TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:03 pm

I have 3, and 2 have a handle end that has a bead rolled in the end, as does the rod under it to keep it captive, this is the more common style that I seen. But this one has a simpler design, with just a sleeve and small steel rings welded on either side of it to keep it captive.

Wondering if anyone has seen this style before, has one, or maybe has documentation showing it. It could be a homemade job, but the rod bends look very nice.

Any info would be great...

Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:13 am

The crank handle that came with my 25hp has the rolled bead. On the pulley end it has a guide pin that fits into the nut. This helps to place the crank to the engine. The engine is November 1952. I don't know if the crank is original to the engine.

Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:19 am

I thought I read somewhere that the crank was dropped before 1950.

Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:29 am

Cranks were dropped as standard equipment after '49, but offered as an option well after that. My '50 came from Sweden, and I was told that a lot of N European splits were ordered with the hand crank option.

Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:59 am

Thanks! :D

Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:22 pm

johnshenry wrote: Cranks were dropped as standard equipment after '49, but offered as an option well after that. My '50 came from Sweden, and I was told that a lot of N European splits were ordered with the hand crank option.

Thats correct, many Swedish -50 has the crankhandle but I have not seen many later splits with that.

Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:22 am

I friend of mine has an late -48 with the same hand crank so I think its from that era. If it is for sale I am interested to buy it, I also has a -48 :P . My june -49 has the normal style of crank.

Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:24 am

Bengt H wrote: I friend of mine has an late -48 with the same hand crank so I think its from that era. If it is for sale I am interested to buy it, I also has a -48 :P . My june -49 has the normal style of crank.

By "normal" style Bengt, you mean the kind with the bead rolled in the end of the sleeve/handle??

Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:29 am

If I understand your language :oops: correct, yes. A pic would help.

Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:50 pm

My early 51 (deluxe that lacks the ichias-vents and has a antenna bump and lever dampers) had a hole in the H-valance that looked factory and holes in bumper indicating a riveted crank bracket... Though the car was in very bad condition... will bring parts of it back to life... Will a industrial engine crank handle fit? The engine will also be a industrial 30 hp one...

Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:14 pm

The industrial and bus cranks (far more common) are too short for the Beetles. I do know of someone who will be reproducing the Beetle cranks hopefully in the next month or two.

Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:02 am

Does anyone know when the crank start option was offered until.
A local guy has a 54 oval with a crank start set-up and his father
was the original owner. I did not ask him if it came from the factory
that way?

Fri Dec 30, 2011 8:17 pm

bump, x2

Fri Dec 30, 2011 9:03 pm

I heard that they were offered into the early 60s, but don't know that for certain.

Fri Dec 30, 2011 9:33 pm

what are the measurements for a beetle crank? is there more than one size of beetle cranks (like for vw going from banana bumpers to blades in 53)?