Since my unfortunate tractor-cranking incident a few years ago, I've always preached proper starting technique. Especially for anyone as absent-minded as I am, this is supremely important, because it's a cinch that eventually you're going to forget to retard the spark. Fortunately, there was a camera running when I did it yesterday. The embarrassing part is that I didn't immediately realize what had happened, and did it again. The good part is that because of proper cranking no harm was done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_lkFGQToIw
Excellent, Steve. Thanks.
Steve
Good to capture that episode on video to see the spinning effect of that crank coming back at you.
Just so you know, a padded crank handle can relieve some of the strike of that crank!
Damn Steve
Steve,
At lest your dog knew enough to move away... :-)
Steve,
Very good (unplanned) catch. It really shows the importance of good form. Just do it right all the time and no harm will come when the spark is not retarded.
Here is another unplanned video example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eCsUQAjcI0
Jim
Hmmmmmm....... Both hands......??????
Steve you had one exciting day. Dave
Well, since we're showing off, I'll repost this one that many of you've seen before. IF your spark rod is properly adjusted AND you visually check that the spark lever is in the proper position, the car will start itself once you crank it over far enough even if you're so small that it takes both hands on the crank.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FojdrSmxkgQ
Steve, you proved it and that's that.
Your car had two opportunities to nail you good and with the spark advanced, ol' Lizzie had you dead to rights. But even though you were swinging the crank slowly the second time around, and even though that crank kicked back and spun like a buzzsaw, it couldn't catch you.
As far as I'm concerned, you've silenced all the naysayers and proven that left-handed is safest possible way to wrest a Model T engine to life with your bare hands.
Way to go.
Bob
Eric,
You are correct, but it is those two "IF's" that can ruin your day (maybe a couple of months) when you least expect it.
Jim
Steve loves close calls I think See this video of his first drive - not sure there was much room above the top - but then again I guess he must have measured it first :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zapAGUvBu1w&NR=1
No need to measure. It rolled in there when I brought it home, so I knew it would roll back out.