I have a great cordless drill with multiple torque settings. I was thinking that I could use it to start my ST 45 if I had an adapter to use with it. Does anyone know if this is possible, and if so, where could I get an adapter. Or maybe I could make my own. Thanks for the help.

I don't know if you'd have enough speed or not. It's quite possible it would work,
but if you're doing this as a money saving venture, it's a lost cause.
The electric starters made for this purpose are cheaper than it would cost you to
have an adapter specially machined for chucking in your drill motor.

also make sure that it is a reversible drill, as you need it to turn
counterclockwise to start a engine.

Never thought of it, but by golly, that's a good idea!

I just bought a Sullivan Dynatron a few months back, but had I thought of it, I would've tried it with one of my deWalt 18V drivers. Those suckers have torque up the wazoo. They drive 3-1/2" drywall screws easily into SYP without a pilot hole. I'm sure even my old 12V gun have enough juice to start a 1.20.

But the reality is that unless you already own a drill driver and then just do the conversion, buying a good size gun with enough cahones is going to cost more than a heavy duty RC starter.

Another problem is that most HD drill drivers are pistol grip. Because your trigger hand is offset from the rotating axis, you'll have to hold it two-handed to start the engine. This means you'll have to have someone else hold your plane.

I have seen home made starters from a piece of radiator hose. Just find the proper diameter to fit on your prop spinner and you're set. You would need to fabricate some type of mandrel to hold the radiator hose though.

I think I am in agreement with everyone else. If you are doing this "because it is there", then have at it. If you are looking to avoid the cost of a starter, then I think you might be wasting your time.

Good luck
Frank

I saw somone in the park close to my house who start his heli whit a cordless drill. I do not remember the heli engine size or the drill model.

It is working.

cordless drill will not start your airplane engines,it don't turn fast enough,and will stall your engine before it realy starts,I tried,Ken, ps and you would need three hands

I have about 5 starters. 3 homemade jobbies. Have one small one don't know where the motor came from.Works well for small engines, not quite enough ommph for anything larger that a 25. Then I have a riding mower starter motor, converted, works great up to about .60 size, doesn't spin fast enough for some engines. The last one is an actuall small car starter motor. I have not used it yet, the guy who built it said he sarted his 1.8 with no problem. Then I have 2 hobbico starters, 90 and 180 heavy duty. I normally use them just because they are made just for this.

Doesn't spin fast enough? Baloney.

How fast are you spinning the engine when you flip-start it? Nowhere near the 1200RPM a typical cordless drill spins. Many people flip-start their engines exclusively.

The procedure for starting an airplane engine is not: Fill the tank, attach the glow plug driver, apply the starter, and crank crank crank crank crank crank crank crank crank until it starts. If you're doing that, or feel you have to do that, you're doing it wrong. Generally, a prime of 2-3 turns after you've drawn all the air bubbles out of the line going to the carburetor is all that's necessary to get an easy start.

I doubt you'd be saving anything by trying to convert a drill into an electric starter. You need to have a cup and cone machined, or you need to buy a replacement cup and cone for a regular starter. Tower Power starters, which are identical to the more epensive Hobbico starters, are only $17.99.

I used to start my Concept 30 with a cordless drill. Worked fine. I adapted a regular Sullivan start cone. Even put a one way bearing in it.

Alan Angus