Hand cranking a car

[brian2cv]

Believe it or not I have a car with a starting handle (a 2cv) so if needs be I can crank it to start it. Has anyone else got a car with this useful facility or had such a car in the past?

[Barmaid]

Yep, my first car was a 1969 Morris Minor with a cranking handle (it was older than me!). I was notorious for leaving the lights or the radio on and it was the easiest thing to start it.

[alponce]

I remember my dad doing that on cold frosty mornings and he is 70 something but i would suggest you get an update m8 get a ferrarri or something lol

[brian2cv]

I've had a morris minor as well Barmaid and like you I had to use the starting handle. Although I've known several women just as capable as men at "swinging" a handle I've always been in two minds whether I ought to volunteer to assist (before sex equality and all that stuff!) My driving days go back to about 1960 and back then it wasn't uncommon to see a man or woman cranking a car.

[brian2cv]

Yes the handle could kick back and there have been broken wrists and thumbs in the past. Fortunately I've never had a mishap but one or two near misses particularly with an old landrover.

[cado]

I'm trying to understand this - you mean you have to attach a handle on to the care to start it? A car like that must be considered to be an antique. Have you checked it worth in today's market? I bet any collector would gladly take it off your hands for a hefty sum. Could you post a picture of it? Don't think I've seen one of those.

[brian2cv]

You are obviously a bit younger than an old bloke like me! In the very early days of motoring a car had to be cranked with a starting handle to get it going. The electric starter as we know it was invented about 1912 but the crank handle was retained as a back up for a lot of cars for many decades to come. It was inserted through a hole at the front of the car (unless the engine was at the back LOL) The 2cv was made right up to 1990 and was supplied with a handle but with these cars you had to prop the bonnet up as the hole was behind it if you see what I mean. But as I say this was an alternative to start it, normally it would go with the key just like any modern car.

[cado]

Thanks for answering Brian. I was waiting for your answer before I go to bed. :-)

Great description explanation of it! I see, it did have an ignition key also. Thank you again. Have a pleasant night.

[Barmaid]

I can't remember now, but it was every fourth turn or something it would start. So you knew when to be ready for it to kick. I was also taught (by my father) to wrap all 5 fingers round it, rather than putting your thumb one side.

I always remember going for a job interview and returning to the car to find the battery flat. I got a round of applause from the builders on the building site next door when I calmly got out and crank started it!!

[Petal~flower]

brian, as I said in your other post re 2cv, I also had one once, and yes I had to crank it to get it started a few times.... bloody hard work

[Ice.Maiden]

Do people still really DO that??? It's medieval!!!!

[cado]

LOL Cleversod, they will be holding their mobile to their ear calling for help.

[Ice.Maiden]

Well......!!! i can't imagine how I'd do that with a car!!!! I'd tear an arm muscle!!!!

[brian2cv]

Barmaid you are absolutely right about the fingers round the handle, if you know the technique it isn't a problem - obviously you were trained well by your father!! I like your description about the builders applauding you, I should love to have seen that!

I found that with the succession of old bangers I used to have that using the handle was a regular occurence and you got very well practised at doing it. I assume your present car doesn't have the luxury of a starting handle!

[brian2cv]

Petal~flower, well done cranking up your 2cv! I never found the 2cv so easy to do as the morris 1000 which I had which would have been similar to Barmaid's!

[brian2cv]

There are videos of old cars being hand cranked on YouTube, too late for me to look now but I'll try and remember to look tomorrow, or later today as it now is! Ice.Maiden it's not quite so horrendous as it sounds, I suppose I just grew up with having to hand crank cars with duff batteries. There are technical reasons why they couldn't be used to start today's cars so you shouldn't have to confront this problem, it's just a case of waiting for the breakdown service to arrive to get you going I guess!

[brian2cv]

If you haven't seen how a car is hand cranked before this video gives an idea. This is NOT me by the way! I think petal~flower this might bring back a few memories for you!

[brian2cv]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=PlXPMqQsZIw

Sorry about the previous post - it would have helped if I had added the video clip wouldn't it!

Brian