[SEL] From a newsgroup: ...cranking

[peter ogborne]

Arnie.........What about those who stand on the flywheel spokes to bounce 
start ? Could be an spectacular result !
I also like the method of starting by bouncing the flywheel with the foot in 
some marine engines,done by rocking the flywheel from the rim . Not quite 
the same potential for a accident as the standing on the spokes technique. 
Bouncing still evokes gasps of wonder as it confuses the latter day ''Arm 
chair Experts''.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Arnie Fero" <fero_ah at city-net.com>
To: "The SEL email discussion list" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 5:34 AM
Subject: Re: [SEL] From a newsgroup: ...cranking


> Hi John and Peter,
>
> That is EXACTLY my experience as well.  I only have one engine (8 hp
> two-cylinder Novo Rollr) that uses the "upward quarter turn" cranking
> method.  I tuck the thumb in with the fingers just because...  I don't
> have any sense at all that the thumb would be in danger cranking that
> engine.  It does have an impulse mag.  I should also mention that when I
> first got it, I didn't realize that the "proper cranking method" was that
> quarter turn.  So I was trying to "crank it over."  The crank slipped out,
> and my fingers smashed into the steel cart frame helped along by the mass
> of the crank.  Four fingers were sore and deep purple for weeks.
>
> The other engines that I use a crank on get a full grip.  The ONLY time I
> ever had any problem was on the 7 hp Crossley (Fat Bastard) the one time I
> tried cranking it without using my "opposed thumb."
>
> We evolved the damn thing for a reason.  Getting a good grip on your
> crank!!  8->>
>
> See ya,  Arnie
>
> Arnie Fero
> Pittsburgh, PA
> fero_ah at city-net.com
>
> On Wed, 25 Jan 2006, John Culp wrote:
>
>> That gripping with all digits on one side only works when you're giving
>> just a quick upward pull on a crank, as you did with a Model T. If
>> you've got to crank to spin up a heavy set of flywheels, you'll lose
>> your grip on the crank and are more likely to smack yourself. Heavy
>> flywheels won't allow a fast enough back-kick to endanger the thumb.
>>
>> On Jan 25, 2006, at 6:41 PM, peter ogborne wrote:
>>
>> > OK you old timers.......cranking . The natural urge is to wrap your
>> > whole hand around the crank handle,i.e. the thumb on one side and the
>> > remaining fingers [ I still have four] on the otherside. When it kicks
>> > ,it puts that thumb in danger . Cranking with all four fingers and
>> > thumb on one side of the handle just does not feel as
>> > comfortable...........your thoughts?
>
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