The Cessna 120-140 Association Forum

Hello, I am new to the association and find myself in a bit of a predicament in need of advice. I own a 140 that I love; however, due to a combination of rather low temperatures (not really breaking more than 12 deg f), high winds, and maintenance, the aircraft has not flown for almost two months. I tried getting it to start today when it was around 30 degrees or so, but the engine did not turn over. I have a small Hornet 22 heater as well as an oil pan heater that I had going for about 2 hours prior. I feel that was not enough, however, and after putting the airplane back in the hangar, I turned the heater back on to attempt to warm it up for a while before I try again tomorrow.

Sadly, the old girl does not have a primer right now; it was removed by the previous owner, and I am working to find a new one to replace it with. I have always had issues with priming the engine (C-85) before starting it, and I tend to flood it more often than not. Does anyone have any suggestions on better ways to prime it in the time before I find a new starter? Suggestions and advice for cold starts are also helpful, as I tend to see a lot of those in good ol' North Dakota.

Thanks,
Cody

By "not turning over" you mean the pull starter would not overcome the compression stroke?

Seeing as our primer line just dribbles fuel down onto the throttle, it seems to me it would only be of use while the crank is turning.

I dont have a starter so I never use the primer. I pull it through 5 or 6 blades to prime. Mags hot and the next blade it fires. But I dont even know what winter is where I live.

Does not sound like it was warm enough. I used a skinny Delongi heater in a trash can under the cowl which is then draped with blankets. This heats things nicely overnight.

Overnight your pan heater might work with a cover on the cowling of some sort. Exposed to less than say 20 F, it's probably a bit weak.

Might not be a bad idea to source a primer system from a junkyard. My C-85 needs three strokes cold regardless of OAT and none warm/hot.

dcannon wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 12:57 am By "not turning over" you mean the pull starter would not overcome the compression stroke?

Seeing as our primer line just dribbles fuel down onto the throttle, it seems to me it would only be of use while the crank is turning.

I dont have a starter so I never use the primer. I pull it through 5 or 6 blades to prime. Mags hot and the next blade it fires. But I dont even know what winter is where I live.

Saying turn over was probably not the best way to describe it. She has a nice lightweight push button starter and pulls through the compression cycle just fine but wolnt catch.

When you are pulling your blades through to prime what configuration do you have your throttle/mixture at?

What carb do you have and what grade of oil is in the sump?

6643 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 9:36 am What carb do you have and what grade of oil is in the sump?

I have a Marvel Carb, and fresh Philips 20W-50

nodak140 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 8:06 am

dcannon wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 12:57 am By "not turning over" you mean the pull starter would not overcome the compression stroke?

Seeing as our primer line just dribbles fuel down onto the throttle, it seems to me it would only be of use while the crank is turning.

I dont have a starter so I never use the primer. I pull it through 5 or 6 blades to prime. Mags hot and the next blade it fires. But I dont even know what winter is where I live.

Saying turn over was probably not the best way to describe it. She has a nice lightweight push button starter and pulls through the compression cycle just fine but wolnt catch.

When you are pulling your blades through to prime what configuration do you have your throttle/mixture at?

I see what you mean. Im probably no help, we dont have cold in San Diego. My Stromberg is wired rich and throttle is closed. Standard hand propping.

Managed to get it started today. I was a little warmer out and I had the heater running for almost 24hrs trying to get some heat under the cowling. Thanks for the input!

I’m still open to new suggestions for priming without a primer however. Could always use more wisdom.

Your Marvel has an accelerator pump. You can pump the throttle a couple of strokes, idle to full throttle, while cranking.

You might want to consider a Tanis Heater. I had one on my O-200 powered 140 that was based in Gaylord, Michigan. It would keep the engine oil and the cylinders over 60 degrees when the outside temperature was in single digits.

My procedure was to unplug the Tanis, roll the plane outside, chock the wheels, pump the throttle 2 times, then pull the engine through 7 blades by hand, get in and it would start immediately when I hit the starter. Good oil pressure and oil temperature right away.

My primer did not work either.