Home grown maintenance solution... will it work?

[Dale Campbell]

Twice I had a problem with no power to starter. Once after flying for 2 hours I landed for a fuel stop on Sunday with no one around but my son-in-law. I had no power to rear engine starter. I hand proped the rear engine and it started very easy. I switched on fuel pump for 3 seconds then off. Turned engine through with mags off. Then had my son-in-law crack throttle { who is also a pilot } yell contact and one flip on prop and it started. That is the way I started Piper Cubs. I got back to home base and found the power connector on rear starter broken at starter terminal. The other time I had a battery that dropped a lead plate and killed the battery. Also on a Sunday with only my co-pilot there. I hand proped both engines to get home. I have the i-o 360's engines that prop easy. Do not try this if you have no experiance from hand proping from before. Dale