your successful "crank-start" checklist of procedures...

[BulliBill]

For those of you who have and occasionally use the "crank start" set-up on your early 36hp Transporters, can you describe the checklist you go through to get ready to crank-start your Buses for all of us. Add any tips. I bet Lind can coach us all on this! You know, something like:

1. Set hand brake.

2. Ensure the gear shift is definitely in neutral.

3. (Any particular choke setting?)

4. (do you pump the gas pedal once, twice, three times or not at all?)

5. Open engine compartment, and insert crank handle into position to engage the "starter dog nut". Do not yank the handle yet. (In preparation, do you prefer to start with the handle down and yank upward, or up and spin downward?)

6. When ready, turn the ignition key to the start/run position and head back to the crank handle.

7. Yank up?/down? on the handle.

8. Smile!!!

I'll bet there are not many of us who have even done this. So it'll be nice to hear from the few, the proud and the brave on their preferred technique. Perhaps discuss the differences between the procedure for crank-starting a cold or a pre-run warm engine?

Bill Bowman
_________________
I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

[consvws]

I remember hand cranking the engine in my '57 cold & had to pull the choke half way to keep it running. I never pumped the gas though, the little 36er just fired up every time with one light crank. If the engine was warm it barely needed a full "cranking" just lightly flicked it over.

Link

[Lind]

[telford dorr]

I think that, like with Model T's, it's better to pull up on the crank rather than pushing it down. Should the engine decide to kick back, it rips the handle out of your hands rather than breaking both arms...
_________________
'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST)

[Lind]

[tasb]

Link






It's best if your engine is in good tune. Otherwise, you can do a fair amount of hand cranking to no avail.

It is without a doubt MUCH easier to hand crank from the top of the stroke headed down. You keep your center of balance that way. The only time mine ever kicked back was when I was slowly setting it into position. The pulley nut is designed so that it throws the drive dog at the end of the handle out of the way of the crankshaft nut.

I usually start with no 5 above. Open engine lid. flip the breast plate cover to the open position, insert handle, guide the drive dog into position, slowly crank the handle around until it is at the top of the stroke, move to the front of the bus.

Choke setting depends upon the temperature of the engine it really doesn't /shouldn't effect hand cranking any different than normal.
_________________
Roads Scholar &
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018

1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc

1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse

[Braukuche]

My 58 is a little different in that it is dual carbed. I've been using it a bit because my starter has been acting up. Anyway, I work the throttle a couple time since to shoot some juice in and then position a thing the top and push down. If the engine is hot I usually have to turn it over a couple times before it fires. I love having that option, so much easier then having to get someone bump start you.
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Go Reds! Smash state!

Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now

[BulliBill]

Hi all,

I almost forgot about adding this video clip shot by a buddy named Chris Walsh. My starter isn't turning very fast, sometimes making start-up a pain in the ass. Then I remembered that I had the entire set-up for crank-starting this 36hp engine. The one-year-only crank handle has been stored away since the restoration under the back seat pedestal. At our recent "Buses By The Arch #32" event back in September, the starter was having trouble turning the engine over fast enough to let the DC fire-up. I had a "DOH!" moment! I realized I could just get the one-year-only extra long 1959-only crank-handle out and crank-start this old girl up! I have done this before on other folks VWs, both Split-Beetles and Buses, but I had not ever tried the process on my own Double-Cab! I even own a 1956 Ziegler-built fire department water pump (with a 1956 36hp Industrial engine with magneto) used back in the day for fire-fighting that has a crank-start feature and that I have started up quite a bit. A great friend Brian Holcomb (RIP) taught me how to best set-up and pull on the crank handle in the safest and most successful way to start the engine. So a few BNNTA attendees gathered around to check it out, and thankfully Chris caught the my first "crank-start" experience with the 1959 Double-Cab.

I only have the link to his post on his Facetube site (I don't do the Facebook thing) so hopefully you can view it via this link. If Chris ever sends the video clip in a format I can store and read, I'll post it up to Youtube and then the Samba.com for your enjoyment. If you can figure out how to post this better to theSamba.com, please feel free to do so.

Enjoy my "happy moment"!

Bill

https://www.facebook.com/chris.walsh.1426876/videos/1435598723216083/


Link

_________________
I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

[thom]

Link

_________________
-Thom
1956 Single Cab
1957 Porsche 356A Sunroof
1957 23-Window Deluxe
1957 Mercedes Westfalia single cab
1963 Unimog 404
1965 E-Type

[thom]

Link

_________________
-Thom
1956 Single Cab
1957 Porsche 356A Sunroof
1957 23-Window Deluxe
1957 Mercedes Westfalia single cab
1963 Unimog 404
1965 E-Type