PMDG 737 Engine Start-Up

[Foxtrot Sport]

Okay, excuse all the desperate asking about this aircraft, but I am quite interested in learning how to correctly handle her.

My problem this time, I configure the cockpit and FMC all the way up to Engine Start-Up, but that's where my problem starts.

As required, I set the Engine Start for one engine to "GRD".  Then, I wait until between 21% and 22% N2 (which is quite hard to hit, as it tends to jump from 19.6 to 26 or so very quickly) and then pull the cutoff lever on the Throttle quadrant.  

I believe that the engine start switch should return to "off" automatically, which it doesn't.  If I leave it at GRD, then I can hear the sequence on the engine over and over, and if I manually move it to off, the engine shuts off.


Again, I realize that I'm probably doing something completely wrong, but it would be ever so nice for you nice guys to explain this process, and point out what I'm doing wrong.  

Thanks in advance.

[Nexus]

are you handling the fuel cutoff switches properly?
By the sound of it, it seems like your engine cannot reach self sustaining RPMs because there is no combustion.

If there is, the starter should automaticly go back to OFF at 56% N2, but this off course requires combustion.

Since you're able to spool up the N2, at least you have the APU and the APU bleed going

[krylite]

You might want to check your air pack settings(both should be off on startup engine sequence)  and the isolation valve(which should be open, then closed or auto'ed) after both engines have started up.

Sometimes there seems to be a bug and I just try to redo the flow.

I'd recommend Mike Ray's book on boeings and that NZ 737ng pilot ("geezer")'s tutorial for more info.

[Foxtrot Sport]

Oh, well the way I've been doing it recently, is just not "pulling the cutoff valve" at all.  I just flip the switches to GRD, and then the engines will start.  After they're running, the switches go back to OFF, and all seems fine.

[Rocket_Bird]

Make sure before you start your engines that your fuel cut off switches are in the off position (down towards you).  The purpose of this is to prevent the risk of damaging your engines from a hot start.  Before starting engines, your APU should be running with bleed running and packs off.  Flip number 2 engine to gnd and then once it spins past 20% N2, move the cut off switch for number 2 to on to inject fuel.  After it spools up, repeat for number 1.  

[Mictheslik]

Try reading the manual, there is a tutorial for starting her up!

.Mic