Hand propping while keeping all my fingers

[Rocket2]

Not affected the use of my thumb PB, I watched in awe (under the drapes) as the plastic surgeon methodically stitched everything back together & reconnected the nerve, have full feeling & pretty good range of movement. Suspect I was blooming lucky

[Hawker 800]

Don't forget to tighten the throttle friction either. It's the small details that can get you!

Also, if you're wearing a tie, tuck it in.

I disagree wit a well known poster above, never wrap your fingers around a prop. There is no need. Not even the tips. I've never swung a prop wearing gloves.

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

never wrap your fingers around a prop. There is no need. Not even the tips.

Quite so. Also, don't be afraid the engine will burst into 2,000 rpm life while you're still in contact with the prop. What happens is you walk away as you swing it. If it 'catches', by the time it roars into life you are a few feet away off to one side.

Reading FP's post, that Auster must have been a spirally-stable aeroplane to fly pilotless in circles for so long. Must have had odd handling as a result!

[Big Pistons Forever]

Originally Posted by Hawker 800

I disagree with a well known poster above, never wrap your fingers around a prop. There is no need. Not even the tips. I've never swung a prop wearing gloves.

I an interested in your technique. Personally I have never been able to get enough grip to swing the prop without curling the tips of my fingers over the trailing edge of the blade. How do you do it ?

[piperboy84]

pb84,
"If your Maule has an impulse mag, it's a good idea to turn off the non-impulse mag, to avoid a potential backfire (and finger tip issues). It has always surprised me that impulse mags are not identified on the mag switch.
If your Maule has an impulse mag, it's a good idea to turn off the non-impulse mag, to avoid a potential backfire (and finger tip issues). It has always surprised me that impulse mags are not identified on the mag"

Here's on interesting link on magnetos , it appears the non impulse coupled mag is sidelined during the starting process
http://www.pittspecials.com/articles/Magnetos.htm

[galaxy flyer]

It's been a long time, but I was taught to avoid propping tricycle planes. The prop is very much lower than on a tailwheel, so you have a tendency to lean into it.

BTW, it's your head you want you want to keep.

GF

[9 lives]

Assume nothing about how mag switches are wired. Consult the maintainer of your plane for an authoritative explanation of the wiring, or otherwise understand it with no doubt.

Generally correct, the engine will not burst to a high power setting upon starting, but is rare cases it can happen, and has happened to me while hand propping - 1800 RPM as soon as it caught. I had set the throttle, but I had failed to assure its correct setting by cycling it through idle to full open to idle again before setting it. My mistake, and I learned from it. This was a mechanical failure of a very old style throttle linkage, but it happened.

I always wrap my four fingers around the trailing edge of the prop. If others can safely handprop by finger friction on the back of the blade only, success to them, I could not safely accomplish this technique. As I stated earlier in this thread, I do not handprop engines I do not "know" - either because I have electric started them before, and know them to have decent starting characteristics, or it is the engine of a trusted friend - who themselves would handprop it. I do not wear gloves while handpropping.

I have never had a kickback while handpropping ('not saying it can't happen, but it's never happened to me). A hearty swing on a properly timed prop, carries it through forward well. My experience tells me that a good hand swing can get more starting effort into a prop than some starter arrangements.

[India Four Two]

Here's on interesting link on magnetos , it appears the non impulse coupled mag is sidelined during the starting process

pb84,

Thanks for the link. I hadn't heard of that before. I'll have to look into the wiring of the 182 that I regularly fly.

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

I found with the Gypsy on the Chippy that I could prop it without curling my fingertips around the trailing edge of the blade. I just bent them a bit at the TE to give grip, but not bent so much as to be curled around the blade. The object being that if it kicks back it will not take you fingers with it.

The swinging action is a progressive but firm downward swing while stepping back and to the side. On a long stroke low compression engine like the Gypsy you only have to pull it over TDC and it will 'flop' round the rest of the half-revolution, bouncing to a stop between compressions if it doesn't fire.

Also, on the Gypsy, listen for the distinctive 'click' of the impulse mechanism on the RH mag. No click, it'll never start! I once arrived at Barton to find a ring of onlookers around our Chippy while a relatively new member of the group tried to swing it into life (one of the many periods in the aircraft's life when the battery / starter were u/s). He'd been at it for 3/4 hour solid and was knackered. I could hear as I approached, the absence of the 'click' (it's quite loud).

I invited him to have a breather while I whipped open the RH cowl, whacked the mag with a large spanner, and fastened the cowl again. It started first swing after that!

[India Four Two]

whacked the mag with a large spanner

You've reminded me of the days when my Mini wouldn't start because the SU electric fuel pump contacts had jammed - no click-click-click when I turned the ignition on.

People would look at me strangely when I leapt out with an engineer's hammer, lay down at the rear and proceeded to whack the underside of my car!