The Ford Barn

36henry · 09-20-2012, 07:52 PM

When I got my 36 Ford it came with a crank handle, never worried about it as the car was converted to 12 volts and has been reliable. Anyway I've been thinking I'd like to know how to crank start it so I can say I know how to do it but I remember stories my old dad used to tell me about how he used to crank start early cars he had, I always remembered that he said if you don't do it properly it can "kick back" and break your thumb

So anyone able to tell me how to do it, I did look at youtube but couldn't find anything.

It's almost like its a lost art.

Mick

ken ct · 09-20-2012, 08:02 PM

Ita a snap have done it a few times,keep your thumb wrapped around the handle and start the crank around 12:30 position and push down.Dont try and pull it up. ken ct. SORRY WAS 100% WRONG ON THAT ONE. KEN CT.

Henryat1140 · 09-20-2012, 08:38 PM

>>push down.Dont try and pull it up.

I'd like to gently disagree with Ken on this one. (no offense and not trying to start a flame war).

The generally accepted way is to pull upward on the crank not push down. If the engine kicks back when you are pushing down it will jam - and maybe break - your arm, as did many a model T. If you are pulling up and it kicks it will pull the crank out of your hand.

Whichever way you choose, DO NOT wrap your thumb around the crank; open your hand and grasp the crank in your palm, laying your thumb outside of the handle.

Make sure the car is in neutral too, with the handbrake on.

Maybe some of the guys here that have model t's will jump in.

sturgis 39 · 09-20-2012, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henryat1140

>>push down.Dont try and pull it up.

I'd like to gently disagree with Ken on this one. (no offense and not trying to start a flame war).

The generally accepted way is to pull upward on the crank not push down. If the engine kicks back when you are pushing down it will jam - and maybe break - your arm, as did many a model T. If you are pulling up and it kicks it will pull the crank out of your hand.

Whichever way you choose, DO NOT wrap your thumb around the crank; open your hand and grasp the crank in your palm, laying your thumb outside of the handle.

Make sure the car is in neutral too, with the handbrake on.

Maybe some of the guys here that have model t's will jump in.

Ken must be messing with someone.

Do not wear gloves and always pull up on the crank.

Gary in La. · 09-20-2012, 08:48 PM

Henryat1140 has got it right. I've had Model T's and growing up on the farm our tractors at that time all had cranks. Always pull up and never try to spin it over 360 with a crank.

sturgis 39 · 09-20-2012, 09:07 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Never wear gloves. They can wrap around the crank handle and you can not let go of the crank. The engine might start and twist your arm off.

Always pull up.

J Franklin · 09-20-2012, 10:44 PM

A friend of Charles Kettering was killed due to injuries sustained by a kick back. This death spurred Kettering to invent the electric starter as used today. Retard the spark fully, pull up and not over the top, keep your thumb with your fingers!

ken ct · 09-21-2012, 01:51 AM

Sorry i got it backwards fellas,been quite a few yrs since i started it that way,again my apoligies , hope nobody followed them. Ken ct. Boy was i wrong on that one.

ken ct · 09-21-2012, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 36henry

When I got my 36 Ford it came with a crank handle, never worried about it as the car was converted to 12 volts and has been reliable. Anyway I've been thinking I'd like to know how to crank start it so I can say I know how to do it but I remember stories my old dad used to tell me about how he used to crank start early cars he had, I always remembered that he said if you don't do it properly it can "kick back" and break your thumb

So anyone able to tell me how to do it, I did look at youtube but couldn't find anything.

It's almost like its a lost art.

Mick

SORRY ON THAT ONE MICK GOT IT BACKWARDS. SEE LATER POSTS

bluestem · 09-21-2012, 06:23 AM

If you are right-handed, use your left hand. Retard spark, on T's about 5 clicks. Start at about 7-8 o'clock and pull UP. Let go about 12 o'clock. If you are right-handed and crank with your left hand; this makes your body/arms pull away from the crank when you release. My dad always said use the arm opposite your right/left dominate; so when you break it, you still have a good dominate arm!!!?? He was right !! Broke my left wrist doing the 360 thing with a model A when I was 18. Didn't know it was broken unit 40 years later with arthritis/carpel tunnel/hurts. I had a '23 T with no starter and always started easily with the crank; just sold it. Good videos on you-tube on this.

bluestem · 09-21-2012, 06:32 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfQWnaWLDeQ

junk yard kid · 09-21-2012, 11:37 AM

And make sure the crank is all the way in. It will break free and you can skin you knuckles.

