59a/b engine crank bolt question

zoegrant

zoegrant

Well-known member
I would like to establish oil pressure in the engine before starting that has set for many years...I have no battery or starter installed at the present time.
My questions are these......with the spark plugs removed would I be able to turn the engine over using an impact socket on the crank shaft nut to try to test oil pressure ?????
Or would the impact wrench distroy the threads on crankshaft snout ?????
 
Since you have to have a battery and starter anyway to start it, go get them and don't have voltage to the coil when cranking it over (so if you forget you don't toast the coil and points) and of course have the plugs out.
 
on model Ts we do it with a LARGE old time drill, like a 5/8 slow rpm job. ya know, the ones that will break your arm before they stop. impact gun will cause some damage i would guess
 
I've turned them by hand, with my 3/4" drive ratchet set, with enough speed to get a slight indication on a mechanical op gauge, letting me know I was getting oil flow/pressure through the system.
 
I confess that I have resorted to the impact wrench to get the nut off, but never to put it on. I have been told that kind of shock input is not great for the rod bearings that absorb the load. Kind of like the damage that pre-ignition can do to the bottom end.

You are going to need a starter and battery eventually; why not now?
 
I twisted the snout off a lawnmower engine once with an impact, so I don't think I would try it in a flathead. Do you have the original hand crank? You could try that.
 
Why not put the original hand crank ratchet back on it and use the original crank?

Someday I'm going to try to start my pickup using the hand crank just to see if I can.
 
Have some patience. The starter is best for that type of thing. Shocking the hell out of the rotating components could cause damage before the oil starts to flow in there. It will take a while to get some pressure up at low rpm but it should at least give a small pressure indication after a bit of starter cranking.
 
D. Jones said:
Why not put the original hand crank ratchet back on it and use the original crank?

Someday I'm going to try to start my pickup using the hand crank just to see if I can.
Click to expand...

I started my 1940 Ford truck last Spring for the first time in about 35 years. After it had run several times and started easily, I tried starting it with the hand crank. To my surprise it, easily started right up with about 1/4 turn.
 
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