Crank starters

Watching 'Lenos Garage' on an earlier post reminded me how fleeting time can be. Jay was crank starting an old 3 wheel Morgan. Not that long ago I had a 1969 Peugeot 404. Bullet proof little car with 4 on the tree. Starter gave up somewhere along the line and as a starving college student with a young family, starters weren't a priority. Especially since this car (a '69) came with a hand crank. Worked like a charm, one crank would fire it off everytime. Heck, the wife could and did do it. French cars have garnered more than their share of disparaging remarks, but I really miss that old bucket. How about you? Any hand crankers past or present?

My MGA has a hand crank. Never used it for that purpose, but it was great for adjusting the valves!

i crank a 1913 overland 2 pulls gets it done. my 67 sunbeam alpine has a crank along with my morris

When I bought my TD in 1959 it was used as a second family car. During the winter months the battery was not as good as it should have been and many times I started it on a cold winters evening after work with the hand crank. Very easy to do and saved me from buying a new battery until the spring. One very funny story goes with that. I was out in the driveway one morning after a very cold night and I was using the hand crank. My son (about 4 at the time) was watching me from the kitchen window. My wife asked him what daddy was doing. His reply was
"Daddy's winding up his car". Never forgot that and every once in awhile (he's now 52) I remind him of that. I also agree that is a very good and easy way to adjust the valves.

George Herschell

That's great, George. I'm sure the "boy" gets a chuckle out of that when reminded!

Two Comments:

First, when I was a kid we had a couple of tractors that were crank only. They both kicked like a mule and I hated both of them.

Second, When a crank engine would not start they would say: "She's a little cranky". As Paul Harvey would say: "Now you know the rest of the story".

Dave

I had a '63 TR4 with a hand crank, never used it. Also has a 3 main MGB motor with a hand crank bolt, never used it. The flathead in the '57 Chris Craft I'm restoring with a buddy has a hand crank. I really hope to never use it.

I like that "shes a little cranky", Dave. LOL
Oh yeah I forgot about an old Rolls, buddy and I played with early 60s. Had a crank, magneto and electric start. 3 different start setups. Think we used the magneto only once; something like a dozen separate functions needed to fire it off.

Knew I had a picture of the Rolls lurking somewhere.

tried it on my 36 ford once....once being the operative word. not exactly the same but i used to "{hand crank", aka "{prop," light aircraft.

ever see a c-47 started by winding a rope around the prop hub and then hooking the other end to a jeep and driving away?

chaokhao Wrote:

could be, i can't remember. that was a c-119 but the same principle. but did they have a jeep?" or did they spin it by hand?

They shot a round of explosive (without a shell) out of something that looked like a flare gun directly into a cylinder.

...I crank my A and my TR3.... I have had a Renault alliance a Renault 18i wagon and two 505 Peugeots liked them all and LOVED my 87 Peugeot STX. It would run at a easy 100+ all day... had it up to 140....steady as she goes.......

I have had to crank my dad's A, but a Ford Model A. It's a bit of a PITA. Just make sure to keep the thumbs from being wrapped around the crank incase it kicks back.

ahhh, a shotgun shell (similar) starter. that was used in several diferent a/c, as i recall

My 59 Austin Healey 100-6 had a crank. Never used it.

My '49 Chevy has a crank bolt- never used it, did not even know why it was shaped the way it was at the time (thought hand cranking was only for T's.)

Had an oportunity to crank a T. (Don't forget to retard the timing-your hands will appreciate it)

Jim, funny how as time changes, situations don't. I was also a poor student and could not afford to replace the starter on my '96 S-10. I learned to park at an incline so I can roll back, and pop the clutch. Did that for about 6 months. Not quite hand cranking, but still no electric starter.

My first car a 1960 Morris Minor had a provision to hand crank. I didn't have the crank so never tried to start it that way. I did on many occasions "kick" start it by coasting down a hill. Also by being towed....
I still have the car... stored in a barn. Maybe someday I'll drag it out and fixer up!

my morris minors had cranks, as did (IIRC) my TR4.

The old Renault R10 had a crank. Used it once to drain the radiator..


Came out to car after a 12 hr shift and tried to start the car. All I got was a click.. After a bit of swearing, took the crank handle, put n place and tried to turn it over. It didn't move. Being young and not thinking I then jumped on the crank and almost broke my ankle. Now logic started to trickle and I removed all plugs (thought engine may have frozen) and tried again. Now the crank and engine rotated easily, but every second rotation water was pumping out of #3 plug hole.

I have had several Model A Fords over the years (recently sold my '30 Coupe) and have hand cranked from time to time. Not bad to do if it is in tune.

Mike