68/70Vette
Well-known member
In the "last images posted" there was a photo of someone's hand on a hand crank for an old engine. Couldn't find what post this photo was attached to.
If you grab an engine crank, for a hand crank, like the photo shows, you're going to possibly get a very possibly sore thumb or even a broken thumb. I had a Triumph TR-3 in grad school, and many times...no money. When the battery was bad, I hand cranked the engine. Also, during WWII my father sold his 32 deuce Ford coupe thinking he was going to get drafted, and bought a Model T with a hand crank. My father warned me about hand cranking and he was correct. When you hand crank an old engine, DO NOT WRAP YOUR THUMB AROUND THE CRANK....use only you four fingers and stick your thumb out into the "air." If the engine backfires, and throws the crank back, it'll wack your thumb if its wrapped around the crank like in the photo.
On my TR3, the timing was off, or something was wrong, and the engine would frequently backfire into my hand. I got so that when I wanted to start it, I would push the crank with my foot to start the engine. Since the hydraulic clutch/master cylinder failed every six months, I learned to drive the car with out clutch actuation. I once even drove the car with no brakes....I decided to not do that again. When I graduated and got a job, I sold the TR3 and bought a 66 Mustang.
If you grab an engine crank, for a hand crank, like the photo shows, you're going to possibly get a very possibly sore thumb or even a broken thumb. I had a Triumph TR-3 in grad school, and many times...no money. When the battery was bad, I hand cranked the engine. Also, during WWII my father sold his 32 deuce Ford coupe thinking he was going to get drafted, and bought a Model T with a hand crank. My father warned me about hand cranking and he was correct. When you hand crank an old engine, DO NOT WRAP YOUR THUMB AROUND THE CRANK....use only you four fingers and stick your thumb out into the "air." If the engine backfires, and throws the crank back, it'll wack your thumb if its wrapped around the crank like in the photo.
On my TR3, the timing was off, or something was wrong, and the engine would frequently backfire into my hand. I got so that when I wanted to start it, I would push the crank with my foot to start the engine. Since the hydraulic clutch/master cylinder failed every six months, I learned to drive the car with out clutch actuation. I once even drove the car with no brakes....I decided to not do that again. When I graduated and got a job, I sold the TR3 and bought a 66 Mustang.
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