Hand propping while keeping all my fingers
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
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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.
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.
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never wrap your fingers around a prop. There is no need. Not even the tips.
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!
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 ?
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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
"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
Last edited by piperboy84; 21st Dec 2015 at 00:18.
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
BTW, it's your head you want you want to keep.
GF
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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.
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.
Here's on interesting link on magnetos , it appears the non impulse coupled mag is sidelined during the starting process
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.
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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!
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!
whacked the mag with a large spanner
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!