I am a newbie to glow engines and airplanes. just finished building plane and had a buddy over to start. He insisted to spin the pop clockwise which is WRONG. We probably spun it clockwise a dozen or so times before I referred to the trusty instruction manual. We only spun it about a dozen times the right way with no luck. My question is DID I DAMAGE MY ENGINE BY SPINNING PROP WRONG WAY?? IF SO DO YOU THINK IT IS FIXABLE OR WOULD I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE? I am going to shop tomorrow to put an electric starteer on it. Hopefully it will fire up! Thanks for the help.... I guess I can say at least I haven't lost a tooth or set myself on fire trying to start the thing.

You didn't hurt your engine. You have some other reason for it not starting

Starting a new engine is always a chore. The needle settings from the factory are generally set to ensure a very rich run, making starting a little hard. Once you get it running and tuned, you'll find that flip starting in the reverse direction can often, if not usually, be a much more reliable way to start it. What's happening is that when you flip it backwards, the compression will reach a point before top dead center where it will fire. That will provide a much better kick in the correct direction than you can give it by flipping. Consequently, the engine starts running in the correct direction. This is the method I usually use to start my engines.

Bottom line, you didn't damage your engine. Your best bet is to get to a local club and get some experienced help, particularly with fine tuning. You'll be glad you did.

Brad

Experienced pilots start glow engines by "bump starting" in clockwise direction.
his will not harm an engine, and saves fingers which are well out of harm's way when the engine decides to fire.
Bump starting of gas engines is not an option, because of the ignition timing controlled firing.
On some systems, you won't even get a spark that way.

Sometimes it's refered to as back-flipping. Some glow engines start easier that way, especially the big ones and 4-strokes. Follow the instructions that came w/ your engine. Usually the high speed needle has to be out about three turns from all the way closed postion. Don't touch your low speed mixture screw (or air bleed screw as the case may be) until you have it running and dialed in good. Double check your fuel line hook-ups to make sure you aren't trying to suck fuel from your vent line (it happens)! Prior to hooking up your glow driver, use a finger over the carb (w/ throttle open) or finger over the exhaust outlet and flip prop until you see the fuel run up to the carb inlet. Then hook up your glow driver and start.

Welcome to the forum, and to the world of glow engines. Once you get it figured out, you will love it. Hope this helps, and let us know how it works out for you.

Pilgrim

Better to learn how to start the engine instead to buy the starter for modelengines, much easier to start the engine in clockwise.. You will save money for starter and battery and less weight to take with to airfield.

Jens Eirik

Tbone,


You must first learn to operate your engine.
This is best done by mounting and running it on a test-stand (a makeshift test stand will do, just make sure it is sturdy enough to withstand the thrust and the vibrations).

You must learn to respect it; not to fear it.
It will not bite you unless you annoy it...[>:]


It is NOT ready to run, unless it was previously used by someone... And even then, it may not be ready yet.


Please state the make and the type of engine and we will give you good instructions, for doing the break-in properly, to achieve a long and reliable engine life and top performance.

Different engine types require totally different techniques for proper break-in and some engine manufacturers supply 'generic' instructions, that are not type dependent, which may only be good enough to get the engine through the warranty period...


In any case, as Jim (w8ye), a model engine would sustain no damage from being turned backward...

Thanks guys. I put an electric starter to it last night and it fired right up. It is one of the new evolution engines w/ needle valve preset. Runs and idles nicley. Thanks