Prop Orientation on an O-200A Citabria???

[rpmathis]

Going into my first annual I asked that my prop be moved to the left one hole on my O-200A since compression was starting at about 1:00 O'Clock and the Mag was firing at about 10:00 O'Clock. This arrangment would make hand starting very awkward if I ever had to do so. I still have the pull starter which can be dicey but so far it has worked fine. They showed me today that the hole in the prop was lined up with the hole in the crank flange per the manual and hence could not be moved.

Why is this the case? Compression should be starting at 11:00 O'Clock and the Mag should be firing at 9:00 O'Clock. I have some experience hand starting a C-65.

 

[osxuser]

Facing the prop, you should bring the engine most of the way through the compression stroke to right before the mag fires, then hand prop it. You do not need to build compression when hand propping these engines. 10 o'clock for the ignition event sounds right to me, you definitely don't want it at 9 o'clock, that would have your body moving back toward the prop to get it all the way through compression stroke... no good.

My experience comes from Reno F1 racers, O-200's running 54" carbon props... Makes the 65 like starting a lawnmower.