Priming a Cowled Motor

[Chris Fretz]

What do you guys use to prime a motor when you can't prop a motor through with your hand getting in the way. Most motors I use a electric stater an tap the venturi to start.

[Motorman]

You can put a little pressure on the vent tube or use an old nose spray bottle with fuel in it or you could use a cork in the venturi or you could have a helper point the nose down while cranking.

MM

[Mark Scarborough]

If you are using muffler pressure you can block off the muffler outlet and flip the prop over several times. I do this with my pylon racers before the clock is started.
on my stunt stuff I make sure I can get a finger on the venturi

[Lyle Spiegel]

I use a rubber pencil eraser, style made to fit over end of the pencil ( from stationary supply). I epoxy to end of  wooden hardwood dowel. Shape rubber tip to fit the venturi.
 Since I don't run pressure, I also can put empty syringe on the uniflw cent tube and pressure some air till fuel dribbles out from spraybar. Prop is,turned to close,the

[Lyle Spiegel]

To complete my reply, I wrote that I turn the prop to close the intake port to avoid flooding, while I pressurize thru the uniflw vent.

[Lauri Malila]

I use a small syringe with long needle. L

[Randy Cuberly]

If you watch a good portion of the top experts you will notice that they often start their engines with the airplane held upside down by the pitman then either prime the engine in the intake or simply put a fingertip over the venturi then pull the prop partially thru several times (actually pumped up and down) without needing to pull the engine all the way thru compression.  This will prime the engine and since the prime doesn't run out onto the ground it doesn't take much prime to start.  Do this with the battery disconnected. then remove your finger from the intake and flip the prop five or six times to aireate the fuel, connect the battery and with the prop on compression sharply flip the prop close to the hub backwards.  Done properly with a bit of practice this will result in 1 flip starts each and every time!

Then disconnect the battery and take the airplane from the pitman and while he moves away turn it over and carefully give it back to the pitman who will place it on the ground.  Adjust the needle if necessary (in competition try to avoid this if possible)...Do it before hand!

Go to the handle and have the pitman launch!

Try hard to make the Judges think you know exactly what you are doing!  This is important!!! 

Randy Cuberly

[Chris Fretz]

Thanks for the good tips fellas!

[SteveMoon]

My brother Doug and I have both used the nose spray bottle method
for over 20 years now. Always works.

Steve