VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 Can a '33 engine be hand crank started?

Does the '33 Master engine still have the ability to accept and be started using a hand crank?
I see there is access holes in the grill and the sheetmetal behind the grill for a crank.

Thanks,
Doug

Probably. Shine a flashlight in the hole and see if there is a slot in front of the engine pulley to accept a hand crank.

Dean

There is no gear reduction hand crank mechanism on these, or earlier cars? Sounds like you need to eat your Wheaties if you want to hand start these.
Doug

Hand crank starting is easy if your engine is in good condition and starts properly otherwise.

Can also be an arm breaker.

You DO have to remember to retard the spark from what my grand dad told me, years ago. And hold the handle so your thumb isn't capturing the handle.

Doug

Here's the procedure I use to hand crank my '27 and '28 trucks:

1. Make sure the ignition is turned OFF.

2. Make sure the transmission is in neutral and the hand brake is engaged.

3. Open the gas valve under the vacuum tank (this step does not apply to vehicles with fuel pumps).

4. Hand crank the engine for two revolutions. This is to prime the cylinders. Stop cranking when the hand crank is at the 7:00 position (facing the radiator).

5. Fully retard the spark and open the throttle lever about 1/4 open.

6. Turn the ignition ON.

7. Using your left hand, grasp the hand crank with your fingers wrapped under the handle and DO NOT put your thumb over the handle. If the engine backfires, the crank will pull away from your fingers and will not break your thumb.

8. Pull up on the crank and let go if you get to the 12:00 position.

DO NOT TRY TO HAND CRANK THE ENGINE ALL THE WAY AROUND. DANGEROUS!

If the engine does not start, turn the ignition OFF and reposition the hand crank at 7:00 again. Then, repeat steps 5 - 7.

When the engine fires, advance the spark to the running position and adjust the throttle lever to idle.

Since both of my truck engines are in good shape, they usually fire on the first try. ;-)

Cheers, Dean

Yes they can, they came with a hand crank. My brother and I used to start my '37 with
a hand crank and that is a bigger engine than a '33, BUT, I am not about to try do it now!!! LOL ( If the spark is advanced as far as we do it now, you could get a broken arm!)

Like Dean says only pull up on the handle with your right hand and keep your thumb and fingers on the same side of the handle. It is also more effective if you can feel the compression increasing before pull the handle.
Tony

I agree with others.

Like Tony said only pull up and don't cross your thumb over the handle, keep the thumb on the same side of the crank and your cupped fingers.

I bought my 1933 Chevrolet back in 1971 when I was a junior in college and to poor to invest in a new battery. At times the battery did not have enough charge to crank over the engine and I would use the crank to start it.

Some here say use left hand, some say right hand.

I can visualize kick back if you get a fire BTDC, which would suggest left hand would be best as the crank would pull out of the left hand easier. I think.....

Though as long as you are between 7 o'clock and 12 o'clock, it shouldn't matter which hand, "too much", as long as the thumb is out of the way. Thoughts? Actual experience?
In either case, you would want to make sure the crank easily disengages after start. I believe the crank slot is tapered so it will throw the crank out once started.

Doug

I'm going to put this one in my next Chevy.

Bare_Feet, that could have ruined their day if the engine had kicked back.

That was to dumbest idea for hand cranking I have ever seen.

I am with Vila, there is no way I would be cranking that engine especially pushing down on the handle. If the engine kicked back it would have launched them towards the stars.
Tony

The six cylinders are not easy to crank. The fours were not bad.