What is this?

Pocket rocket · Post by **Pocket rocket** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 8:28 pm

Here is what secures the crank pulley on my 3.5 RV8 (11D......).

I've never seen one like this before but have been told it could be for a starting handle type attachment. Has anyone come across this type of thing before? Any info gratefully received.

Does anyone know what size nut this is (there is actually a hex at the back but I haven't got a socket to fit over the weird bit on the front

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Post by **katanaman** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 8:37 pm

Yep its for a starting handle.

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 8:42 pm

Hi
yes that is so you can crank it over with a handle, though i really doubt anyone has ever started one with the crank handle. No idea what size spanner it uses.
Please tell me you are not going to put that revolting rusty crank damper on an engine. . . are you?

best regards
Mike

SimpleSimon · Post by **SimpleSimon** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 9:58 pm

Here you go old school starting

DEVONMAN · Post by **DEVONMAN** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 10:06 pm

You should be able to measure the hexagon across the flats (AF size)with a pair of dividers or something similar and then buy a deep socket of that AF size.

Pocket rocket · Post by **Pocket rocket** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 3:54 am

Thanks for the replies.

Why doesn't the starting handle keep revolving once the engine has been cranked?

Sorry if it's a dumb question but I've never had a car with one.

unstable load · Post by **unstable load** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 5:42 am

The receptacle ramps away from the direction of rotation and that stops the crank handle taking your hand and arm with it when it lights off. You also need to join the party and remove the crank once it's running. Some older cars had the crank permanently fitted with a spring to disengage it and keep it away from the pulley.

We had a Lister generator on the farm when I was a kid and it was a real bitch to start sometimes, particularly when it chose to backfire.

That drove home the physics of a scrawny 10 year old versus this....

and woe betide if you lost hold of the crank when it lit off.

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 6:17 am

Hi
and you have to hold the handle with your thumb on the same side as your fingers or you run the risk of this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chauffeur%27s_fracture if it back fires!
best regards
Mike

richardpope50 · Post by **richardpope50** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 8:14 am

Am I the only one who has actually used a starting handle for starting cars?

At 12 I had a Ford 8 and an Austin 7 (on a farm) so both had to be started by hand when the battery was flat. owning two old cars on a farm taught you a lot!

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 8:45 am

I could hand start my 2 1/4 Land Rover. In fact, I once bet a Boy Scout (aged 13), and he managed it.

I think if your timing is good, it's not so hard. Not so sure on these modern engines that need to be cranked at 400rpm to start though!!

Chris.

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 8:53 am

I've had starting handles on many vehicles - but with a lot less friction than a Rover V8. The average handle had only perhaps 6-9" of leverage - it would be hard work to turn an RV8 with one of those even with no plugs.

Ian Anderson · Post by **Ian Anderson** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 9:09 am

Last starting handle I had was on the Morris Minor it used the same crank as the jack!

I only used it twice in the time I owned the car and it was a bit of bastard to hand crank!

Ian

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 10:42 am

I used to manually retard the timing before hand-starting to after TDC. Then it couldn't kick back, and would start easily. Then reset the timing once she's running.

Chris.

JSF55 · Post by **JSF55** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 7:50 pm

Don't forget if you were stuck somewhere you could pull the plugs, engage 1st or reverse gear and crank it out

unstable load · Post by **unstable load** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 5:33 am

richardpope50 wrote:Am I the only one who has actually used a starting handle for starting cars?

At 12 I had a Ford 8 and an Austin 7 (on a farm) so both had to be started by hand when the battery was flat. owning two old cars on a farm taught you a lot!

We used to borrow my Uncle's old Bedford lorry and it needed cranking, but it was way beyond little me. I saw it dislocate one of the labourer's elbow once, so Dad banned me from being near it at starting time. I was allowed to drive it on level ground, in 1st gear at idle, because the pedals were out of reach.....

The 2 tractors were Diesel, so there was only pushing and shoving if those batteries went flat.