are electric starters really necesary?

[snowball1288]

I fly Electrics and i think im going to get a glow plane soon...
I also own a nitro RC Car. Its a pullstart, and with proper tuning, it starts pretty quick (two or three pulls after priming). Are planes terribly different? Can i just use a chicken stick and flip the prop a few times and expect it to start, or would it be more worth my time to get an electric starter?

[Fly-guy]

It is much easier to get an electric starter. It will turn the einge faster and will start easier, but I find that after 2 runs in a morning my engines will all start with a chicken stick. I think its a personall thing, I use them but I know some guys that dont, I just find it easier.

Fly-guy

[Steve Guinn]

Some engines start very easily, some can be very difficult.
I'd say learn to prime it (if you do not already know how) and go with the stick.
If it gives you grief, get a starter.

[globemaster3c17]

I used to exclusively use a starter, didn't even own a chicken stick. Then I met a guy who has been in the hobby for about 23 years, and he uses a stick most of the time. If you prime them properly (they are usually pretty wet) using a stick is no problem at all. Sometimes the engine will start but run backwards. You can apply throttle until it tries to die, then chop the throttle and it will then run the correct direction if you time the throttle just right. Most of the time they start easier by hitting the prop so it spins backwards, bounces off the compression, then starts. I only use my starter when using the stick doesn't work after a couple tries anymore.

[DaveSawers]

A starter is certainly safer, but it is by no means essential. If you are familiar with setting up engines, you can get by without one. If you are new to them, a starter makes it so much easier.

[snowball1288]

I have a 5Ah 12v sealed type battery which i use to get a few extra charges in my batteries at the field. Is this powerful enough to power a starter?

[LostMyPlane]

Snowball,

I have a 6ah 12v sealed type battery that has worked for me all year with maybe 3 recharges needed.

As far as using a chicken stick or a starter. I think it's personal choice. I chose to use a starter for a few reasons though. I fly in cold weather and the starter will keep me from twisting my arm off. also, for the same reason, if a glow plug is going bad or engine is off tune due to weather changes, I won't flip the motor to death while trying to figure out whats going on. I've been flying for about 16 years and can start one with a chicken stick really well. To me it's like having a cordless phone in the house. A corded phone will work just as well to make or answer phone calls, but a cordless phone is much easier and convenient in my view. To me an electric starter is just more convenient and makes my flying session more enjoyable.

[kario]

Hi guys, new to the hobby and just can't really afford an electric starter. Does anyone know of any video showing how's it's done with a chicken stick? Does the plane need to have a very strong landing gear? (I'm assuming there's a fair bit of pressure placed on the plne to hold it steady).

Cheers
Chris

[Steve Guinn]

It does not take a lot of pressure.

Open the throttle 1/8-1/4
Place your thumb over the carb and turn the prop slowly by hand until you see the fuel in the line reach the carb.
Place igniter on glow plug.
Use chicken stick to slowly turn prop untill it hits compression before 12 O'clock.
Quickly flip the prop thru the compression stroke.
Repeat the flip.

[kario]

Thanks Steve.

[fhhuber506771]

I went over 25 years flying glow before getting an electric starter.

They are not necessary.

They do make starting an engine safer... especially an engine that is not starting easilly.

**********

Note... Never choke an engine with the glow plug connected. If it kicks unexpectedly it can slice your finger deeply.

[Ira NZ]

I find it much slower to use a starter. With a chicken stick, after priming, you just go flip, flip, flip, and it's running(Or fewer if you're lucky or just good)

With the electric starter I have to dig the battery out of my box, dig the starter out of the box, connect the starter leads to the battery then push the starter onto the spinner, oops it's just slipping, turn prop back, try pushing a bit harder...

If your engine doesn't start relatively easy then an electric starter will help.

[linw]

I just use a heavy leather padded glove. I have a starter but figure if I need it, things aren't right.

[shane.barton]

I use the electric starter for the first start of the day and then use the chicken stick there afterwards. I also keep the chicken stick in my pocket when I taxi out for take offs. Our field is never heavily populated (only a handful of pilots out 99.9% of the time) so busy landing strips are rarely an issue if you happened to hit one of the many divot holes on the field and have to resrt the engine on the go.

[rcnewb]

I just got into glow this year, I went ahead and invested in a heavy duty electric starter from Towerhobbies.com, but have yet to use it. My Saito FA-100 4-stroke starts beautifully by hand, usually on the first try, when I bring the prop around and throw it counter-clockwise against the compression stroke with a decent amount of force. This way I don't have to worry about the Saito firing and running backwards, which has occasionally happened when I have flipped the prop clockwise against the compression stroke (probably because I use a lot of force). Priming generally requires 4 or 5 counter-clockwise turns of the prop with my finger over the exhaust to draw in fuel. I always use a padded glove when starting by hand. I have a chicken stick but have avoided using it since the hand starts are so easy and reliable.

