cold starts

[bob whitney]

with the cold weather coming ,make sure you have your Ronson or Zippo lighter fluid with you for that first start in the morning RAD

[Perry Rose]

I've switched to using hot water to warm the engine in temps below 60 degrees. Gummy oil is loosened on the crankshaft and piston resulting in one flip starts every time. "Thermos" brand metal thermos and a straw stuck in the drink hole. One time I had to wait for the engine to cool before it would start. (Very low nitro fuel also.) Perfect for profiles, coweled engines are a bit harder.

[Brad LaPointe]

I picked up a battery powered heat gun . It doesn’t take very long to heat an engine on a profile up to operating temperature. The heat gun also helps starting new AAC -ABC with tight fits . I bring it to the field every time mostly for trimming combat and sport models .

A lot simpler than the old gas powered generator and heat gun days . Does this count as going electric ?

Brad

[Paul Smith]

I noticed that the RC car guys (who still use piston engines) have a factory-made heating boot that goes over the cylinder and is powered by a Lipo.  They don't even try to crank a cool engine, even in summer time.  This is important to avoid the excess wear due to cold starting.

Like Brad, I tracked-down a Ryobi heat gun for this purpose. 

That, and don't even try to run an engine under 50 degrees F.

[Jim Svitko]

At my age, cold temperatures do not agree with me.  I will not try to fly if the temperature is not at least 50 degrees, 60 is even better.

With a strong battery, all of us at our field are able to get engines started well enough if the temps are at least 50.  Nobody has needed any auxiliary heat to start an engine, but if any colder, we would not be out there at all.

[Dan McEntee]

At my age, cold temperatures do not agree with me.  I will not try to fly if the temperature is not at least 50 degrees, 60 is even better.

With a strong battery, all of us at our field are able to get engines started well enough if the temps are at least 50.  Nobody has needed any auxiliary heat to start an engine, but if any colder, we would not be out there at all.

   DITTO!!!I used to participate in the All Season Flying Patch thing, and did so f or 30 years or better. It was an simple goal to shoot for, and I always got two flights each month year round. As I reached retirement age and All the physical pleasures that go with it, flying when the temp is less than 50 degrees went out the door!! I never did like flying with a coat on, and gloved hands just don't fit into my handles. Add in the other factors of operating engines and such in cold weather and it just does not appeal to me any more!

  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Paul Smith]

I had to cold start my gas chainsaw today do to a fallen tree.

I couldn't get it going cold.  So I brought out the Ryobi lipo heat gun and warmed it up.  Sure enough!

It did a one-flipper when heated.

[John Rist]

It's strange.  My E-Cavalier Seem to start just fine in cold weather.   

[john e. holliday]

Make sure battery is fully charged and use a hotter glo plug.