Hand cranking a dodge

[dougimes]

Has anyone ever tried to hand crank a flat 6 to life using the hand crank thru the hole in the front bumper?

 

[andy3]

The video needs to start with "Hold my beer" & "Hey ya'll watch this". Please share the experience.

 

[NDT]

Yes. Flip on the ignition, slowly crank unti you have the handle at 1:00 against compression, then give it all you got pushing down on the handle. If she wants to, it will spring to life. You don't crank it around and around, that will not do the trick.

 

[Bill W]

Yes I did it to my M-37 a couple of times ( before I added the winch ) it was easier than I had thought it would be., However back then I had it timed to 2 degrees ATDC. ( less chance of kickback )

 

[FrankUSMC]

The same as Bill, I had a M37 that I loved to hand crank. I would drive it to the PX, and hand crank it when I went to leave. They start very easy after they have been driven, kinda like cheating, but was fun.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET

 

[AMGeneral]

Has anyone ever tried to hand crank a flat 6 to life using the hand crank thru the hole in the front bumper?

I have started several M37s with the hand crank,most all old tractors as well as construction equipment was hand cranked,in one form or another.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8_M0E4ONu4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiW9mha-o7w

or to keep it MV related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVznsmwsd7I

 

[m16ty]

Yes. Flip on the ignition, slowly crank unti you have the handle at 1:00 against compression, then give it all you got pushing down on the handle. If she wants to, it will spring to life. You don't crank it around and around, that will not do the trick.

When hand cranking old tractors, I was always taught to pull up on compression to start it. The thinking is that if it kicks back it will just slip out of your hand. Seems like a good way to break your wrist pushing down to start if it kicks back.

 

[heinz]

I fully agree to m16ty - I do it the same way.

 

[Big Tom]

I had two 1947 dodge trucks with the same 6 cycmotors in the and hand crank them many times if all is in order they will fire right up , as other have said pull up don’t push down .also be shure the end of the crank and the jaws on the crankshaft nut are clean of rust and dirt give them a light oiling it we help make the crank handle come free and slide out when it fires up.

Big Tom

 

[Jeff Lakaszcyck]

This is a slightly different concept but here is the inertia starter in action on my 1943 Federal 606.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LsVXPDUaCo

 

[Karl kostman]

Whe young I was taught to hand crank out Model A John Deer, it was 6 volt and always very weak, it hand cranked just fine! We always had airplanes growing up and not one had a starter so I also learned to prop a plane at an early age. I spotted that hole in the front of one of my M37 years ago and never searched very hard for a crank so I never tried it.
Karl