A model airplane engine starting stick is provided with a blade edge engaging roller having a roller surface of a material which will grip the blade edge of the propeller when against the blade edge of the propeller to cause the roller to roll along the blade edge without sliding over and damaging the blade edge as the starting stick is moved with respect to the blade edge to rotate the propeller. The starting stick of the invention includes a handle by which the starting stick can be held and manipulated by a user and a roller attached to the handle to freely rotate or roll with respect to the handle.

A model airplane engine starting stick is provided with a blade edge engaging roller having a roller surface of a material which will grip the blade edge of the propeller when against the blade edge of the propeller to cause the roller to roll along the blade edge without sliding over and damaging the blade edge as the starting stick is moved with respect to the blade edge to rotate the propeller. The starting stick of the invention includes a handle by which the starting stick can be held and manipulated by a user and a roller attached to the handle to freely rotate or roll with respect to the handle.

A system for starting an internal combustion engine (ICE) having a crankshaft is introduced. An electric turning machine (ETM) is co-axially mounted to the crankshaft. The crankshaft is rotated using a recoil starter for starting the ICE. A position sensor detects the rotation of the crankshaft. While the crankshaft is rotating, an engine control unit (ECU) operatively connected to the position sensor controls a delivery of electric power from a power source to the ETM for starting the ICE. An ICE integrating the system for starting the ICE and the crankshaft with a cylinder, a cylinder head connected to the cylinder, and a piston connected to the crankshaft and disposed in the cylinder to define a variable volume combustion chamber between the piston and the cylinder head is also disclosed.

A method for operating an electric turning machine (ETM) operatively connected to an internal combustion engine (ICE) are disclosed. An engine control unit (ECU) controls the ETM to operate as a motor with a first control strategy and as a generator with a second control strategy. The second control strategy is distinct from the first control strategy. The ECU controls switching the operation of the ETM from the first control strategy to the second control strategy when a sensor senses that a rotational speed of the ICE is equal to or above a minimum revolution threshold.

A system for operating an electric turning machine (ETM) operatively connected to an internal combustion engine (ICE) are disclosed. An engine control unit (ECU) controls the ETM to operate as a motor with a first control strategy and as a generator with a second control strategy. The second control strategy is distinct from the first control strategy. The ECU controls switching the operation of the ETM from the first control strategy to the second control strategy when a sensor senses that a rotational speed of the ICE is equal to or above a minimum revolution threshold.

A battery-less fuel injection system, provided with an injector for injecting fuel supplied to an engine, a fuel pump for supplying fuel to the injector, and an ECU for controlling the injector, wherein a fuel pressure sensor for detecting the fuel pressure given to the injector is provided, and the ECU controls the fuel injection in the process of starting the engine, so that execution of fuel injection is suspended when the fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure sensor is a set pressure or less, until it is confirmed that the detected fuel pressure has exceeded the set pressure.

A battery-less fuel injection system, provided with an injector for injecting fuel supplied to an engine, a fuel pump for supplying fuel to the injector, and an ECU for controlling the injector, wherein a fuel pressure sensor for detecting the fuel pressure given to the injector is provided, and the ECU controls the fuel injection in the process of starting the engine, so that execution of fuel injection is suspended when the fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure sensor is a set pressure or less, until it is confirmed that the detected fuel pressure has exceeded the set pressure.

A method and a system for operating an electric turning machine (ETM) operatively connected to an internal combustion engine (ICE) are disclosed. The ETM operates as a motor with a first control strategy and as a generator with a second control strategy, the second control strategy being distinct from the first control strategy. The system comprises an engine control unit adapted for controlling an operation of the ETM according to the first and second control strategies. Electric and assisted start procedures are available for starting the ICE by delivering electric power from a power source to the ETM which is co-axially mounted to a crankshaft of the ICE. Assisted start includes delivering the electric power to the ETM while a recoil starter is used to rotate the crankshaft. A manual start procedure is also available. The power source is charged by the ETM when the ICE is running.

A battery-less fuel injection system, provided with an injector for injecting fuel supplied to an engine, a fuel pump for supplying fuel to the injector, and an ECU for controlling the injector, wherein a fuel pressure sensor for detecting the fuel pressure given to the injector is provided, and the ECU controls the fuel injection in the process of starting the engine, so that execution of fuel injection is suspended when the fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure sensor is a set pressure or less, until it is confirmed that the detected fuel pressure has exceeded the set pressure.

Methods and systems are provided for accurately learning the zero point of an intake gas oxygen sensor during selected engine no-fueling conditions. The learned zero point is used to infer EGR flow and accordingly adjust EGR valve control. In addition, EGR valve leakage is diagnosed based on the zero point learned during a DFSO adaptation relative to a zero point learned during an idle adaptation.