Hand Crank Starting?

Walcks lists a hand crank for early CJ's

http://walcks4wd.com/catalog/produc...e-start-4-cylinder-2-piece-style/category/10/

There is a hole in the front bumper of my '55 CJ-5 so you could use a crank, but the nut on the front pulley has no "hooks" or maybe "fingers" (I know there must be a better term..) to accept a crank. Walcks lists a part number (p/n 387633) for the front pulley nut required but a search turns up nothing....

Anyone seen one or have pictures?

Yes I have hand cranked old tractors and old MG's and have been kicked a coupled of times, but I still think a hand crank would be a neat accessory and it may even be of some use...

Randy

 

Thanks for that description of the correct nut. It's possible ( but unlikely) that I have one on my jeep but I will have to look more closely. I was expecting the nut to have the hooks or ears and not the crank..I'll look for the pin.

I see the part # on the page with the crank, but putting that # in the search window yields nothing...I'll need to call them...

 

The F134 engine in mine had the crank nut as described. It was however mangled by someone using a pipe wrench on it.

For anyone not familiar with hand cranking, my Dad's three rules 1) Make sure the ignition and timing is in good order. 2) Only pull up on the crank. 3) Never, ever loop your thumb over the crank, open palm only.

 

Thanks for those three rules..pulling "up" is almost a given, but the not looping the thumb is probably the most important, and you have to think that over every time...

I just looked and no pin in the pulley nut....

 

yea i might make one for my 2a but im not sure the risk of a broken wrist is worth it when i can just walk over to the main garage and get the jump pack once in a while. but it would be good for emegencys i suppose

 

I made a crank and it works great! I havnt started my 2a in a few weeks so i know the battery would be low. I cranked it over until it wouldnt turn over anymore just to get some gas up into it. Only turned over once or twice with the battery. Then i whipped out the hand crank and gave it a go. It was awkward as i didnt really know where to stand or how to hold it but it just went for it and it cranked over and started in probrobly half a turn no problem. Bent the crank a little as i didnt use a very heavy tube but it worked fine

 

Got my crank nut from walcks, you might give 'em a call. They have the 2 piece hand crank, but it is a little too short for a cj5, you have to weld on an extension. By the way, the hand crank works just fine to start up the engine.

 

Very cool. Thanks for sharing Jeep2003!

 

I LOVE handcranks. A a get-you-home lifesaver when the battery is low.

 

Holy old thread. I've push started enough Jeeps and I admit, I've started my old VW with a sparkplug socket and ratchet on the generator nut. Sometimes it's interesting to find the socket afterwards.

 

I broke that old hand crank I made. The shaft kept bending and the end piece cracked off. Im going to make another one but im going to use a thick pipe that just fits through the hole and just shape the end to fit the crank. I think that should hold up better

 

I made a new crank and a little video of my first try with it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmqlunkgafg&feature=youtu.be

 

I used to have a trailer plug in the Crank hole in the front bumper, but I have the correct crank shaft nut and I think I'll get a crank and solve the tow light issue another way.

Can you crank start a Jeep with an alternator and a dead battery?

 

Nice to see that. You are inspiring me to make my own.

But please remember - any 'old car' guy will tell you never to push a crank. See posts #4 and #5 above. Believe them.

If the engine kicks back you can break an arm or wrist. Really.

Only pull it upward, with an open palm (don't wrap the thumb).

 

makes sence. i see other people stand in front too. ill try that next time it does look easier

 

I don't believe so. An alternator requires incoming current to activate it.

But the beauty is, even a tiny bit of juice in a "dead" battery can be enough to spark the ignition when hand cranking, since the starter isn't draining anything.