Seth Swoboda · 09-21-2012, 12:07 PM

Have you guys tried crank starting a V8? I have never tried it but it seems like it would be difficult to turn the engine over fast enough with a hand crank on a v8.

thirt4 · 09-21-2012, 12:08 PM

Now with all this information, IF it were me, I would find a "buddy" that I could con and explain that my shoulder hurt and ask him to do it for me using these directions. I would not tell him of the possible bad consequences I would just explain it to him how to do it and let him at it.
What a good buddy I am...

richard crow · 09-21-2012, 01:12 PM

ok you guya got it right except for a cold eng with the ign off pull choke out rotate eng a few times push choke in all the way now pull it out about a 1/4 of an inch put crank in rotate till you feel comp. turn ign on in nutrel with hand brake on & yes a v/8 is a lot harder to crank start then a 4 banger i think the purpose of the crank on the v/8 was mainley for mantance

36Bill · 09-21-2012, 02:48 PM

Seth, It is not the speed that does it. You only pull a quarter turn, never all the way around. If it fires it will start if you'r lucky.

Bill

ken ct · 09-21-2012, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

Have you guys tried crank starting a V8? I have never tried it but it seems like it would be difficult to turn the engine over fast enough with a hand crank on a v8.

Ive done it a few times in the past ,not difficult to do at all,they dont have to turn very fast to start. ken ct.

Ken/Alabama · 09-21-2012, 04:52 PM

Think I will just stick with the electric starter and if it fails, roll it off.

Lawson Cox · 09-21-2012, 05:06 PM

While it can be done, as per the video of the guy with the "T" shows, I would not try it because you can sure bugger up a grill crank hole if things don't go exactly right, and grills ain't cheap, not to mention doctor bills. LOL

V12Bill · 09-21-2012, 08:24 PM

My first car was a Model A and there was a guide for the crank that bolted to the front cross member with the spring U bolts. My 1939 PU has no guide other than the grille hole. Is that strong enough to guide the crank?

09-20-2012, 07:52 PM	#1
36henry Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NSW Australia Posts: 16	Crank starting my 36 When I got my 36 Ford it came with a crank handle, never worried about it as the car was converted to 12 volts and has been reliable. Anyway I've been thinking I'd like to know how to crank start it so I can say I know how to do it but I remember stories my old dad used to tell me about how he used to crank start early cars he had, I always remembered that he said if you don't do it properly it can "kick back" and break your thumb So anyone able to tell me how to do it, I did look at youtube but couldn't find anything. It's almost like its a lost art. Mick

09-20-2012, 08:02 PM	#2
ken ct BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: stratford,ct Posts: 5,971	Re: Crank starting my 36 Ita a snap have done it a few times,keep your thumb wrapped around the handle and start the crank around 12:30 position and push down.Dont try and pull it up. ken ct. SORRY WAS 100% WRONG ON THAT ONE. KEN CT. Last edited by ken ct; 09-21-2012 at 01:53 AM.

09-20-2012, 08:38 PM	#3
Henryat1140 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hereford, Maryland Posts: 218	Re: Crank starting my 36 >>push down.Dont try and pull it up. I'd like to gently disagree with Ken on this one. (no offense and not trying to start a flame war). The generally accepted way is to pull upward on the crank not push down. If the engine kicks back when you are pushing down it will jam - and maybe break - your arm, as did many a model T. If you are pulling up and it kicks it will pull the crank out of your hand. Whichever way you choose, DO NOT wrap your thumb around the crank; open your hand and grasp the crank in your palm, laying your thumb outside of the handle. Make sure the car is in neutral too, with the handbrake on. Maybe some of the guys here that have model t's will jump in.

09-20-2012, 08:48 PM	#5
Gary in La. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Louisiana Posts: 866	Re: Crank starting my 36 Henryat1140 has got it right. I've had Model T's and growing up on the farm our tractors at that time all had cranks. Always pull up and never try to spin it over 360 with a crank.

