[SEL] Crank handle attack

[Arnie Fero]

G'day Patrick,

I'm glad to hear that you're not seriously injured.

It is worth while to post these "cautionary tales" lest we grow complacent
and forget that this olde iron can indeed bite us.

Years ago I had my 5 hp Petter "M" at a local show.  It was late in the
day and I had grown complacent.  For those of you who are not familiar
with the engine, it has a hand crank that looks like a disemboweling hook.
 And when the engine fires, the hook flies off the crankshaft quite
smartly.  The normal starting position is to have the engine backed up
onto compression, fit the crank, and WLF.  (Clarification of "WLF"
provided off-list.)  The body position is parallel to the engine so that
when the crank flies off the crankshaft, no body parts are in the flight
path.

When complacent, however, the body position ends up facing the engine with
the face looking down at the crank.  This results in the forehead getting
a really good SMACK when the crank flies off.  Fortunately there were no
little ones about, so I was free to vent my frustration!

See ya,  Arnie

On Thu, August 30, 2012 9:55 pm, Patrick Livingstone wrote:
> For the second time in 30 years I have been injured by a crank handle.
> Last
> weekend Samuel wanted me to start an engine for him so I decided to give
> the
> 2hp R&V a run. It has been a while since I started it and I forgot to
> retard
> the magneto. It fired up easily and the built in crank handle gave my hand
> and wrist a good whack. I am pretty impressed with my self control that I
> did not swear in front of the little one (which is a good thing as he is
> at
> the age where he repeats everything).
> My little mishap means that I am not up for the 6 hour drive to the Rusty
> Iron Rally this weekend which I am sad to miss. The Challenge is all
> loaded
> ready to go but it is not going anywhere :(
> I now have to rest up ready to take the big Austral to our rally in two
> weeks time.
> Patrick