Re: [MV] Hand crank picture

Richard Notton (Richard@fv623.demon.co.uk)
Sat, 30 May 1998 09:00:18 +0100

-----Original Message-----
From: Andreas Mehlhorn <a.mehlhorn@t-online.de>
To: mil-veh@skylee.com <mil-veh@skylee.com>
Date: 29 May 1998 20:51
Subject: [MV] Hand crank picture

Hi list,

we have discussed how to hand crank a motor vehicle. I've found
a nice picture in a handbook from 1927, which shows how to grab
the crank handle.

Hi All,

Andreas is quite right, the primary purpose of the starting handle is to free
a very cold engine and to provide means for setting the engine for timing
etc.

If at all possible shim the starter dog so that a compression begins on the
up-stroke such that a good upward swing takes one pot over TDC, this way you
get maximum personally applied grunt to the engine and should it kick back,
pulling the handle out of the hand, it is likely your momentum will have your
hand and arm safely out of the crank arc.

Ignition timing is important and may be somewhat odd to say the least to
anyone familiar with more modern machinery, it would seem that vehicles based
on pre-war designs may be timed statically well _after_ TDC, the Morris
Commercial engines are some 3/8" of flywheel circumference ATDC and even the
50's/60's RR B Range used from Champs to 432's are timed TDC to 2 deg after.
Theoretically these settings make a kick-back impossible.

Be very wary of using a xenon timing strobe on these old vehicles as they are
intended to have substantial centrifugal ignition advance at _idle_, some 8 -
10 degrees was observed in the two examples above.

It could be an intentional design feature in these applications where a
manual start could make the difference between life or death, no evidence has
yet come to light though.

Richard
(Southampton UK)

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