down very quickly, but if that does not work then you should just cut her off and try over.

Alway check the prop tightness after it starts backward!! Mine usually loosened.

ok, i will not worry about it. thanks for the help and tips. this forum is GREAT

Used to happen a lot with my TT GP 42 engine, even with an electric starter. When it happened, I just tap the throttle cut button on my TX (holding it down shuts off the engine) and usually the engine begins to spin the right way.

Some engines are quite prone to running backwards if they're a bit too wet, as in too much priming. Try cutting back on how much you prime it a bit at a time until it starts up the right way. It's most unlikely the plugs too hot unles you've got it glowing near white hot from your glow driver

OK, i ran nother tank thru it today. I did lean it out a bit more, as i was running it really wet to break it in. it did start back'ards once, but the jam on the trottle trick worked just fine. i will try not to prime it so much. kinda makes sense. i thank u all for your advise. i can't believe the good help around here. blows me away.

Buy a 'lectric starter.

got one of those. i'd rather just not use it at the moment. scars up my plasitc spinner. i've ran it a few more times. not primimg it so much really helped. it was just a stiff new engine and it seems to be "going away".

Engines tend to start backwards when they have been over primed and/or adjusted way too rich. Also your fuel tank could be mounted higher than the carb causing it to flood as well.