two man job

Patrick L. said:
Years ago as a 12 yr old I attempted to hand start a Model A, a Farmall Model A that is, and ended up shattering both wrist bones..That hurt for a while.. A couple years ago I again attempted to hand start a Model A parked on Main St due to a failed/ open battery, a Ford this time.. I slipped on the wet pavement and broke my nose on the radiator shell.. The broken nose actually ended up being an improvement,but, that hurt for awhile..As a result, I no longer try to hand start anything..I'm not crazy about hand starting a lawnmower any more.. I think I'd rather just give the old thing a push and jump in, but, I'd probably slip and it would run over me and 3 other people trying to walk across the street.. I think from now on I'll wait for a set of cables and a jumper battery to come to the rescue..
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Sorry Patrick, but this is funny.....LOL :D:D:D:D
 
If you crank your Model A or T even, make sure your thumb is on the same side as your fingers. Use your left had to crank with. The way it will pull out of your fingers and if it spins around and your hand is still in the way will hit the fleshy part of your palm not the back of your hand.
 
After all this has been said,, I do still hand start a number of engines that don't have electrical systems.. I recently started an R680 in a Stearman and it finally fired just prior to a massive coronary.. All the safety stuff of parking brakes, neutral, ignition, thumb parallel with the palm, easy pull of 1/2 turn,etc, should be SOP.. I guess sometimes it isn't.. If I do hand crank an old car, then my procedure is pretty much the same as Mikes.. BUT, I still would rather wait for some fresh electrons to show up and do the job for me..
 
Ooops, forgot.. Even if you do everything correctly, you can still get hurt.. Those cranks have a mind of their own sometimes and won't let-go..
 
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