cold weather starting: carberated Mooney

[planebones]

I went out to start my M20-C (has shower of sparks system)  this glorious morning for a cruisle around the Tetons.  Hangar is kept at 35F, outside it was 8F.  (balmy day for eastern Idaho) and I had a hard time starting it .   My former Mooney had a primer & life was good.  What are your starting techniques?  How many times can I pump the throttle  with out risking an induction fire?  thanks Ken in Driggs ID.  

[N6843N]

Did you preheat?  Anytime you pump raw fuel into an intake you have a chance of an induction fire if you magnetos are not timed correctly or there is a problem with the ignition circuit, switch to mags, that would cause a kick back. 35F is cold enough for a little preheat, I preheated a guys 172 yesterday for a half hour and it was in the 40's here.

[piperpainter]

I've had this problem and talked to my mechanic abou it. I have an M20C as well and when I start my airplane in the colder weather I turn on the fuel pump and then pump the throttle in and out about 7 times. If it doesn't kick over in a couple rotations then it might need 3-4 more shots. The colder the weather the more fuel they need to get started. I only do about 3-5 pumps in the summer.

[planebones]

What kind of preheater rigs have you guys come up with?  The cowl flap opening is too small for most hoses to go up there....thanks Ken 

[skyking]

My owners maual calls for 5-7 pumps on any day below 35F

i do about a half hour of pre heat then 5-7 pumps with the aux  fuel pump turned on.

Never had a problem doing that

 

 

russ

[lahso]

Quote: planebones

What kind of preheater rigs have you guys come up with?  The cowl flap opening is too small for most hoses to go up there....thanks Ken 

[rgaines]

I always try to  preheat if temps are under 40F.  I understand it is recommended for temps under 50F.  I also have tanus engine heaters and they really help.  Just leave the plane plugged in until needed.   Starts now are much better with a alternator (instead of the generator) and a new model starter.  

[rgaines]

I always try to  preheat if temps are under 40F.  I understand it is recommended for temps under 50F.  I also have tanus engine heaters and they really help.  Just leave the plane plugged in until needed.   Starts now are much better with a alternator (instead of the generator) and a new model starter.  

[skyking]

I have a little heater called a flybuddy.

it fits right in the pilot side cowl flap

 

[Ned Gravel]

Russ:

Is yours in a hanger, or on the ramp?  You can already tell where mine is.

By the way, I like your tagline.  Reflects my own.

[skyking]

Ned: In a hanger. But we keep the heat turned down to 45F to save on heating bills. So i still do a little pre-heat

 

russ

[skyking]

Ned: Thanks about the tagline

Aint it the truth.

 

[Jerry 5TJ]

Another viewpoint:    My "C" got harder to start last spring in morning temperatures in the 40s, which is cold here in Northern CA.   Six or eight flights in a month, all with the same issue—it was just harder to start the normally quick-firing engine.  I attributed it to that spell of cold SF weather.

Then one morning the left magneto was totally dead at run-up.   Both had 500 TT, so I sent both magnetos out for IRAN.   Once back, the plane started as of old, just fine. 

[piperpainter]

If only I had one of two things...

A) a Hanger

electrical power at my tie down! God that would be nice!

Cold starts would be so much easier!