• Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!

  • Microsoft MSN, Live, Hotmail, Outlook email users may not be receiving emails. We are working to resolve this issue. Please add support@steelsoldiers.com to your trusted contacts.

Hand Crank Deuce

dmetalmiki

Well-known member
5,523
2,028
113
Location
London England
should go ok

Should be no problem at all (as long as!!??) everything is kept (nice and) clean. tidy. in good order. well maintained lubed..painted seviced everything bolted up tight and correct..the list goes on and on and on and on..(and) on.. like the vehicle in the atatchment below......SORRY the link on utube is stopped but it is worth viewing if you go to utube and just type in

scammell constructor (old engine start)

(make you laff that well worth typing in and watching)


utube scammell constructor (old engine start)
 
Last edited:

BFR

Rocket Surgeon
2,330
42
48
Location
North Georgia
In the ultimate give OSHA a stroke scenario...
One thing I have wondered is whether or not you could use a deuce winch as a pull start. Ideally to make this as dangerous as possible (awesome) I think the prefered method would be put the transmission in neutral, clutch depressed, winch in reverse and then cut down a tree that you have(somehow) rigged the winchline into 100' off the ground (preferably having it fall away from the truck) as the tree falls release the clutch to start the motor.:twisted:
 

BFR

Rocket Surgeon
2,330
42
48
Location
North Georgia
Or you could connect the winchline to suitable ballast (CUCV) which could then be shoved off a cliff with the same effect.
 

topo

Well-known member
909
255
63
Location
farmington NM
hand crank for the Hercules HXD 855 cubic inch 6 cylinder 5.49 to 1 compression . this is in my 43 white 666 . this engine is broke and not running . there is a heavy guard under the radiator to maybe keep the crank from putting a hole in it . this crank would come in handy when working on the engine for adjusting valves or timing maybe that what its for ? . the engine will turn over with the crank .
 

Attachments

waayfast

Active member
814
106
43
Location
Lake Fork,Idaho
I regularly hand start my jeep (4 popper) and have started my CCKW (inline 6)and you don't die or have massive kickback if you do it right... of course those are low compression gas engines.

But a deuce? Nope... as mentioned the compression is gonna stop you dead PLUS you have accessories turning (alt, compressor, IP, water pump). Maybe if you have a long enough lever, but then you have to rotate it with enough force and RPMs to kick off a cylinder.

Scariest thing I ever hand cranked was a Cessna 172. Scared the crap out of me.
I owned a 65hp Aeronca Champ years ago--no impulse couplings on the mags--finger whackin' dang thing!!!.
Also worked worked a cropdusting company in East Texas rice country mixing and loading aircraft about the same time.We used 600hp (R-1340) Ag-Cats and one day we had to shut one down for something(you NEVER SHUT one down! NEVER!! It won't start if you do!)
Well, guess what---it wouldn't start and we ran the battery down trying.So Clyde (pilot) operates the contols while I (150lbs) get volunteered to hand prop this monster. Literally doing chin-ups on the prop.:shock:Needless to say it still didn't start------THANKFULLY!
 

M543A2

New member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,063
11
0
Location
Warsaw, Indiana
DON'T EVEN TRY IT!! A diesel has the timing too quick and compression too high. I tried it with a Massey Harris 55 diesel tractor with a 383 cubic inch engine. It kicked back because of the quick timing. I knew if I let go of the crank it could break my arm or take my head off. I managed to hang on to it, but I thought It felt like I put my feet into the floor up to the ankles!
ALSO, NEVER, NEVER WRAP YOUR THUMBS AROUND THE CRANK HANDLE! Many a broken thumb have resulted for those who did.
Keep the starting system up to snuff and use it. Your insurance company will thank you!
Regards Marti
 

militarysteel

New member
255
1
0
Location
Southern Ohio

Floridianson

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
7,409
2,502
113
Location
Interlachen Fl.
Funny even trying to think of hand cranking a Deuce. Now we did have air starters on the barges / tugs and a hand pump to charge the tank if shore or Tug air compressor air was not handy.
 

red

Active member
1,988
25
38
Location
Eagle Mountain/Utah
Old thread but, the Startwell manual starter looks like the most viable option. Pump the handle a few times then press the button. Access to the handle would be a concern, maybe mount it so the handle is underneath?

Or an air starter.
 

cattlerepairman

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
3,250
3,337
113
Location
NORTH (Canada)
Yes, old thread....you may also want to look at the hand crank start of a WWII German TIGER tank. The engine is a V12 Maybach HL230 out of a Tiger II - 23 L displacement (1400 ci).
They used a hand-cranked flywheel that was brought up to speed and then clutched to the engine to turn it over.

Clip from the Bovington tank museum in the UK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROnb5ouBjNc
 
Last edited:

74M35A2

Well-known member
4,145
330
83
Location
Livonia, MI
Lots of fun stories here, but I measured an average of 400-450 amps of current draw on the starter during cranking of a warm LDT. At 24v, that equates to 12hp. Just using that alone, it should be impossible to do as a direct drive ordeal. A 2 stroke engine including old Detroit Diesels should technically be able to start in half the revolutions of a 4 stroker. Here is one for you: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0vGLYwhsxE
 
Last edited:

rustystud

Well-known member
9,266
2,962
113
Location
Woodinville, Washington
Yes, old thread....you may also want to look at the hand crank start of a WWII German TIGER tank. The engine is a V12 Maybach HL230 out of a Tiger II - 23 L displacement (1400 ci).
They used a hand-cranked flywheel that was brought up to speed and then clutched to the engine to turn it over.

