Ok, so how *do* you hotstart your IO-540?

On 7/16/2007 4:36:02 PM, Newps wrote:

With the Continental 520 in my Bo you want to park facing downwind so
the wind can blow up into the cowl flaps to help cool the fuel pump.
The fuel boiling in the engine driven fuel pump is what causes the hot
start problems.

First thing I do when I jump out of my V35 after landing knowing it is going
to be a short stop is to open both cowling covers. Always garners different
observations; some who understand and some who think the aircraft has an
engine problem.

Of course that is not an option for aircraft with covers that are screwed on.

--
Peter

"john smith" wrote:

Fuel pump ON for 30 seconds (no fuel goes to the engine but passes
through the fuel line to the engine then back through the return line to
the tank; this cools the fuel line and purges any bubbles in the line;
that's the theory)

Are we talking about Lycomings or Continentals here?

--
Dan
T-182T at BFM

Not the IO-540, but I have found on our IO-360 that a 'flooded start' works
best anytime the engine is being restarted within 2 hours of shutdown.
Specifically, no fuel pump. mixture to cut off, throttle full, crank.
Advance mixture, retard throttle when engine begins to fire
"Paul Tomblin" wrote in message
...
I know that hot starting IO-540s is a subject for considerable debate. I
was taught a method that I was told worked 100% of the time[1], and up
until yesterday it had. But yesterday, after flying for an hour and then
sitting in the hot sun for half an hour waiting for customs, I couldn't
restart the Lance and had to have it towed back to the tie down area.

So what would you do in that situation?

[1] Leave the throttle, mixture and prop alone from when you shut down.
Turn on the fuel pump, and crank. When it catches, quickly advance the
mixture to full, and once it stops spluttering lean it out.

--
Paul Tomblin http://blog.xcski.com/
"Zero Tolerance" in this case meaning "We're too stupid to be able to
apply conscious thought on a case-by-case basis".
-- Mike Sphar

I've used that method on Archers (O-360) and found that it worked great.
Doesn't do squat in our Aztec though ;(
Jim

"pgbnh" wrote in message
. ..
Not the IO-540, but I have found on our IO-360 that a 'flooded start'
works
best anytime the engine is being restarted within 2 hours of shutdown.
Specifically, no fuel pump. mixture to cut off, throttle full, crank.
Advance mixture, retard throttle when engine begins to fire

For our Aztec... and it's worked 100% of the time for previous and current
owners... honest

Throttles full open
Mixtures full rich
Electric pumps on JUST until you see FF register then quickly off, mixtures
full lean, throttles 1/4" open... quickly!
Immediately crank, watch, and listen
It will crank quickly at first, then start to slow.. as it slows be ready...
the engine is just about to fire
When it fires, immediately richen mixture no more than 1/2 rich... 1/3 is
probably better, remember everything is HOT, no need for a ton of fuel!
Hand quickly goes back to throttle to juggle if the engine stumbles.

Remember once it catches and you richen the mixture, your engine driven fuel
pump is pumping fuel. Don't let it flood your engine only to have it die
but now in a flooded condition.

The goal is to NOT flood it. Once you do, you sit and wait. If you prime
it very little, you have a second chance to repeat the procedure. If you
prime it too much, you have to sit and wait. For our 12v battery and long
cables the flooded engine start method just takes too much out of the
battery.

POH says Throttles open, mixtures full rich, boost pumps on, crank until it
fires, throttles to idle, boost pumps off. Great way to kill a puny 12v
battery at the end of 12 feet of cable.

Jim

"Paul Tomblin" wrote in message
...
I know that hot starting IO-540s is a subject for considerable debate. I
was taught a method that I was told worked 100% of the time[1], and up
until yesterday it had. But yesterday, after flying for an hour and then
sitting in the hot sun for half an hour waiting for customs, I couldn't
restart the Lance and had to have it towed back to the tie down area.

So what would you do in that situation?

[1] Leave the throttle, mixture and prop alone from when you shut down.
Turn on the fuel pump, and crank. When it catches, quickly advance the
mixture to full, and once it stops spluttering lean it out.

