Engine starting tips

Kestrel452 said:
It seems like the plane I fly wont actually turn over until i release the starter. It will just keep on trying to start until i finally give up and let go of the key, then it cranks over as soon as i do that. what does this mean?
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One of my flight schools arrows was doing that for the longest time. Our MX shop dropped about $5k into a new fuel system and fuel servo, etc trying to troubleshoot the problem. We sent the plane to another MX shop and it turns out, our MX shop had wrongly wired the "starting" mag (I forgot which side mag starts on an arrow) so that when you held the start position it grounded out the mag. Our MX shop = FAIL
 
Kestrel452 said:
Lol, nope. This happens?
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Some of the 140's I would fly has some sort of starter rig on there that would spin the HELL out of the prop. I honestly thought some times the thing had already started. Anyway, on those I'd wait until I heard a cough and then let the starter go and it'd work for me. Doesn't sound like that's your case, though. Anyhow, enough throttle and mixture and it'll start. I don't know any other tricks on the piper.
 
jdlilfan said:
One of my flight schools arrows was doing that for the longest time. Our MX shop dropped about $5k into a new fuel system and fuel servo, etc trying to troubleshoot the problem. We sent the plane to another MX shop and it turns out, our MX shop had wrongly wired the "starting" mag (I forgot which side mag starts on an arrow) so that when you held the start position it grounded out the mag. Our MX shop = FAIL
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I emailed my CFI what you said. That pretty much sounds like what is going on.
 
Kestrel452 said:
I emailed my CFI what you said. That pretty much sounds like what is going on.
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Yeah, that's a pretty good idea actually. That or the ground wire (known as a p-lead) on the non-starting mag (I think that would usually be the right on the Pipers) is broken.
 
Kestrel452 said:
It seems like the plane I fly wont actually turn over until i release the starter. It will just keep on trying to start until i finally give up and let go of the key, then it cranks over as soon as i do that. what does this mean?
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Just dealt with this exact problem in two different airplanes, in both cases it was an induction leak.

If it's your airplane take it to a mechanic, if it's a flight school airplane tell them about it.

In the smaller Lycomings the intake tubes are "swedged" into the oil sump, this means they are inserted into their sockets and then a tool is used to stretch them so that they have a tight fit. Over time vibration can cause them to loosen. Also, there are rubber couplers held on by hose clamps that connect the intake tubes, the hose clamps can loosen and cause this same problem.

In Continentals the intake tubes have similar rubber couplers and similar problems. Also, they have a "crossover" tube that serves to equalize the intake air on both sides of the intake, we've seen one case where the airplane's cowling rubbed a hole in this tube and the symptom was exactly that, hard starting.
 
The Archer I used to fly wouldn't start unless you advanced the throttle a little more than the .5" or whatever it recommends in the POH.
 
jynxyjoe said:
Is this one of those pipers where the starter spins the prop so fast you could about taxi with it?
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get a skytec starter... those suckers will give you enough thrust for takeoff!!

in other news, instead of cranking with the throttle in a fixed position, i find that if i pump the throttle fairly rapidly while cranking i can usually get it started within 2 or 3 revolutions.... sitting with the throttle in one spot its kindof up to luck whether it wants to start or not...
 
I usually turn the key. Then it starts. Or in the 320 you just use three hands and turn the starter while priming by boosting then off then boost as it cranks then advancing the mixture. Easy!
 
Waco... I see your inertial started 1929 Waco and raise you a hand propped Taylorcraft in Alaska! (Granted, most of the manliness comes from this occurring in Alaskan cold...)

[yt]mfm_tQbkoGU[/yt]
 
TXaviator said:
is that actually a possibility? (serious question)

no one ever mentioned that before. can you explain the mechanics of how a fire would start above the carb by pumping/varying the throttle?
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In Continental Engines yes...in Lycoming not so much.
 
TXaviator said:
is that actually a possibility? (serious question)
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Yes.

can you explain the mechanics of how a fire would start above the carb by pumping/varying the throttle?
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No.

But I can tell you how long it takes a fat student pilot to realize it isn't cranking over, get out of the airplane, run to get the fire bottle and return to the airplane........and it isn't long.

...and that was a mechanic that told me to do it, too.

-mini
 
minitour said:
Yes.


No.

But I can tell you how long it takes a fat student pilot to realize it isn't cranking over, get out of the airplane, run to get the fire bottle and return to the airplane........and it isn't long.

...and that was a mechanic that told me to do it, too.

-mini
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What type of engine was it Mini?
 
minitour said:
Yes.


No.

But I can tell you how long it takes a fat student pilot to realize it isn't cranking over, get out of the airplane, run to get the fire bottle and return to the airplane........and it isn't long.

...and that was a mechanic that told me to do it, too.

-mini
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How fat we talking here?
 
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