09-20-2012, 09:07 PM	#6
sturgis 39 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lead. South Dakota Posts: 963	Re: Crank starting my 36 Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Never wear gloves. They can wrap around the crank handle and you can not let go of the crank. The engine might start and twist your arm off. Always pull up. __________________ IF IT CAN NOT BE FIXED WITH BLASTING WIRE, JB WELD OR DUCT TAPE ---IT CAN NOT BE FIXED Do not get me started on the stupidity of ethanol. I think one of the monitors is from Iowa and he will delete the thread.

09-20-2012, 10:44 PM	#7
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,963	Re: Crank starting my 36 A friend of Charles Kettering was killed due to injuries sustained by a kick back. This death spurred Kettering to invent the electric starter as used today. Retard the spark fully, pull up and not over the top, keep your thumb with your fingers!

09-21-2012, 01:51 AM	#8
ken ct BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: stratford,ct Posts: 5,971	Re: Crank starting my 36 Sorry i got it backwards fellas,been quite a few yrs since i started it that way,again my apoligies , hope nobody followed them. Ken ct. Boy was i wrong on that one.

09-21-2012, 06:23 AM	#10
bluestem Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Dakota Posts: 35	Re: Crank starting my 36 If you are right-handed, use your left hand. Retard spark, on T's about 5 clicks. Start at about 7-8 o'clock and pull UP. Let go about 12 o'clock. If you are right-handed and crank with your left hand; this makes your body/arms pull away from the crank when you release. My dad always said use the arm opposite your right/left dominate; so when you break it, you still have a good dominate arm!!!?? He was right !! Broke my left wrist doing the 360 thing with a model A when I was 18. Didn't know it was broken unit 40 years later with arthritis/carpel tunnel/hurts. I had a '23 T with no starter and always started easily with the crank; just sold it. Good videos on you-tube on this.

09-21-2012, 06:32 AM	#11
bluestem Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Dakota Posts: 35	Re: Crank starting my 36 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfQWnaWLDeQ

09-21-2012, 11:37 AM	#12
junk yard kid Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: san diego Posts: 114	Re: Crank starting my 36 And make sure the crank is all the way in. It will break free and you can skin you knuckles.

09-21-2012, 12:07 PM	#13
Seth Swoboda Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 3,795	Re: Crank starting my 36 Have you guys tried crank starting a V8? I have never tried it but it seems like it would be difficult to turn the engine over fast enough with a hand crank on a v8.

09-21-2012, 12:08 PM	#14
thirt4 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Arizona, USA Posts: 288	Re: Crank starting my 36 Now with all this information, IF it were me, I would find a "buddy" that I could con and explain that my shoulder hurt and ask him to do it for me using these directions. I would not tell him of the possible bad consequences I would just explain it to him how to do it and let him at it. What a good buddy I am...

09-21-2012, 01:12 PM	#15
richard crow Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,770	Re: Crank starting my 36 ok you guya got it right except for a cold eng with the ign off pull choke out rotate eng a few times push choke in all the way now pull it out about a 1/4 of an inch put crank in rotate till you feel comp. turn ign on in nutrel with hand brake on & yes a v/8 is a lot harder to crank start then a 4 banger i think the purpose of the crank on the v/8 was mainley for mantance

09-21-2012, 02:48 PM	#16
36Bill Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 315	Re: Crank starting my 36 Seth, It is not the speed that does it. You only pull a quarter turn, never all the way around. If it fires it will start if you'r lucky. Bill

09-21-2012, 04:52 PM	#18
Ken/Alabama Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 3,260	Re: Crank starting my 36 Think I will just stick with the electric starter and if it fails, roll it off.

09-21-2012, 05:06 PM	#19
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: Crank starting my 36 While it can be done, as per the video of the guy with the "T" shows, I would not try it because you can sure bugger up a grill crank hole if things don't go exactly right, and grills ain't cheap, not to mention doctor bills. LOL __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

09-21-2012, 08:24 PM	#20
V12Bill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mt. Holly,NJ Posts: 1,822	Re: Crank starting my 36 My first car was a Model A and there was a guide for the crank that bolted to the front cross member with the spring U bolts. My 1939 PU has no guide other than the grille hole. Is that strong enough to guide the crank?