Hand Starting Question

[marc hildebrant]

Group,

I have read an article on hand starting the Model A and have a good understanding except for one thing...

What happens when the engine starts to the crank ? Since your hand is holding the crank when it starts, does the crank spin around ? Does it fly out ?

Marc

 

[ChicagoBob]

Group,

I have read an article on hand starting the Model A and have a good understanding except for one thing...

What happens when the engine starts to the crank ? Since your hand is holding the crank when it starts, does the crank spin around ? Does it fly out ?

Marc

It just pops out about a half inch out of the ratchet and hangs there until it falls out on the road about a mile later, reminding you that you forgot to remove it from the hole before you drove off.

 

[Bob Johnson]

The nut that the end on the crank fits into has a one way ratchet. Once the engine is turning faster than your hand the crank is ejected from the nut.

Bob

 

[TinCup]

It just pops out about a half inch out of the ratchet and hangs there until it falls out on the road about a mile later, reminding you that you forgot to remove it from the hole before you drove off.

Thanks for the laugh this morning. Being reminded of some of my past experiences with my A was a welcome break in this day.

 

[Steve Wastler]

Always remember to pull up on the handcrank and not to wrap your thumb around the handle. A nicely tuned model a will start easily from the 9 oclock position with the upward pull...

 

[Patrick L.]

The crank and the nut/ratchet have to be in good shape for everything to work as planned.. The nut decided to hang on to the crank one fine day when I was 12 years old and trying to start the old A,, Farmall A that is.. That crank whizzed around and shattered both bones just above the wrist..That hurt,, in fact,, it still hurts today whenever rain is coming..
OH, almost forgot.. The one and only day the old A [ Ford this time] wouldn't start was when I was in town and going to give someone a ride in it.. I stuck the little ole crank in the hole and gave it a flip.. I promptly slipped on some wet oil [been raining and wasn't from me]in the parking space and broke my nose on the radiator shell.. That actually straightened the nose from a previous break so it now looks better.. Some things just even out..

 

[Marco Tahtaras]

If you haven't seen my writeup on hand cranking see the link below. It's important that the front engine mount is proper and provides a good alignment for the hand crank to fit loosely through the bushing and into the ratchet so the the crank will easily dissengage.

http://www.abarnyard.com/workshop/handcrank.htm

I've hand cranked model A's more times than I can remember and consider it a normal part of owning/driving one.