Warrior II Start Up
 

I recently flew a Warrior II for a check flight. Haven't flown one for a few ears. Ended up flooding it from a cold start.

How many primer pumps should you use normally? I used 3 pumps and a slightly cracked throttle. The instructor told me to leave the boost pump on. Is that right? I remember being taught to turn it on until fuel pressure comes up, then turn off.

Any help from ppruners would be appreciated. :)

Three is plenty, I use two. Don't leave the fuel pump on, I think that may be the problem.

pall,

I did many hours (well over 1000) in a Warrior II, though it was few moons ago now, from memory I used 5 primes for cold and 2-3 for warm starts.

I'm surprised you flooded it with three primes. My experience with Lycomings is most people don't give them enough fuel when priming.

Another problem is not having the throttle open far enough to the let the engine breathe properly. About 1/4 to 1/2 inch open usually does the trick, in other words a throttle setting that gives 1000-1200 RPM idle seems to work best.

Perhaps in your case some of the primer nozzles were blocked stopping some cylinders getting fuel and others getting far more than their share.

As for the electric fuel pump. It should not have affected your ability to start the aircraft, unless the needle valve in the carb was not seating properly.

The pump should be off for start. Turn it on and watch the fuel pressure gauge for a pressure rise then turn off, this checks that the pump is working and ensures the carb bowl is full.

The reason for turning it off for the start is incase of an engine fire at start up. If there is a problem with the fuel system i.e. a broken fuel line in the engine bay you don't have the fuel being pumped onto the fire.

We always use Electric fuel pump for start... Guess it just depends on the operator.

pall

What does the POH say? It’s been many years since I last flew a Warrior but the method in the POH works as advertised. Also if you go outside the POH procedures you may void the insurance.

For my operator, Elec. fuel pump is on for start. Thats the way it appears on our checklists.

Either usually 3 primes for cold or 1 for hot starts. More recently they have tended to pump the throttle instead of using the primer. This is generally 4 for cold start and 2 for hot start.

Interested to see peoples' opinions on that little procedure...

Electric pump on for the checklists I've been using from 3 different operators

I tend to give it a couple of pumps on the primer and then pump the throttle slowly a few times until you can feel a slight increase in resistance when starting from cold.

Presume you were referring to pumping the throttle instead of priming.

Just think about where this fuel ends up - in the induction system oustide the engine between that carb and air filter, due to the fact that an updraught carb is fitted.

Ever wondered what might happen to this fuel if there was a back fire during start - some external combustion.

I've never used more than one prime to start a warrior. Generally I don't need to prime at all. Throttle cracked open (5 cms), fuel pump on, check pressure, fuel pump off, start, that's it.

Have never used the primer!

But it doesn't get that cold in FNQ! :cool:

Thanks everyone.
 

Thanks for the advice. I believe I was too enthusiastic with the primer. The Warrior I flew few years ago responded best to 1-2 primes and fuel boost pump off after positive fuel pressure is established. I will return to this protocol. :ok:

Even if you do flood it, just give her full throttle and she should fire soon enough.

I find that when it does fire if flooded I manipulate throttle quickly from around 1/3 to 2/3 back and forth till it spews the black fuel and crap out the exhausts then she springs to life.

Pretty standard across the board for Lycoming's.

POH says booster on, 1-3 strokes & 1/4" of throttle for a cold start. My school teaches booster off and 5 strokes (first stroke only seems to pump air) when it is really cold & it seems to work.

Never seem to have enough hands for the POH hot start proc, booster on, mixture idle cut off, throttle 1/2", advance to rich when it fires.

The early Cherokee series (140/160/180/Warrior / Archer) are not fuel injected so the electric fuel pump does nothing except supply fuel to the carb - nothing you do with the pump after starting will have any effect on the engine. Having it on for takeoff is to ensure a positive supply to the carb in the event of an engine-driven pump failure.

With the primer, you need to pull it out to full length, pause (for the chamber to fill) and then push in. Next time you pre-flight, have a look at the engine. You will see a series of fuel lines going into the cylinder heads - these are the primer lines. Priming works because it delivers fuel to the intakes. Pumping the throttle will cause the accelerator pump to deliver extra fuel to the carb throat - which is under the engine. A few 'pumps' of the throttle and you will have an air intake box full of fuel - a great recipe for a engine fire.

These are all issues that should be addressed by your training organisation; some are not covered by the POH.

Just kick it in the guts!!! ;)

You won't want to fly a Chieftan then...;)

Been flying these suckers for a few years now. Procedure that works for me is:
Crack the throttle 1/2"
Mixture rich
Elect fuel pump on - check pressure - pump off
3 pumps on the primer and then do as lineboy4life says.:ok:
If you flood it:
Mixture at ICO
Throttle fully open
Be ready to revert the the engine controls to normal as soon as it fires.
Just as an aside - for anyone flying an Arrow. If the enging is hot - DO NOT touch the mixture or boost pump. Just crank it at ICO and it will fire but again be ready to bring the mixture up straight away. Wish I had a buck for every poor sod I witnessed who struggled with a hot start and killed the battery and/or starter motor before realizing they didn't know what they were doing. :(