Crank Start?

[LowTech]

So, what's the trick to crank starting a Series III with 2.25 Petrol? My starter's installed and working but I thought it would be useful to know how to do it in a jam. Yesterday I inserted the crank, applied the parking brake, turned the ignition to ON, and gave is a wimpy crank. Nothing happened. Before I break someting (or rip off my arms from doing it wrong) could someone give me the 1,2,3 steps for doing it correctly?

[2rovers]

I second this request. I have a crank but have never had to use it.

[TerryS]

Piece of Cake, but one word of caution, crank UP, not down. Put the handle in and if it begins to come up on compression but the handle is already going over the top, back the crank handle up 180 degrees. Where you set your choke (assuming your engine is cold, and it's cold out, is dependant on your own engines state of tune, but I would pull it all the way out, then push in a Teeny bit. A good sharp pull upward, no casper milktoast pull, is all it should take, and if your engine is in good order, it should start on the first crank.

[g7jtk]

Better to practice this before you have to do it for real

[pickuprover]

One word of advice, never, ever,ever wrap your thumbs around the handle. Cradle the handle near the tips of your fingers, that way, if it ever kicks back, you do not end up with a 2 broken thumbs or in my case when I first tried it, one broken thumb. Mine is regularily started with the handle (just love the looks on peoples faces when I use the handle to start it and play dumb and say that there is not starter motor in it.....). Athough, I tend to push it over the top (had it kick and slapped the tops of my hands the other way, but will have to rethink that method) using the heels of my hands (once again, becareful of the thumbs....) I can generally get it to start with the first push, hard and sharp, pushing straight across (in line with the length of the bumper, that way, if it does kick, then everything is clear), but since mine has just been rebuilt, it starts with no issues.

The other warning, keep your knees out of the turn radius of hte handle, sounds stupid, but I have seen too man people that have the knee in the way.....

[2rovers]

finally had a chance to use the crank after my battery died!! First turn and she fired! Next time I used it at a local shopping mall, sure turned a few heads. Even had an elderly gentleman watching that said he had not seen one for Ni on 30 years.
I am impressed! I think it will become a good peice of insurance!.

[pickuprover]

Originally Posted by 2rovers

finally had a chance to use the crank after my battery died!! First turn and she fired! Next time I used it at a local shopping mall, sure turned a few heads. Even had an elderly gentleman watching that said he had not seen one for Ni on 30 years.
I am impressed! I think it will become a good peice of insurance!.

Congratulations... you have now officially become a Series driver.... The only time the crank will not work, is if your battery is too far discharged to create a spark at the plug, so it is really good insurance.

[Kevin]

On one of our club outings we were given the following scenario: you're stuck and your battery has gone dead and there is no other vehicle available to give a jump start. How do you restart your engine. What they wanted was everyone to jack up a rear wheel and wrap a tow strap around it and pull it like starting a lawn mower. There was every one jacking up their vehicles and wrapping the wheel with the tow strap. They just stood in awe as all the series guys did was to haul out the crank handles and quickly restart the engines. Needless to say all the Defender and Disco owner were crying foul.

[cellulararrest]

I'm always amazed that they start on the first crank! I guess there just isn't a load on the battery.

[Spyderman]

Yep, There's nothing quite like having a good Hand Crank.

[superpowerdave]

Anyboy know where I might be able to find a hand crank? My SIII didn't come with one ... guessing maybe the original owner thought he might need it?

[p76rangie]

It is usually easier to roll start it.

[scatterling]

you're in NC so try Rovers Down South or Tennessee Land Rover

[antichrist]

Originally Posted by superpowerdave

Anyboy know where I might be able to find a hand crank? My SIII didn't come with one ... guessing maybe the original owner thought he might need it?

Are you sure? Did you look behind the seats? That's where it's stowed, along with the jack handle.

[pickuprover]

A local welding shop can make one up for you as well... it is not hard to make.. just a piece of round stock, with two bends and a hole drilled through with anther peice of round stock thorough that. Mine cost me about $20 labour included...