starting my twin

[David Callon]

I have aways had trouble starting my pa30. I crank for 15 to 20 seconds. I wonder if anyone has an easier time. Can you tell me how?

[Kristin Winter]

Mine generally starts in just a couple of revolutions, if I get it primed properly, and not over primed. Hot starting is a bit of an art, so sometimes I miss guess and end up cranking longer than normal.

[David Callon]

can you tell the exactly what you do?

[N3322G]

David, Ditto Kristin's post - my Twin starts quickly now. Hot or cold.

Bogart copper battery cables
Sky-Tec lightweight starters
Concorde R35A (I think that's the model of at least close)

I prime each engine separately to a count of six or when the Davtron fuel flow stabilizes, healthy crack of the throttle and hit the starter. Quick on the throttle back as I advance the mixture. I alternate which engine I start to see the check valve operates properly and give each starter the 'tougher' job.

Hope this helps

[Kristin Winter]

For a cold start:

I run both throttles and mixtures up. I turn on one of the boost pumps until the fuel flow stabilizes and then wait another second or two. I turn the boost pump off. I retard the mixture to idle cut-off. I bring the throttle back to idle and then crack it 1/2 in inch. Then I spin the engine, running up the mixture when she fires.

Like Pat, I alternate engines for starting purposes.

Kristin

[Don Nelson]

Hello David,
Maybe as many tried and true methods as there are owners, but I recently had occasion to fly a borrowed TwinCo about 30 hours, and pretty much a novice there in spite of 1600 hrs in other X brand twins. Nonetheless Richards demonstrated method of starting his twin surprised me on my checkout, and tho not by the book I had studied, it worked.

Cold Starts - Throttle and mixture full open, fuel pump on to stabilized pressure, (perhaps slightly more prime up here in winter, than in sourthern CA), bringing throttle back as cranking.
I was particulary surprised by how smartly I had to bring the throttle back, as the engine was generally starting immediately, while the throttle had to move a long way back to avoid over rev'ing cold.
His left engine cranked better with the right alternator putting out.

Hot starts, as I recall, were the same except just a moment on the fuel pump. (I say as I recall because I had to call him once at a fuel stop, for a refresher!) (-:

A flooded start was the classic, same as hot except mixture is at idle cut off while cranking; then the hand dance to get throttled back on engine start while advancing mixture.

Best regards, Don

[Don Nelson]

Hello David,
Maybe as many tried and true methods as there are owners, but I recently had occasion to fly a borrowed TwinCo about 30 hours, and pretty much a novice there in spite of 1600 hrs in other X brand twins. Nonetheless Richards demonstrated method of starting his twin surprised me on my checkout, and tho not by the book I had studied, it worked.

Cold Starts - Throttle and mixture full open, fuel pump on to stabilized pressure, (perhaps slightly more prime up here in winter, than in sourthern CA), bringing throttle back as cranking.
I was particulary surprised by how smartly I had to bring the throttle back, as the engine was generally starting immediately, while the throttle had to move a long way back to avoid over rev'ing cold.
His left engine cranked better with the right alternator putting out.

Hot starts, as I recall, were the same except just a moment on the fuel pump. (I say as I recall because I had to call him once at a fuel stop, for a refresher!) (-:

A flooded start was the classic, same as hot except mixture is at idle cut off while cranking; then the hand dance to get throttled back on engine start while advancing mixture.

Best regards, Don

[N3322G]

[N8632Y]

[T210DRVR]

[Paul Yoon]

[Zach Grant L1011jock]

[Charlie Tripp]

[David Callon]

I can hot start no problem in fact about 3 full turns and it starts ( with the correct procedure). I can start a Cessna 172 right now 1 or 2 turns. But I am still trying to find a procedure to cold start (50 degrees) my twin. It takes like 10 turns to fire.

[steen]

David,
On a cold start you are either under or over priming and since you can't see the black smoke or lack thereof at first fire I suggest you:
Throttle open full
Mixture full rich
Fuel pump on for 5 Mississippis then off
Close throttle and crack just a bit for 1000rpm or less
Mags on
Hit starter
If not a quick fire, next time try 8 Mississippis and so on until you get the right prime for your bird.
After that, no sweat.
Steen