hotrod180 wrote:There's an expression, "we can agree to disagree". Apparently not everyone here has heard that one.

Yep, I've heard it....I just find it interesting that at least two posters here heartily assert that propping from behind is bad, all the while admitting that they've never actually tried it.......

Happy disagreement to you all

MTV

mtv wrote:Yep, I've heard it....I just find it interesting that at least two posters here heartily assert that propping from behind is bad, all the while admitting that they've never actually tried it.......

Happy disagreement to you all

MTV

you just CLEARLY can't admit that propping from behind on a taildragger with a good angle of attack will pull you forward, CLEARLY it will. And there is nothing to hold onto on my 180 with your left hand, might as well leave it in your pocket. I DIDN'T say it was a bad idea, I haven't tried it yet.
I KNOW get INSTRUCTION first!!

What about a 3-bladed prop?
I couldn't quite hand prop one from behind.
No problem from the front though.

So do I need more practice from behind, or do people pretty much hand prop them from the front?

Just to throw yet another method into the fire here:

My first visit to OSH was shortly after we bought the new TR182, back in 1979. I had an IFR flight plan filed, and there seemed to be about a 20 minute or more delay between calling for the clearance and getting it. Handhelds were rare then, so I had the master on, but I turned off all the avionics except one radio, to listen for the clearance. Apparently that was enough drain, however, that when I finally had my clearance and it came time to start the airplane, it wouldn't go past a compression stroke.

As I started to get out of the airplane to try to get help, a short fellow with tree-trunk size arms came over, and in a strong Wisconsin-ish accent said, "Dis is a Lycoming, right?" I said it was, and he said, "We'll get it going--you turn the key to 'start' when I holler at you. Turn it to 'on' now." He started turning over the engine, hand over hand, and on about the second revolution he hollered, "hit the key!" He continued to hand over hand it, the starter helped it a little and all of a sudden it caught. He backed off, I gave him a high sign and mouthed "thanks", and we taxied out. Not exactly what I had been taught, but it worked.

Cary

AKclimber wrote:What about a 3-bladed prop?
I couldn't quite hand prop one from behind.
No problem from the front though.

So do I need more practice from behind, or do people pretty much hand prop them from the front?

Friend with a 180 was having battery trouble. He had propping it down to an art. 31 inch ABWs, he propped it from the front, pilot side, moving a blade from 5 o'clock to 3 (based on facing the aircraft from in front) while stepping out and away. Looked pretty skookum. Always fired on the exact same blade, seems like he would run a couple through and fire on blade 3 or something like that.

Troy Hamon wrote:

AKclimber wrote:What about a 3-bladed prop?
I couldn't quite hand prop one from behind.
No problem from the front though.

So do I need more practice from behind, or do people pretty much hand prop them from the front?

Friend with a 180 was having battery trouble. He had propping it down to an art. 31 inch ABWs, he propped it from the front, pilot side, moving a blade from 5 o'clock to 3 (based on facing the aircraft from in front) while stepping out and away. Looked pretty skookum. Always fired on the exact same blade, seems like he would run a couple through and fire on blade 3 or something like that.

Troy, was he pulling the prop tip up then? And standing outside the arc while doing it?

A1Skinner wrote:

Troy Hamon wrote:

AKclimber wrote:What about a 3-bladed prop?
I couldn't quite hand prop one from behind.
No problem from the front though.

So do I need more practice from behind, or do people pretty much hand prop them from the front?

Friend with a 180 was having battery trouble. He had propping it down to an art. 31 inch ABWs, he propped it from the front, pilot side, moving a blade from 5 o'clock to 3 (based on facing the aircraft from in front) while stepping out and away. Looked pretty skookum. Always fired on the exact same blade, seems like he would run a couple through and fire on blade 3 or something like that.

Troy, was he pulling the prop tip up then? And standing outside the arc while doing it?

It has been three years, so keep in mind this is my memory from that winter...

The pull was primarily horizontal, but yes with a vertical component. He had a leg swing and step motion that completely moved him aside from the airplane on each pull. The part of the prop he was in contact with was starting the upswing, and he was releasing contact as he stepped aside and the prop reached the point of primarily vertical upward movement.

Troy Hamon wrote:

A1Skinner wrote:

Troy Hamon wrote:[quote="AKclimber"]What about a 3-bladed prop?
I couldn't quite hand prop one from behind.
No problem from the front though.

So do I need more practice from behind, or do people pretty much hand prop them from the front?

Friend with a 180 was having battery trouble. He had propping it down to an art. 31 inch ABWs, he propped it from the front, pilot side, moving a blade from 5 o'clock to 3 (based on facing the aircraft from in front) while stepping out and away. Looked pretty skookum. Always fired on the exact same blade, seems like he would run a couple through and fire on blade 3 or something like that.

Troy, was he pulling the prop tip up then? And standing outside the arc while doing it?

It has been three years, so keep in mind this is my memory from that winter...

The pull was primarily horizontal, but yes with a vertical component. He had a leg swing and step motion that completely moved him aside from the airplane on each pull. The part of the prop he was in contact with was starting the upswing, and he was releasing contact as he stepped aside and the prop reached the point of primarily vertical upward movement.[/quote]
Interesting. That actually makes a lot of sense, as you'd be stepping away and out of the prop arc instead of away and still being in front of the prop...

I have watched a lot of hand prop starts. Some from planes without electrical, some from planes like my buddy's 180. And I have started my PA-22 via propping a few times.

My primary takeaway is that every step, motion, and potential disaster should be considered and planned for.

Where feasible, I favor starting from behind. But watching the 180 being propped, I think that particular process, done from the front, was probably the most safe alternative for propping that plane.

mtv wrote:
If you're not bright enough to keep your head out of the prop arc, please do not hand prop your airplane.

MTV

Zane!! This needs to go in the knowledge database!!

Just pull start it with a pickup. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecosb5mSDwo&spfreload=10