Clip from the Bovington tank museum in the UK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROnb5ouBjNc
I'm surprised they just didn't use a small "pony" engine like all the old "CAT" dozers did.
 

rustystud

Well-known member
9,266
2,962
113
Location
Woodinville, Washington
They did....a VW Beetle engine. The hand crank start was the fall-back.
AHHHH !!! Makes sense. Can you pull start a VW engine though ? The old CAT dozers had a pull start "Pony" engine, so you didn't need batteries at all. I believe the last 1956 "D8" I was on had a 10 HP Wisconsin engine with a pull start.
For those who feel "air start" is the way to go remember the air tank can only give you about 10 seconds of cranking before it's totally depleted, assuming you have no air leaks in the system. We had about 50 air start MAN busses and they later converted them all to 24 volt electric start.
They where a major pain to maintain, especially in winter when engines don't want to fire off right away.
 
Last edited:

Floyd E Green

New member
3
0
0
Location
corning, Ca
This engine is older than multi-fuel engines. And, I can barely turn it over with a pry bar. I have various antique CAT tractors so I know how to start with hand cranks without breaking my arm.The starter is 12v but it has a geardown at the bell-housing end. I am sure I could adapt something but it sure would save a lot of work if I could fix the old starter or buy a new/used one. Wasn't the 855 cu. in. Herc. (gas) a common engine? It should not be to hard to find a correct stock starter. The guy at the starter re-build shop says he just needs the starter number to continue. If I could just find the number I might just get my old starter fixed. I have ordered an engine manual online. Hopefully the starter number will be in there.
 

oboyjohn

Active member
340
120
43
Location
Quebec , Canada
Here is a video of a 104 year old engine being hand cranked: https://www.goodwood.com/grrc/race/...at-s76-runs-for-first-time-in-over-100-years/
This engine is a 4 cylinder 28.5 litre, or 1739 cubic inches! This engine was made by Fiat and is called "The beast of Turin". When the gentleman cranks it over, the torque when the engine catches violently shakes the whole car! If the timing was off or it backfired, the guy starting it would be launched into orbit.
 

rustystud

Well-known member
9,266
2,962
113
Location
Woodinville, Washington
This engine is older than multi-fuel engines. And, I can barely turn it over with a pry bar. I have various antique CAT tractors so I know how to start with hand cranks without breaking my arm.The starter is 12v but it has a geardown at the bell-housing end. I am sure I could adapt something but it sure would save a lot of work if I could fix the old starter or buy a new/used one. Wasn't the 855 cu. in. Herc. (gas) a common engine? It should not be to hard to find a correct stock starter. The guy at the starter re-build shop says he just needs the starter number to continue. If I could just find the number I might just get my old starter fixed. I have ordered an engine manual online. Hopefully the starter number will be in there.
Yes the Hercules 855 cid was a very common truck engine in the day. You just need to find a parts place that has competent workers who can actually look up something on their own. You can also just take your old starter in and get it fixed. They can even rewire it for you, and install new magnets.
 

74M35A2

Well-known member
4,145
330
83
Location
Livonia, MI
This engine is older than multi-fuel engines. And, I can barely turn it over with a pry bar. I have various antique CAT tractors so I know how to start with hand cranks without breaking my arm.The starter is 12v but it has a geardown at the bell-housing end. I am sure I could adapt something but it sure would save a lot of work if I could fix the old starter or buy a new/used one. Wasn't the 855 cu. in. Herc. (gas) a common engine? It should not be to hard to find a correct stock starter. The guy at the starter re-build shop says he just needs the starter number to continue. If I could just find the number I might just get my old starter fixed. I have ordered an engine manual online. Hopefully the starter number will be in there.
Send me a picture of the starter mounting area. I may have one for you. Send pic to: detroitdiesel671@hotmail.com
 

Floyd E Green

New member
3
0
0
Location
corning, Ca
starter

Yes the Hercules 855 cid was a very common truck engine in the day. You just need to find a parts place that has competent workers who can actually look up something on their own. You can also just take your old starter in and get it fixed. They can even rewire it for you, and install new magnets.
The worker at the starter re-build shop will re-build my old starter IF I can find the number for the starter. I just need the number which nobody seems to know or how to find. I'm hoping the new manual I just ordered will show it.
 

74M35A2

Well-known member
4,145
330
83
Location
Livonia, MI
If you send me a pic of the mount, and I have a 12V one that fits that, it will be brand new and you can have it for free. I have so much 12V stuff I am tripping over it. All new. Scrap is so low right now, it is not even worth taking it in. I have been throwing it into the dumpster, brand new product.
 
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website like our supporting vendors. Their ads help keep Steel Soldiers going. Please consider disabling your ad blockers for the site. Thanks!

I've Disabled AdBlock
No Thanks