hand crank starting Model A

Ford offered a hand crank through 1948, all with the same contoured lugs on the crank and in the ratchet nut that allow the crank to disengage with a gentle push back into your hand when the thing lights up.
I've hand cranked the '48 successfully, a bit more difficult than A or B because you really need to leap over the radiator and give it some throttle at the first chug...a V8 just isn't happy running at near zero RPM like an A!
 
But it still needs help getting there before simply stalling, as it starts at chug.......chug ......chug R's, not enough to interest the idle circuit much. I distinctly remember getting to the carb and yanking the lever before the fourth chug!
 
I've had to hand crank my car twice when the battery got too old to be able to supply enough juice to the starter. It was not necesarily by choice to start it this way but nevertheless it worked ok.

I was also alone for one of the instances and I didn't have a wire attached to the choke on the carb so the way I choked the carb with the ignition off was to clip vice grips on the choke rod above the grommet.
It keeps the rod extended while you hand crank the car to prime it.
 
I've been able to hold the choke lever closed with my left hand and pull up on the crank with my right hand. It usually starts on the first pull, or for sure on the second one. Just have to release the choke after the pull up.
 
I like a screwdriver pushed in the choke rubber firewall gasket causing it to be holding the choke. I do two hand cranks with choke and GAV open 1/2 turn, key off. Then turn the key on for a start crank with no choke. If cold, it fires right off. Advance full up/retarded and throttle slightly engaged at four-o-clock. When warm it is no choke at all and all else same as above. Hand crank is a nice option. After 48 we had to push start heavy vehicles or park on a slope to roll start.
 
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