> I do recommend keeping all of your fingers and your thumb on the same
> side of the crank handle though (don't grab it like a baseball bat).
> Sometimes there's a bit of a kickback and if your thumb's in the way,
> well...
Here's the real story on keeping your thumb on the same side as your
fingers. I've owned a 1916 Model T Ford for 40 years - and starters weren't
even available as an option until 1917.
When there's a kickback, that crank can spin like a propeller for a second
or so - really scary especially if you've never seen it before, or if your
hand and wrist are in the middle of the spinning steel. Of course, you're
doing something wrong if there's a kickback -- but they can and sometimes do
happen.
As long as you're pulling UP on the crank handle, if there's a kickback (the
result of too-early spark) the crank will pull away from you and your hand.
Having your fingers and thumb all on one side (the outside) lessens the
strength of your grip and helps the crank throw your hand out and away. But
even if you wrap your thumb around the other side, chances are you'll be OK.
The really bad problem - and the usual cause of broken thumbs, wrists, arms,
shoulders, etc. - is PUSHING down on the crank. DON'T EVER PUSH DOWN ON THE
CRANK. If you push and there's a kickback, the crank (and engine) is
pushing back against you. Even if your fingers and thumb are on the same
side - even if they're on the outside - you're pushing down into that crank
that's pushing back at you. It's stronger than you and all your bones.
People have even literally been launched into the air by a kicking crank
when they've pushed down and had a kickback.
Soooo... To crank a car, only pull up. Try to set it up so the crank is at
the 7:30 to 8:00 position or so, and pull up about 90 degrees. Have your
fingers and thumb on the outside of the circle described by the crank
handle, so if it kicks back your hand will be flung AWAY. Don't ever try to
crank round-and-round - just pull up a quarter turn or so at a time. If the
engine is in tune it'll start that way and you'll be safe.
A car is really nothing to crank start. Try flipping a (sharp trailing
edge) metal airplane propeller in the winter time. That really feels nice
when it kicks back against your frozen hands ;-)
Good luck, and be careful !!
Karl
PS - There are times you need to crank a Model T round-and-round,
specifically to crank out a flood. When doing that you open the throttle
all the way, make triple-sure the ignition is off and the spark is all the
way retarded, and give a few tentative test pulls before spinning it all the
way around a few turns. In a Triumph you probably won't ever need to do
that, and you can clear the flood by pulling the plugs too. In a TR you
don't have any overt control over the ignition timing except to turn it off.
Please don't even try it.
_______________________________________________
Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
This list supported in part by the Vintage Triumph Register
http://www.vtr.org
Triumphs@autox.team.net
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/triumphs
http://www.team.net/archive
|