That's exactly the procedure I was taught when flying out of Pgh's AGC.
Brings back memories.

My experience is that each of these engines and engine installation configs
can be a bit different relative to cold temp starts. The POH doesn't always
have it. Not losing the battery charge is its own reward.

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in message
...

You're hitting the primer before cranking? That loads the induction system
with
raw gas, basically flooding the engine. When you wait a bit, some of that
gas
vaporizes and the engine starts more easily.

Try this. Pull the primer back but don't prime the engine. Hit the starter
and
while the starter is turning the engine, give it three shots of primer. On
real
cold days, it may take four. That gets my O-320 going every time.

George Patterson
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble
enterprise.