VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Radios, Tools, Accessories DIFFERENT HAND CRANKS DIFFERENT YEARS

DID CHEVROLET CHANGE THE STARTING CRANKS EVERY YEAR OR WERE SOME FOR MULTIPLE YEARS?? :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Some were for multiple years. For example, the 1929-30 starting cranks were the same, and the 1931 and 1932 starting cranks were the same. An interesting note here is that the 1929-30 starting cranks can be cut down shorter and made into 1931-32 starting cranks since they all had a rotating handle on the end. It does require redrilling on the end of the crank though and insertion of a new pin if you don't cut the crank in the middle and then reweld it together.

SKIP, NOW THAT IS A VERY INTERESTING NOTE, YOU SAY THE 31 32 CRANKS HAD A ROTATING HANDLE? DID OTHER YEARS ALSO HAVE THAT ROTATING HANDLE?????? :) :) :) :)

Yes, 1929, 1930 and the early 1933 Eagle. Also the four cylinder cars as well, from around 1917 and up. However, I will let the four cylinder dudes elaborate more on that one.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU SAY THE 31 AND 32 STARTING CRANK IS 18 AND ONE HALF INCHES LONG AND THE END YOU HOLD ON TO ROTATES????? :) :) :) :)

Yes, the cranks have a separate rotating handle on the end. Actually, they are easier to use than the later type with the socket, because of the rotating handle. The 1931-32 cranks are 18 1/2" long and the 1929-30 cranks are 21 7/8" long. They are longer because of the "cow catcher" that is in front of the radiator on the 1929 and 1930 models.

JUNKYARD DOG, COW CATCHER, WHAT HAS THAT GOT TO DO WITH A STARTING CRANK??????? THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT MACKIE WACKY HAS ON HIS RANCH OUT IN THE DESERT OF TAXAS? YA

No! No! Donald that device on my ranch ( the Oleo Ponderosa) is a cattle guard it is for keeping the cows from going out the road where Yankees usually have a wire gap or gate. a carttle guard is a hole down in the ground all the way across the road and about 5 feet wide and three feet deep, 3 inch pipe is laid across the hole from one side to the other side and the pipes are about 4 inches apart, and you can drive across the hole on the pipes, but a dumb old cow is afraid to cross it, their feet fall down between the pipes. so they won't even try, us lazy drivers can zip right across with gaving to stop and open a gate! Neat Hunh!

Oh! I forgot. How far from the tip of the 32 crank is it to the cross pin ( Not a Cross Pen) Ha! I hear is a different distance than on a Model "A" crank, I am going to build some cranksout of sucker rods and drill rod and 3/4 inch sockets for to sell at the swap meet and I want them to be authenic, like Rays and JYDs

PS also, how far does the cross pins stick out from the side of the crank, and what diameter pin do I need to use, I am going to drill a hole out cross ways on the crank end, that goes in the engine and weld or braze the pin in sos it don't fall out.

pps
You better get your order in, I only have enough sucker rods to make about 125 cranks, I already bought some 3/4 inch sockets at a junk store.

Hey Macky Wacky! We are talking a "cow catcher" here, not a cattle guard! Donald has things mixed up again. The "cow catcher" is called that on 1929-30 Chevys because it kinda sorta looks like the cow catcher on an old steam locomotive.

On the starting cranks, the pin is located 1/2" from the end of the crank to the center line of the pin, and the pin itself is 5/16" in diameter. Hope that helps you on making those 125 starting cranks. Oh, by the way, on the sockets, those el cheapo junk sockets made in China will work just fine. Donald will be happy with that anyway!

Oh yeah, I know what a cow catcher is, it is a big old glove like a catcher wears but to catch cow chips with when you play "Catch the cow-chip" right?
I also saw one on an old steam locomotive, but that is another story. Right?

Ps
On the El cheep-O sockets, I only use the best junk money can buy, and at the prices I plan to charge for my valuable time, quality work etc. I can use real good junk, tell Donald not to worry!

Macky,
Up in Canada for the 4-banger tour we saw several signs along the side of the road for a "Texas Gate". When we went a little further we went over a cattle guard. Guess they understand where they came from.

