The A2A Simulations Community

Hello all. I hope you can help. I think that the problem is me. Maybe I am missing something. Finesse perhaps?

Anyway the problem is this. Every time I try to fire up the old Pony she doesn't want to know and I have to resort to the automatic option. Which is okay, at least I can get her in the air but I really want to nail the manual cold start option.

I pull up the check list and try to follow it as closely as possible but the the engine just won't catch. She just turns and turns until the battery packs up and I have to hook up the APU but even then, she just turns and turns. She won't fire up.

Is it just about practice or does anybody have a really good idiots guide to firing up a P51 mill?

Cheers

Phil F

Try this;

First, go into the maintanence hangar and do a complete overhaul. That will get rid of any and all engine issues you might have at this point.

Make sure all your expendables are full.
Go through the pre-start chcklist item by item missing nothing.
Make sure your mixture is in ICO.
Batt ON
Gen ON
Move the throttle up 2 inches. 1 inch should do it but give yourself a bit extra in case the calibration is off.
Fuel pump ON and check the pressure up
Now prime for 4 seconds NO MORE !
Hit the starter
Count 6 blades
Now MAGS to both.
As the engine starts, mixture into RUN.
Check engine gauges all normal.

Dudley Henriques

Thanks Dudley. I'll get on to it and let you know how I get on.

Cheers

Phil F

Phil,

I have found my most common cause of failing to start the engine is forgetting to crack the throttle open. Having flown a lot recently my startup routine is pretty consistent and solid, but if I don't fly for a while my most likely mistake will be not cracking open the throttle or forgetting to turn the fuel on.

One thing to note, it can be more difficult to start in colder weather... I was having much difficulty doing so until I realized I was opening the throttle too much and priming too much!

Good luck!

Joe

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Thanks Joe. I shall bear it in mind.

Cheers

Phil.

Good morning Phil and Others, from Las Vegas, Nevada [KLAS]
Dudley's POST a couple back is spot-on IMHO ..however-- .. I find PRIMING to be a point of disagreement.

SO scan up a couple posts and fully implement his remarks..I disagree on 1 step -->> PRIMING

With a COLD ENGINE -->> I have always had great startup success using a much longer 10 seconds PRIME...fires-up EVERY time..for me.
With a HOT engine -->> 1 sec or NO PRIME works for me.

-ps I approximate on 10 seconds by counting chimpanzees..it's not rocket science...10 does 'seem' to us human pllots like an awfully long time.
BUT after that Merlin starts it seems so well-worth it!

Starting and Priming is covered in the MANUAL pgs 36-57...NOT every SIM pilot agrees 100% with other pilots' methods or with the A2A manual either!!
What works for one pilot's style may well never work even if exactly duplicated for another one.
Generally on PRIMING I have found MORE PRIME (10 secs instead of 4 secs) gets a stubborn Merlin going more consistently.

It's JUST a SIMULATION
Happy SKIES to ALL

LASTLY...There can and has been great debate on startup and take-off.
IF we were ALL flying factory-built real world P51's (same make and model) there would be little reason or defense for straying from the Mfr's Manual.

B U T we aren't -->> We are ALL flying COMPUTERS...everyones' PC is different.

"Adios Amigos"

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Intel Core i7 at 4.2 Ghz w/H2O-16G HyperX RAM-Crucial M4 128G SSD (x2) FSX-SSD & Win7-SSD -GTX 690 5G DDR5-LG 32" HDMI 1920x1080

Thanks all.

I almost got her started this time. Almost. Twice it seemed like she wanted to go but I don't have that much time to plug away at it during the, well, anytime really with three kids under the age of ten to run around after.

I noticed in the familiarisation video that after flipping the ignition, the feller gave another quick squirt with the primer. So I tried that and as I say, it almost went.

Practice practice practice.

Cheers

Phil F

Yes sometimes another shot of prime helps...once it is primed (I say 10 seconds for cold engine) and you crank through 6 props for camshaft lube and hit the mags it should sputter, smoke and try to run every time...it is a very obvious moment..THEN without undue delay, adjust the Mixture from Start/Idle to Run..visually and audibly there is a detent there that prevents any further forward movement of the mixture control unless it is somewhat intentional and purposely done. To see this detent which appears as a distinct step/stop in the bracket...zoom in and take a peek..it's there. AND it is right up against this step that the U-shaped clip on the Mixture lever needs to be positioned as soon as the Merlin begins to come to life. If you delay or avoid this Mixture adjustment it will not run long.
With the engine off..one can adjust the mixture up against this step and here the metal-to-metal contact...that is when it is audibly evident.

It's JUST a SIMULATION
Happy SKIES to ALL

_________________
Intel Core i7 at 4.2 Ghz w/H2O-16G HyperX RAM-Crucial M4 128G SSD (x2) FSX-SSD & Win7-SSD -GTX 690 5G DDR5-LG 32" HDMI 1920x1080