Safety

I know you have all probably heard this story before. But it happened to me Saturday afternoon and woke me up to say the least. My normal starting routine is such. Choke the venturi and flip it five times. Flip it five times with the venturi half choked, then flip it five times with the venturi completely open. Then I connect the battery and ask my pit man if he's ready. when he says yes, I give her one back flip and were off and running. I dont know if it was from the heat of the afternoon or what (98 degrees), but while flipping it through with the venturi open and no battery connected, the motor started up just like the battery was hooked up. Scared the hell out of Scott Urabe (who thank god had a firm hold of the plane)and myself. His eyes were as big as saucers and and he's yelling "the ##### batterys not on!!!" I have heard about this happening to other people and found it somewhat hard to believe. but now that I have experienced it first hand, I will be aware and very carefull in the future. Just a word to the wise !!! Larry, NorCal Circle Jerks.

I don't know what kind of engine you have or what kind of fuel you are using (nitro %) but looks like your engine might use some head shims.

It ain't the shims. I have had it happen on my Fox 35 stunts and seen it happen on Bud Burroughs' stunt 35s. Always on a reasonably hot day and after the first flight. Usually when making back to back flights. (going right back up).
Seen it many times in racing events.
Bigiron

Had several such ordeals with OS20FP's.....even on cold days! Always treat a prop as though the "switch is on."

Jett .51 Powermaster 10/22 as far as head shims,Brett always thought the motor was under compressed. Larry.

I don't get my fingers anywhere near a propeller. I use an electric starter that I made up with two 12 volt batteries that ride in a tray under the starter. There is a handle with a push button switch that I bump with my thumb to get it going. It's heavy but there are no wires hanging off of it to get caught on anything. The engine will prime itself when you use a starter. Here is a picture of it if you want to make one yourself.
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&groupid=141720&ck=

I have worked in machine shops for many years and have seen what a cutter can do to a finger(s). I watched a guy lose both of his index fingers in a punch press. The press cycled and took his right finger and he reached in to get it (the finger) and it took his left one off. When you see your own finger sitting there on the die shoe, your brain tells your other hand to reach in there and get it. It's freaky.
It dosen't hurt right away, Shock, whatever. You just see it sitting there and want it back.

The Glass/Carbon propellers are razor sharp and will remove your digits.

I have many other "real good" Machine shop horror stories that you would not believe.

Call me whatever you want, I ain't putting my fingers on the "Fly Cutter"

John "I got all my fingers" Jolley;)

I have had that happen a few times but the biggest suprise came as the motor started and I was holding it. It only runs for a second or two but it will wake you up real fast. WD40 will fire after it has sat a day or two,maybe some of the after run oils will also

What many of us have forgotten is that when the glow plug was introduced, the glow engine was touted as "semi Diesel" with the methanol causing the filament in the glow plug to glow, thus igniting the air/fuel mixture. Not unlike those novelty cigarette lighters that have the filament glow from air moving over it. Sudden heat of compression caused by rapid movement of the piston in a tight chamber is enough to ignite the fuel, obviously.
When I was in the Navy, a friend, an Engineman (Diesel) had an ok Cub Disel in his hand and was just causually flipping the prop when it started. I'll never forget the wild eyed look on his face. I had to laugh, even though it was not a funny situation. Yeah it was!! I wonder what ever happend to Ralph?

> I dont know if it was from
>the heat of the afternoon or what (98 degrees), but while
>flipping it through with the venturi open and no battery
>connected, the motor started up just like the battery was
>hooked up. Scared the hell out of Scott Urabe (who thank god
>had a firm hold of the plane)and myself. His eyes were as
>big as saucers and and he's yelling "the ##### batterys not
>on!!!"

I told you so! Always have a holder ready for the airplane to start as soon as it's got fuel in it, and act as if it's going to start every time you touch the prop.

My PA61 does this very frequently. When I put it in at the NATs this year, after not having run for several months and been in a plastic bag in the back of the car, I started to burp it by putting fuel in the cylinder, and sure enough, just rocking the piston back and forth with the spinner to wash out the oil, it popped and almost ran.

Brett

My GMA St60 did this once on a cool early spring day a couple of years ago. I had heard of this before, but that was the only time I have had it happen to me. I've thought about it a lot since then, and try to be a lot more careful.

I had an OS .60FP cold start in the basement on the bench with residual fuel in the tank. Not enough the sustain running but enough of a slug for a short burst. I was just flipping it through when it happened and it hadn't been run in days. Had it happen again on the field, almost broke my finger. Since then I still hand start, but I always act as though the booster battery is connected.

Thoe odd thing is that in nearly 50 years of modeling I'd never experienced this, then within 2 weeks it happened twice, that's a wake-up call!