If you use a spinner (such as a Tru-Turn or a nylon spinner), the electric starters can chew those up. Also, Saito warns that electric starters can cause engine damage especially if it becomes flooded.

[orenda635]

Note... Never choke an engine with the glow plug connected. If it kicks unexpectedly it can slice your finger deeply.

Duh. I remember a guy who did that at my club a couple years back. A bloody mess but he drove himself to the hospital. :eek:

Electric starters are just safer and easier. I recommend them. Chicken sticks just seem too clumsy to me. Of course, when you get to the big gassers, you don't need either, just a good work glove. I've got one of those Hobbico starters and power it with a lawn mower battery. I've noticed some of those NiCd/NiMH battery packs that attach to them loose their kick pretty fast.

I wonder why recoil starters aren't made available for aircraft engines. Is it the weight penalty? I've seen at least one gasser (a conversion on a scale ultralight) with a pull start.

[Thermalin]

Also, Saito warns that electric starters can cause engine damage especially if it becomes flooded.

Lot easier to clear a flooded engine with a starter though.. remove the plug... hit it with the starter (don't look over that plug hole :eek: ), replace the plug...

Starters do damage to flooded engines b/c you sort oh have no feedback on the resistance from all the fuel with no place to go so things end up bending inside... (like the tire shop guys using airguns on the lugs of your tire :censored: - one time the nut was on askew and the gun just twisted it on anyway.. had to replace that threaded rod in my axle... well he did for free!)

[justerik]

I don't have much to add, but had this pocketful of pixels and nothing to do with them. :) Like someone else above, I too have a Saito 'hunnert and it's a piece of cake to start by flipping it back against compression. I do have an electric starter but rarely use it. Sometimes I just pull it out and set it next to the plane as an intimidation factor. If the engine starts thinking about acting up, all I have to do is nod toward the starter. :)

I zip-tied a battery to the starter so there are no cords to get in the way.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g208/erikivy/RC/starter2.jpg

This is probably a little cheaper than getting one of the specially made battery units.

[Bobby2343]

How long to you leave the glow plug connected, untill the engine starts. Will it burn out the plug?

[Ira NZ]

Until the engine starts basically. You usually can pull it off as soon as the engine is running. Most people I think leave it on for a seconds while they rev the engine then take it off. That way the head's warmer when you pull it off. Otherwise the engine can stumble for a little while with a cooler than ideal plug.

[fhhuber506771]

The modern NiCd plug "ignitors" you can leave connected while the engine runs for the full tank of fuel if you don't have the engine running lean.

If the engine's idle is a bit on the rich side, leaving the ignitor on until you're ready to taxi out is a good idea.

[jazi]

i got myself an electric starter as well. Could anyone post some DOs and DON'Ts with regards to their operation. As i am new to the hobby i got it to be on the safe side.

Especially those that will end up hurting an engine

[Viper Pilot]

Don't push too hard on the spinner . . . just enough to make good contact. Too much pressure can result in bearing damage to the engine.

Don't start the starter then "jam" it on the spinner while it is spinning. I've seen alot of people do this. Dangerous and damaging!

[Steve Guinn]

Do not prime the engine if you are using the starter. If you prime too much it can hydrolock and cause damage. No need to prime at all if using the starter, just open the throttle about 1/8 to 1/4.

[jazi]

I found this wonderful and informative website Airfield Models (http://www.airfieldmodels.com) and the guy had this to say about electric starters. Would appreciate if you guys could confirm or add to this info.

I think flyers abuse their engines with electric starters. I have one and I use it with my helicopter because there is really no other way to start the engine. My helicopter requires a starting shaft which replaces the aluminum cone on the front of the starter.

Whatever you do, do not keep cranking your engine with an electric starter if it will not start. You are just wearing it out (the engine and the starter). If the engine will not start then disconnect the fuel line and flip it until all the fuel is out of the engine.

If you think the engine is flooded (which it probably is if you've been cranking it with a starter) then you may want to remove the plug and the fuel line and then turn it over for a second with your starter to spew out the excess fuel.

If the engine was flooded then it should kick eventually. Just keep flipping it until it will not kick any more. Then reconnect the fuel line, hook up the igniter and it should start right up.

Remember, engines burn fumes, not liquids. You only need a very small amount of fuel in the engine. Most starting problems are either a bad fuel feed or a flooded engine.

Electric starters are a good thing, but they are really not necessary to start most engines. I do recommend them while cautioning you that they can cause unnecessary wear on your engine.