Dog-face has it right. 3/4" dia. rod, 18 1/2" long with 5/16" cross pin at 1/2" from the end. The pin is swagged into a hole in the big rod not welded or brazed. Picked up some stock from the salvage yesterday to make a few for ole Donnie. He won't know that they are not genuine. The roller handle is a bit more tricky. It is a secret how to make that easily. It is also better if you put the groove in the rod on the lathe before bending. Yes, the groove is in there to hold the roller handle.

Better get some other sockets though. All of the cheap cino crap sockets are 12 point and the one on the crank is 6 point. Too much trouble to weld up the extra slots. Maybe Donnie will not notice.

I thought a cowcatcher was a cowboy on a horse holding a rope

Nope.........that's a drover! :eek: :eek:

Hey Macky Wacky: Don't worry about if the socket has 12 points or 6 points........old Donald knows nothin' about points anyway (except for judging), so he will never know the difference.

On the rolled handle that Chip The Dip was talking about, there is an easy way to do that for old Donny. Just take a starting crank with the socket end. Cut a hole in an old tennis ball. Slide the tennis ball over the socket end, and there ya have it. I rotating handle for old Donny. Again, he won't understand it anyway, so it should work great for him! :p

WOW, IF THERES ONE THING THAT I WOULD NEVER HAVE, ITS A STARTING CRANK WITH A SOCKET ON ONE END?WHY THEY NEVER HAD SUCH A ANIMAL FOR 32, EXCEPT FOR THE THE CARS THAT WERE SHIPPED TO THE FOREIGN LEGION. YOU DUDES HAD BETTER READ YOUR DOCUMENTATION ABOUT STARTING CRANKS WITH SOCKETS FOR 1932 CHEVYS, WHERE IN THE HECK DID YOU DUDES EVER GET INFORMATION LIKE THAT??? WHO HAS DOCUMENTATION THAT THE CRANKS HAD A HANDLE THAT TURNED ON ONE END, I THOUGHT ONLY MODEL TS AND AS HAD THEM. :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow:

We got that information from you dude because you were the only one on the planet insisting that 1932 Chevy starting cranks had sockets on the end. The rest of us knew that they didn't! :eek: :eek:

OH NO, YOU GUYS WERE TALKING TO THAT DONALD GUY, MY NAME IS 32 STARTING CRANK WITHOUT A SOCKET. GEE, YOU DUDES SHOULD KNOW THAT. :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow:

Hey Donald: Here is your problem I think......

Probably should wind this one up in the next few hours. It appears to have run it's course.

I NOTICED YESTERDAY AT THE SWAP MEET , THERE WERE MANY DIFFERENT STARTING CRANK HANDLES IN VARIOUS LENGTHS. IM SURE THAT SOME CARS USED REAL LONG ONES TO REACH IN TO THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. A QUESTION I HAVE IS, DID ALL THE EARLY FOUR CYLINDER CHEVIES UP THROUGH 1928 HAVE THE SAME STARTING CRANKS?????? :) :) :) :)

I know that some of the later starting cranks were really long. For example: The 1937 and 1938 starting cranks were about 33 1/8" long. They were plain, with no handle or socket on the end. I even have one of those in my collection of stuff. :eek: :eek:

Chipper the way I do the rotating sleeve is to cut a "V shaped groove inside the handle end about 5.250 inches and then put a piece of metal conduit ( 5.750 inches long )with the outside end cupped to keep it from slideing into the bend of the handle then, slide the sleeve over the handle and I use an old dull rigid pipe cutter to press a groove in the conduit down into the groove cut into the handle, this keeps the sleeve from falling off the handle and saves your hand from banging the cow catcher.

Oh! Oh! I think I did a boo-boo and gave away a valuable trade secret.........

Yes, you did give away a "trade secret"....shame on you! Also, if your hand "bangs" on the "cow catcher" you are using the wrong starting crank! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Right, JYD, I meant when the sleeve slipped off the cranking handle (from not being properly crimped into the groove), you could bang your hand on the cowcatcher!

If the sleeve slipped off of the crank handle and you "banged" your hand on the cow catcher, you are still using the wrong starting crank. The 1929-30 starting crank is longer so that your hand will be away from the cow catcher, even if the sleeve comes off. You could bang your hand on the bumper though! Ya!