Hand-Starting – A Cautionary Tale
- RV4ker (RIP)
- The Big Four K
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Gulp, I actually had to hand prop my plane this morning. After 2 weeks of no flying the battery wouldn't turn the F$%E$%g starter motor. It started very easily on the second throw.
Does anyone have a second hand pull starter for a 503 for me? I am sick and tired of this electric starter giving me endless hassles. I have 2 batteries in series to try and throw the starter and even jumpering to a car battery wouldn't get it turning. And I have just had the damn thing serviced.
Does anyone have a second hand pull starter for a 503 for me? I am sick and tired of this electric starter giving me endless hassles. I have 2 batteries in series to try and throw the starter and even jumpering to a car battery wouldn't get it turning. And I have just had the damn thing serviced.
Greg Perkins
I hand start all the time, no electric starter. I have a decent park brake otherwise park the nose wheel up against something if you are on your own. Make damn sure of the throttle setting and give those spinning blades a wide berth. Still you can't be over-cautious.
A Smith & Wesson beats five Aces
I must have the only Challenger in the world that uses an old beetle handbrake. Works like a charm for stopping and can be used to lock the wheels solid for starting and run upsACE wrote:I have a decent park brake otherwise park the nose wheel up against something if you are on your own.
Greg Perkins
When hand propping do you
1) stand to the side of the motor grab on a blade and pull down or
2) stand behind the motor grab two blades, one palm down in the direction of rotation and the other palm up, and then rotate the prop. As the palm down hand reaches the bottom you let go with this hand but continue to rotate with the other hand as it comes over the top and all the way down?
I use option 2. Johan Froneman from Saldanha showed me. This way you can rotate through more than one compression cycle. This is for Pusher configs not for Puller configs. I don't think I would like to stand in front of a prop and try and start it this way. Behind is better, if something goes wrong your plane runs away from you and not over you.
1) stand to the side of the motor grab on a blade and pull down or
2) stand behind the motor grab two blades, one palm down in the direction of rotation and the other palm up, and then rotate the prop. As the palm down hand reaches the bottom you let go with this hand but continue to rotate with the other hand as it comes over the top and all the way down?
I use option 2. Johan Froneman from Saldanha showed me. This way you can rotate through more than one compression cycle. This is for Pusher configs not for Puller configs. I don't think I would like to stand in front of a prop and try and start it this way. Behind is better, if something goes wrong your plane runs away from you and not over you.
Last edited by Morph on Tue Aug 16, 2005 4:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Greg Perkins
- RV4ker (RIP)
- The Big Four K
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- Junkie
- The sky is all mine
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- Location: Killed in microlight accident 23rd December 2006
Got taught early on to prop star a Tiger Moth, which is way up in the air compared to a trike or Bushbaby
I get the heebie jeebies when I watch some guys props start (or pull start ) their eeries, especially when they dont balance properly on their feet and are in danger of falling / tripping over into the prop
The 2 handed approach on 503 & 582 works pretty well, but those 912/4's are a bit of a challenge hey
Anyway - I dont have a pull start (GPL only) so I have to prop start when the going get rough. I really dig those portable battery packs, but not really practicle to lug one around in a trike
Anyway - I certainly hope our British friend, Chris makes a full and speedy recovery and is back in the Air really soon
I get the heebie jeebies when I watch some guys props start (or pull start ) their eeries, especially when they dont balance properly on their feet and are in danger of falling / tripping over into the prop
The 2 handed approach on 503 & 582 works pretty well, but those 912/4's are a bit of a challenge hey
Anyway - I dont have a pull start (GPL only) so I have to prop start when the going get rough. I really dig those portable battery packs, but not really practicle to lug one around in a trike
Anyway - I certainly hope our British friend, Chris makes a full and speedy recovery and is back in the Air really soon
J.U.N.K.I.E 's
Finest used aviation parts in all the Universe
No credit / No returns
Finest used aviation parts in all the Universe
No credit / No returns
- Cloud Warrior
- Top Gun
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- Location: Perth, Western Australia
- DarkHelmet
- Toooooo Thousand
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- Location: Jukskei Park - Randburg
- Cloud Warrior
- Top Gun
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- Joined: Sat May 28, 2005 9:49 am
- Location: Perth, Western Australia
- RV4ker (RIP)
- The Big Four K
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Yip ye olde (or new old) Fokker has a 447 which has to be hand propped. Ginna be experience as the controtion needed to get in and out is not condusive to easy single pilot operation.....demon wrote:Take note jcbv :DHand starting belongs to the age of Spads, Fokkers and Sopwith Camels.
PS
Can't wait for first radio call at Rand - maybe something like this
FOKKER (uncomfortably long pause) VSY request taxi clearance for straffing run on front line (N3)
- RV4ker (RIP)
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