How to start a 337

[Ernie Martin]

I always start the front first, but I thought that is what the book says. If I recall, it's because of the shorter run between the battery and the engine. If you happen to be in a highly marginal situation, where there is barely enough energy in the battery to barely turn an engine, then you want it to be the front engine, where you might get 3 or 4 revs before the battery dies, compared to the rear engine, where you might get 1 or 2 revs because of the higher cable resistance.

Ernie

[hharney]

My 1968 Owners Manual states that the front engine is normally started first. Rational is the battery cable length as Ernie states above.

I know I was always taught to start the front first and at one time I heard something about procedures indicating the rear should be started first because you can't see it and if the rear is started first you could hear it better.

But my book says the front should be started first.

[JeffAxel]

FWIW, they changed the wording in the first paragraph of the starting section in later POH's. My '77 POH says either engine can be started first, and mentions both arguments, the shorter cable run for the front versus the ability to hear the rear. I usually start the rear first, just because I like being able to hear it. If my battery was so drained that it couldn't start the rear engine, I would want to abort the flight, figure out why the battery was so low, and charge it properly with a charger, assuming the battery itself was okay. Recharging an almost dead battery with the alternators is tough on the battery and electrical system, and I am not sure I would feel comfortable relying on that system, especially in IFR or at night.

[Skymaster337B]

The only way we could resolve this topic is at the next Skymaster fly-in...at the hotel bar.

[skymstr02]

If you start the front engine first, how do you clear the rear engine?

I can yell "Clear Rear" thru the storm window, and some one will hear me, and then clear the front visually.

On my O-2, the battery is just inside the baggage door, so the rear starter is closer to the battery than a standard 337.

[JeffAxel]

Clearing the rear engine is a legit concern. I have gear mirrors on each wing so I can see the rear engine area pretty well from each side.

[Skymaster337B]

I say the only way to "clear" the rear prop is on the final walk-around. After that it's really an educated guess that it is clear. Starting the front engine should give enough notice to everyone to remain clear of the aircraft...and rear prop.

However, I've never heard of some one walking into the rear prop because they didn't know the aircraft was about to start-up. They typically walk into the prop getting in or out of a running aircraft.