10 Steps to a Quick Cold Start
While it may not yet be as frigid as it seems in the photo above, the frost is definitely on the pumpkin! As the weather turns colder, it’s a good time to revisit some cold-engine starting techniques. Have some tips for flying in colder conditions? Leave them in the comments section!
1. Turn on your transmitter and receiver.
2. Fully open the throttle.
3. Watch for fuel in the line and cover the throttle opening with your finger. Firmly grip the propeller, and rotate it until the fuel is just up to the carb. Don’t flip it! Now turn the prop over–twice, if it’s warmer than 50 degrees F; three times, if it’s colder–to prime the engine.
4. With the glow plug disconnected, flip the engine over six to eight times.
5. Close the throttle and move the trim to fully up. This should open the throttle barrel a little more. The throttle should be about 1/4 open.
6. Grab the prop firmly, and rotate the engine until it passes through the compression part of the stroke. You should feel the engine “kick.” If it does, it will now start on the first or second flip. Always use a chicken stick or electric starter for starting. If the engine doesn’t start, flip the prop a few times with the glow plug disconnected, and try again. If it doesn’t kick now, choke it one more time with the throttle fully open, flip the prop a few more times, reposition the throttle, light the glow plug, and try again.
7. If, when your engine starts, it just revs up and quits, turn the high-speed needle valve 1/2 turn counterclockwise to open it, and try again. Repeat this if necessary.
8. If the engine starts, slows down and quits, and if a lot of smoke comes out of the exhaust, turn the high-speed needle valve clockwise to make the mixture leaner, 1/4 turn at a time. Restart the engine.
9. When the engine has started, hold the throttle partially open, and let the engine warm up for at least one minute before making the final adjustments.
10. Most engines are harder to start when they’re hot. To start a hot engine, draw the fuel up to the carb, but don’t choke or prime it. Open the throttle to 1/4. Flip the prop hard. Use and electric starter, if you have one available.
I earned my all seasons patch while in northern Minnesota – flew nitro planes at -20 degrees F. One trick is to use chemical hand warmers wrapped around the head and covered with a towel to keep the engine warm. Another is to use higher nitro % than in warm weather.
If you replace 10% methanol with 10% petrol in the fuel, very cold weather starts are much easier as the petrol will vaporize much quicker than methanol. No harm to your engine – works very well. You can leave out the nitro if you wish as the petrol assists both starting and steady idle.
thanks brian for your comment . but i didn’t get it .
are you mean we can use methanol fuel contain 10% petrol instead of 10% nitro ?
or we should add 10% petrol to the methanol fuel which has also 10% nitro .
Clarification: the hand warmer and towel is only for before first flight and BETWEEN flights…not WHILE flying. lol
When in the very cold air, We always give a few drops of lighter fluid in venturi and flip the motor over.. they start very quick and draw fuel to keep running so its pretty effortless…
using lighter fluid works every time
cigerette kighter fluid…
When do I take my finger off the carb as indicated in step three….half way through step 3, at the end of step 3 or end of step 4 ???
Bill
Our club here in Alaska flies year round. Our coldest event so far was -31 F. One way to preheat an engine is to place the spinner in the exhaust pipe of a running car or pickup for 15 minutes or so. Another is to use a propane torch on the head if you can reach it. Electrics always start but the battery can be damaged at extreme temperatures.
Daryl
Our club in Alaska flys year round. Our coldest event was -31 degrees. To preheat an engine you can put the spinner in the exhaust pipe of a car or pickup for 15 minutes or so. Or you can use a propane torch on the cylinder if you can reach it. Electrics always start, but you can ruin a battery if it is to cold.
Bill, At the end.
Chuck
Thanks for this article, had to do one of these yesterday at 40 degrees. Not too hard but they don’t like cold weather much!
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