hand propping - which method is best?

[john-ranger]

Do most folks hand prop from the front or the back? I was flying today with a instructor who says the "safest" way to start an engine by hand is to hand prop from in front of the door, with ones foot in front of the tire. It looks dangerous to me. I've was taught that you should position yourself in front of the prop at the 9 or 10 o'clock, pretty close in. I swing my right leg from the left to right, swinging the prop as I do. Not sure how else to describe the motion.

[Paul Agaliotis]

John,
I prop a Cub from the rear but always prop the Champ from the front. The two things I always tell people about hand propping is,

1) Don't put anything in the prop plane you don't want cut off.

2) Don't turn your back on the plane, It might be chasing you.

Find the style comfortable for you and use it.
Paul

[joea]

Agree with Paul. On a floatplane you have no option other than to prop it from the rear, but on land there is a lot more room to maneuver when doing it in front.

The prop is really a very large meat cleaver. Treat it with a lot of respect and remember that all it takes is a bad mag switch, broken "P" lead on either of the mags or an internal failure in the mag and the prop is hot with the keys out of the switch. It can kill you so just be careful.

Also do not trust your airplane to chocks. ALWAYS tie the tail or part of the A/C down when propping it solo. Many turn the main fuel valve off. This will allow the engine to start and run for 30 seconds, which gives you time to walk around to the cockpit and open the valve, check everything and get ready. If the throttle somehow goes past the idle point you might be able to hold the airplane for 30 seconds, while if the main fuel valve is on, its just a matter of time.

Joe A

[Roger Anderson]

Do most folks hand prop from the front or the back? I was flying today with a instructor who says the "safest" way to start an engine by hand is to hand prop from in front of the door, with ones foot in front of the tire. It looks dangerous to me. I've was taught that you should position yourself in front of the prop at the 9 or 10 o'clock, pretty close in. I swing my right leg from the left to right, swinging the prop as I do. Not sure how else to describe the motion.

Having been around propping airplanes for about 50 years now, I believe the only ones I've frequently seen propped from behind are J3s. My dad did prop his Mooney Mite from behind, but I did it from the front. I think the distance from the front strut to the prop on an airplane would have something to do with the comfort level of doing it from behind.

[gusc]

I don't feel comfortable behind the prop either, seaplanes are a different story.

The ones I hate to prop are the ones with the nose close to the ground like with most trikes, that is scary because you have to lean down so much if you are very tall.

I read somewhermany years ago not to use the leg in the air routine and stopped doing it. I suppose for a large engine it might be necessary but not for 65hp.

[jc pacquin]

first....have GOOD mags and GOOD timing! (repeat this.) Then go to rear of prop, door open (Cub) or something open (champ) Prop from rear. Should require one normal throw, two if cold. Everything depends on the electrical system. If the timing isn't right or the carb is screwed up you'll lose 10 lbs propping it! Going AROUND the struts from the front is dangerous and ego deflating when the airplane becomes impatient and leaves without you!

[joea]

Let me add to Jim's post. Good mags WITH impulse couplings!

Makes all the difference in the world to have the impulse couplings when hand propping!

Joe A

[Nathan K. Hammond]

If I'm by myself, or have a passenger unfamiliar with airplanes; I prop from behind for the added safety. If there's a pilot that's familiar with what's going on, then I'll go from the front.

The key is too keep your hand in the door jam, when propping from behind. That's your safety; keeping body parts from going into the prop if you slip. Plus if the airplane starts rolling (because it came to life at 2300rpm) you don't have to scramble to get out of the way!

There are 2 very important keys to remember: Turn off the fuel when doing it alone, and don't be afraid of the prop.

I've seen more people get hurt, because they stood too far away from the prop; and once they were in the motion, their momentum carries them INTO the prop instead of away. Think about it... if you stand farther than an arms length from the prop (front or back) as you pull it through, what happens to your arms and head???? The arms go fully extended, and you have to bend at the waist to continue the stroke, which starts your head and momentum forward and down into the prop. But if you scoot a little closer to the prop so your arms are bent and relaxed, you can use the arm muscles only to pull the prop though. And by swinging your leg up and then out (or pulling back on your left hand in the door jam); your head is up and the body's momentum is headed away from the prop in a safe direction.


Here's how I do it from behind.... Click on the picture for the video.


nkh

[jc pacquin]

I started my champ with a b&c starter. Never propped my champ myself. DID prop my cub,from the back. AND YES.....impulase mag-s are very important. I get very nervous propping, (never used to be) but WILL NOT prop one without someone rated in the seat. Its asking for BIG trouble! (Although others will say they do it all the time!) OR, tie it down somehow.

[Jody Wittmeyer]

Nate demonstrated the exact way to prop from behind. Plenty of room. Most people swing the prop way too fast. They start easier if you swing it just enough to get the impulse to fire. I start the champ, almost always, from the rear

[Holcombe]

I think it is safer from behind for two reasons. One, you have a hand on the door jamb so are less likely to fall into the prop when it catches. And two, as you are working from the back of the prop, if the next blade catches up with your hand it will knock it back rather than chop it off.

[SFC Hiatt]

Jody forgot to mention he's 6'5 250 and could put the plane on his back if he wanted to.

I prefer to prop from behind also.

[joea]

Jody forgot to mention he's 6'5 250 and could put the plane on his back if he wanted to.

I prefer to prop from behind also.

Plus I have heard that he carries a big gun while at work and probably simply scares the airplane into starting!

Joe

[gusc]

I don't really like the rear prop method, don't like being between the strut and prop and it is too easy to walk into the prop from the rear when you are so close to the strut.

Fortunately my Champ starts easily at throttle closed so it is not likely to go anywhere after it starts. First one I ever saw do this but probably because the "crack throttle" system was passed down through the ages and was the way I was taught originally.

I agree that it takes little effort to turn the prop, no sense in wasting all that energy trying to get it up to rpm yourself! I also don't pull it from the end, more like 2/3 the way from the hub, much easier on the hands and not as hazardous in case of kickback.

[Max Hanft]

Why would you hand prop from the front? I ALWAYS prop the champ from the back left side. Hand propping from the door side is ok but misses some nice features.
Pros of back left side
1 with the window open I can hold the prop and throttle one in each hand. Well almost.(nice for hot or flooded starts)
2 easy access to mag switch and fuel valve without running around and opening the door
3 as I am on skis with grip tape traction on top the footing is excellent. I set the rpm and walk around holding on to the strut so I can't fall forward in the deep snow. Untie the tailrope on my way around the tail.
4 throwing the prop up, removes my feeling of dropping my head in the prop, which goes along with pulling down on the door side .
5 many other reasons having to do with which way the wind blows and sucks and which way a run away plane goes.

I do always tie the tail. Whatever I can find to use, ice screws, trees up on shore with a long rope , V treads in ice, snow bollards in hard snow, deadman in soft snow.
I trust a rope more then the untrained.