Hand Proping C-65

[Pearson]

I agree with what everyone else here is saying. I have an A65 on my Taylorcraft. I use my HOT START procedure anytime my engine has run long enough to get up to operating temperature within the last hour in winter and four hours in summer. My summer time normal start procedure is secure the airplane, pull prop through 6-8 blades (my way of priming), fuel OFF, throttle FULLY closed, mags hot, and prop it. If the engine has run within the last hour (four hours in winter), I don't use any prime and crack the throttle 1/8". If I mess up and start seeing fuel leaking, usually about one drip per second for 10-20 seconds, I turn the fuel off, mags off, throttle cracked 1/8", and turn the prop backwards 10-20 blades-depending on how much fuel was leaking. I have learned to keep an eye out for the fuel leaking and have been able to avoid major flooding incidents. After pulling the prop through backwards I usually let it set a couple minutes, then revert to the appropriate start procedure for the outside temperature. In the winter I use the same procedure as summer, but pull the prop through more blades for more prime (10-12 for 50 to 60 degrees--up to 16 or 18 blades if it is down in the 20s or 30s.

It does sound like you may have had a stuck needle. There are three different needles that have been used on the Stromberg carb, steel, delrin, and steel with a rubber tip. If yours is delrin or rubber tipped, it could be worn out. Or your float could have taken on some gas and not be floating properly. Bill's idea of lightly tapping on the side of the carb would jar loose anything that might have gotten stuck in the needle, or if the float was just cockeyed and stuck. If it keeps flooding you may need to take the carb apart to investigate the function of the float, needle, or just adjust the level. You don't need to take the carb off to do this.

It would well be worth the trouble to get another mag with an impulse coupler for at least one of the mags. Don't trade your shoe box mags in on a new Slick unit. You can find another used mag on Ebay or Barnstormers and either keep your shoe box as a spare or sell it.

Good luck,