--
Paul Tomblin http://blog.xcski.com/
"Zero Tolerance" in this case meaning "We're too stupid to be able to
apply conscious thought on a case-by-case basis".
-- Mike Sphar

On 2007-07-16, Paul Tomblin wrote:
I know that hot starting IO-540s is a subject for considerable debate. I
was taught a method that I was told worked 100% of the time

Me too (Comanche 260):

Throttle wide open
Mixture at cutoff
Thumb goes on mixture and two fingers hook behind throttle (my mixture
is on the left, you may have to adjust this)
Crank (goes surprisingly fast with no drag on the intake!)
As it catches, simultaneously advance the mixture and retard the throttle
by pivoting your hand.

By the way, at no point until the runup do I ever advance the mixture
more than an inch and a half or so, including during this procedure.

--
Ben Jackson AD7GD

http://www.ben.com/

Paul Tomblin wrote:
I know that hot starting IO-540s is a subject for considerable debate. I
was taught a method that I was told worked 100% of the time[1], and up
until yesterday it had. But yesterday, after flying for an hour and then
sitting in the hot sun for half an hour waiting for customs, I couldn't
restart the Lance and had to have it towed back to the tie down area.

So what would you do in that situation?

[1] Leave the throttle, mixture and prop alone from when you shut down.
Turn on the fuel pump, and crank. When it catches, quickly advance the
mixture to full, and once it stops spluttering lean it out.



Ours is a turbo PA32RT-300T, but I'd expect similar behavior for the
non-turbo.

1) Fuel pump off, mixture idle cutoff, throttle 1/4" open

2) Crank engine and advance mixture slowly - not usually more than 1"

3) engine typically catches, THEN pump on and slowly bring mixture rich
and back off throttle as needed.

If the engine doesn't catch, then I'll stop for a minute and repeat the
process, but this time with the fuel pump on at step 2.


I was at Catalina yesterday getting ready to fire up for the trip home.
Next to us was a 172SP that did not want to start. The pilot kept cranking
away -- I was sure he would melt the starter if the battery didn't give
out first. I was just about to climb out and walk over to suggest he
give it a rest when he finally got it started. So obviously I will
learn from watching him that if the engine doesn't want to start, just
keep cranking until it magically springs to life! :-)

Steve

On 2007-07-16, Paul Tomblin wrote:
I know that hot starting IO-540s is a subject for considerable debate. I
was taught a method that I was told worked 100% of the time[1], and up
until yesterday it had. But yesterday, after flying for an hour and then
sitting in the hot sun for half an hour waiting for customs, I couldn't
restart the Lance and had to have it towed back to the tie down area.

I think it's the same as computers with lots of SCSI hardware - you have
to make sure you've sacrificed enough chickens recently. Or AN hardware.
I forget which.

--
Yes, the Reply-To email address is valid.
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de

In a previous article, said:
On 2007-07-16, Paul Tomblin wrote:
I know that hot starting IO-540s is a subject for considerable debate. I
was taught a method that I was told worked 100% of the time[1], and up
until yesterday it had. But yesterday, after flying for an hour and then
sitting in the hot sun for half an hour waiting for customs, I couldn't
restart the Lance and had to have it towed back to the tie down area.

I think it's the same as computers with lots of SCSI hardware - you have
to make sure you've sacrificed enough chickens recently. Or AN hardware.
I forget which.

Don't be silly. For SCSI hardware, it's black goats. At midnight. With
a silver dagger. And there are perfectly valid technical reasons why.


--
Paul Tomblin http://blog.xcski.com/
USER, n.:
The word computer professionals use when they mean "idiot".

Paul Tomblin wrote:
In a previous article, said:
On 2007-07-16, Paul Tomblin wrote:
I know that hot starting IO-540s is a subject for considerable debate. I
was taught a method that I was told worked 100% of the time[1], and up
until yesterday it had. But yesterday, after flying for an hour and then
sitting in the hot sun for half an hour waiting for customs, I couldn't
restart the Lance and had to have it towed back to the tie down area.
I think it's the same as computers with lots of SCSI hardware - you have
to make sure you've sacrificed enough chickens recently. Or AN hardware.
I forget which.

Don't be silly. For SCSI hardware, it's black goats. At midnight. With
a silver dagger. And there are perfectly valid technical reasons why.

Is it because the must be properly terminated?