I was out flying today with my friend in his C120 and his battery died. I got the opportunity to hand prop it after not having done this procedure in at least 25 years. I used to fly a few planes back in my early flying that all required hand propping but they were all two blade props with low HP engines. The C120 started right up without any big scares. Gloves would have been nice as I was taught not to grab the blade with my fingers. So now I am thinking there may come a day where I am going to have to do this on my C180 - and I have a 3 blade Hartzell. If anyone has experience hand propping a 3 blade I would love to know what to expect with this type of prop with a big bore O-520. Does the shortened distance between blades and power of the engine potentially create a situation of getting an injury? I really hope I never have to do it but this thread could be really helpful to me if the need ever arises. Should it be avoided?

I had a dead battery in my Maule once. 0-540 3 blade. Cold, started on the 3rd pull. I can see why people get chopped up. You darn sure better be clear when the spark happens.

I’ve propped IO-520 on a 185. Not fun, and you REALLY need to be thinking about that next blade, cause it’s coming quick. This was on floats, and prop from behind. Gloves are VERY nice. If nothing else, they help to contain the fingers that are lost.

That’s a joke, by the way...sorta. Just be on top of your game as far as starting, pay CLOSE attention and go for it.

Nowadays, those “Start Pacs” are so small, light and powerful, I carry one. Just be certain you can connect everything AND start Engine by yourself. Maybe get a pigtail installed to facilitate.

I’ve propped a lot of airplanes and it doesn’t scare me, but if there’s a better alternative? Go there.

MTV

Quote: I’ve propped a lot of airplanes and it doesn’t scare me, but if there’s a better alternative? Go there.

What MTV said, x 10

I like the "start pac" idea a LOT

110% agree with the above. Get a start pack, very light and will maintain charge for a very long time. Always one in my flight bag. Really there is almost zero reason to ever have to hand prop. Unless the plane has no electric system - the need to hand prop would almost always fall under pilot error...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDIiMJn9xuo

Rope pull start.

mtv wrote:I’ve propped IO-520 on a 185. Not fun, and you REALLY need to be thinking about that next blade, cause it’s coming quick. This was on floats, and prop from behind. Gloves are VERY nice. If nothing else, they help to contain the fingers that are lost.

That’s a joke, by the way...sorta. Just be on top of your game as far as starting, pay CLOSE attention and go for it.

Nowadays, those “Start Pacs” are so small, light and powerful, I carry one. Just be certain you can connect everything AND start Engine by yourself. Maybe get a pigtail installed to facilitate.

I’ve propped a lot of airplanes and it doesn’t scare me, but if there’s a better alternative? Go there.

MTV

Yeah....exactly that. I've hand propped a few 207s and that next blade is right there... Probably my least favorite thing to do involving airplanes.

Explanation and actual. Wish I could just post it and not send you to FB but I think you will appreciate it.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Bigtirepilots/permalink/1327320974128354/

AKT

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

tcj wrote:Rope pull start.

Always thought this was brilliant and that spinner hubs should have been designed with a pulley groove.

Dog is my Copilot wrote:

Hey! That’s my dad’s old airplane! I have a lot of good memories flying it. There’s a few pictures of it in my photos.

Zzz wrote:

tcj wrote:Rope pull start.

Always thought this was brilliant and that spinner hubs should have been designed with a pulley groove.

Ya, but a bit of a "challenge" on floats

Personally, I've never done it. Mainly due to my friend Raul, who is missing his arm from mid-forearm out from an attempt to prop a 520. Kind of put me off. There is a relatively safe way to do it via a bungie. It can be done by yourself with a clever rope release. The basic idea is to have a 4' or so piece of bungie cord a good stake and some longish accessory cord. You stake one blade via the accessory cord with a pull to release knot in the opposite direction. You then pull out the bungie, which is attached to the blade with a stirrup of webbing or just bungie. Pull it out several feet, pull the knot release and it will spin the engine up rather smartly. No batteries, little or no blood.

Now on the dark side of propping, aside from the butchery that can result, runaway aircraft. I kind of lost count of how many runaway aircraft we repaired or the victim aircraft of runaway aircraft chopped up as a result. So for whatever deity you respect, tie the e'ffing aircraft down well!

robw56 wrote: Hey! That’s my dad’s old airplane! I have a lot of good memories flying it. There’s a few pictures of it in my photos.

I thought that one looked familiar.
As I recall it's 290-powered?
Isn't your dad a member here?

Another one to be leery of is a Kinner -- I know a couple people who've been bit by them
I don't know why it is, but they seems to light off quicker than you'd think--
maybe impulse couplings that *really* retard the timing for starting?
.

One trick I was taught by an old timer, my father was to "full prepare" the various settings required; prime, mags etc. and then turn the "fuel off". That way if things got a bit away from you on floats, skis or wheels once the fuel in the line ran dry it all came to a full stop hopefully before any damage ensued. Then it was a boat ride/swim, snowshoe hike or a march to the point of rest for the "solo" airplane.

I have had to prop 206s and 207s. I try to do it from behind with hand on the cowl handle or the open nose compartment of the 207. Seems like they only died on snow\ice or beaches. The up520th and oi550s are a bitch, sore muscles they next day. The 985 actually is pretty easy.

That said, I agree, the starter packs make life safer

hotrod180 wrote:

robw56 wrote: Hey! That’s my dad’s old airplane! I have a lot of good memories flying it. There’s a few pictures of it in my photos.

I thought that one looked familiar.
As I recall it's 290-powered?
Isn't your dad a member here?

Yes, it has a 125hp O-290D. My dad is on here occasionally, goes by richw56.

aktahoe1 wrote:Explanation and actual. Wish I could just post it and not send you to FB but I think you will appreciate it.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Bigtirepilots/permalink/1327320974128354/

AKT

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was hoping you were going to share those videos AKT. I remembered them from when you originally posted but couldn’t find them. The explanation and method makes sense to me.

I’ve thought about this as well while out and about with the family and not with another pilot. In line with MTV’s comments, I decided a jumper box would be the safest option, but the alligator clips can shake off upon start up, so I purchased one of these cables. I tested out a routine and it works great. Could probably even run it through a firewall grommet and start it from the cabin?

aktahoe1 wrote:Explanation and actual. Wish I could just post it and not send you to FB but I think you will appreciate it.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Bigtirepilots/permalink/1327320974128354/

AKT

Good video - Kevin. I had to hand prop my 2 blade 88" out at HSF a few years ago - I'm getting the 3 blade MT prop and if I ever need to hand prop it, I like this technic.