speedwings

Hello all. I have a basic question that I could not find an answer to by performing a search:

My reliable (but unbelievably lethargic) LA .46 always runs backwards when I hand start it. Sometimes it will idle down and reverse direction and run great, sometimes it won't. This thing will burn an entire tank of gas at 1/4 throttle backwards if you let it! But here's the strange thing, I have it leaned rich of peak by about 3 clicks on the needle valve, the throttle response is great and (knock on wood) has never given me a dead stick in the Kadet - it runs great!

I burn Coolpower 10% with an OS A3 glow plug. I tried an A8 in it and could not tell the difference. I am hesitant to change my mixture much because it runs significantly worse if I change it +/- 3 clicks in either direction. This is only my second year at this hobby and I'm still working on the basics so I turn to the wisdom of you old timers for advice.

Thanks in advance for the reply!

wessman

Heh, Heh, nice to hear that somebody´s got the same prob like me . Someone said it´s because of over priming, or ya don´t flip it strongly enough. Also somebody asked to flip it in "wrong" direction, i.e hit downward on left side in stead of upward.

Hope this helps .

Peter.

vonJaerschky

My Feedback: (3)

I start all my engines (2-Stroke and 4-stroke) with the "Backward flip bounce method). Much safer than truing to flip the prop through compression and then getting bit. Be careful about how hard you whack the prop if you are using a prop with sharp blades edges. With my Webra .40, I can actually just grab the spinner and give it a quick backward twist, and off the engine goes.

Flyboy Dave

My Feedback: (21)

....this might sound a bit odd, but give it a try....it works.

....set your prop so that it will come up on compression
at 4-o'clock when you turn the prop backwards...yes, to
the right....or clockwise. Instead of flipping the prop
through compression to the left, as normal...."pop" the
prop to the right with your fingers....with a sharp tapping
motion. Don't try to turn it through....just "pop" it against
the compression.

You will be suprised to see that the motor will start and run
"forwards", or to the left.

If you ever see the Old Timers hand flip a big motor....you
will see them flipping the prop to the right....mainly because
it's too hard, and too dangerous to try and flip it through to
the left as normal. This will work fine on small motors too.

Prime the motor....hook up the glow....and pop it. I start my
4-stroke motors with the same technique....only I flip the
spinner backwards with my fingers against the compression.

Dave.

ajvpb

My Feedback: (3)

I had the same problem. It happens because right when the piston gets to the top of the stroke, your hand brushes off past the prop. This allows it to backfire. I tried making sure my hand went through, but ended up getting bitten by the prop, so I don't recommend that. Over priming does seem to cause it to run backwards more, so I would prime less. Also, whenever mine ran backwards, just jockey the throttle up to full, then to idle. It will make a funny noise from the carb, like its sucking lots of air, and the rpms will drop. It takes a little practice to get the timing right, but usually I can bring it up to full, then drop it back right when it's going to die, and the engine will fire and run the right direction. If it dies when you do this, just try again.

If all else fails, get an electric starter.

Good luck

Alex

Flyboy Dave

My Feedback: (21)

....is this a Great place....or what ?

speedwings

Thanks for the tips! I always thought it was just my settings or a fuel issue, but it sounds like it's all starting technique. I just got so sick of using my electric starter that I switched to the chicken stick and I couldn't believe how it could run backwards all the time. I'll give your ideas a shot. Any other tips?

Thanks guys!

speedwings

I always wondered what those guys were doing with the big scale planes. I thought it was just some spring loaded deal that caused it to start after you turned it by hand backwards......