Syd,
What keeps it from just dripping back down onto the carb?
Dave
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 14:10:55 -0500
Subject: Re: [ercoupe-tech] How to start an Ercoupe
Dave,
The Coupe primer DOES NOT put fuel into the carb. It puts fuel into the intake
manifold, above the carb, which is fed into all four cylinders when the engine
is cranked over. Over priming can be dangerous, yes, but one or two squirts on
the primer when the engine is cold will not cause any problems. NEVER pump the
primer more than two times.
Syd
On Aug 5, 2010, at 1:20 PM, Ronin Sensei wrote:
Hooooo Kaaaay,
This can turn into a dissertation, but I thought it was interesting, so maybe
you will, too. This is what I believe I have learned.
1. The Ercoupe with Stromberg carb needed a primer for starting because the
Stromberg has no accelerator pump. (The Marvel carb does, in contrast, have an
accelerator pump.)
2. On aircraft having a carb that includes an accelerator pump, pumping the
throttle is a popular but dangerous way to start an engine because it puts
excess fuel in the carb where it can cause an engine fire. The safer way to do
it on, for example, a Cessna-152 is to use the primer because the primer puts
fuel DIRECTLY INTO A CYLINDER, thereby bypassing the carb.
3. HOWEVER, the Coupe primer does NOT put fuel in the cylinder. It squirts it
into the carb, just like the accelerator pump. (I learned this when I paid to
have my primer, which had been cut and crimped, re-installed. They did this
when they replaced the Stromberg carb with a Marvel carb. But, I felt it was
dangerous so I undid the primer change. That's when I learned that the primer
goes to the carb, not the cylinder, just like the accelerator pump on the
throttle.)
4. SO, on a Coupe use of the primer and use of the carb accelerator pump are
both hazardous.
5. I am going to try using the primer ONLY while the prop is turning, as I see
is advised by one member.
Anybody see any errors in this summary?
Dave Winters
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 13:20:14 +0000
Subject: [ercoupe-tech] How to start an Ercoupe
At Oshkosh during the Ercoupe maintenance session the best method of
starting a Coupe was described as: slow back when pulling primer out; push in
more rapidly; slow back again; engage starter and push in primer
simultaneously. Works every time so they say (I haven't tried it yet). I had
been told that pushing in the throttle once would help but the consensus at
Oshkosh was that it would be useless. Don't disagree but can anyone tell me
what using the throttle during the start does?
Mac McMahon
N94184
VKX Friendly, MD
