Hand Cranking Cub

[ducati750]

My Cub is a 6 volt model with a mag. It always starts right up without a probem, but I always thought it would be pretty cool to hand crank start my Cub. It did not come with a crank and I thought $37.50 was too much to spend on a novelty. So today after work I decided to fabricate my own. When I got home I was pretty excited to try it out. I wound it around a couple of times with the mag off to get some fuel up in the cumbustion chambers, then turned the mag on. it ony took four quick jerks up and it started right up! That was a pretty good feeling to be able to get it started by hand. I realize that they were meant to do that but with the electric starter being such a "given" today on any internal cumbustion engine, going back a few decades was really enjoyable.

[denton]

I never use the starter on either of my Cubs. They crank up so nice by hand and it is truly enjoyable to do it. Beware however to use the proper technique described in the owners manual. I broke my hand earlier this year cranking up. Hasn't stopped me from doing it but I am much more careful. Education is expensive. ds

[Mac from NS]

I made my crank for my 51 and I took it to start the 49 and it wouldn't
fit,it was a hair too big, so I guess i'm going to make another.

[beaconlight]

At 73 i am old enough to remember people hand cranking cars. True most had electric starters but there were some hand cranks around. Keep your fingers and thumb on the same side of the crank, not around it. That way a back fire pulls the crank out of your hand instead of breaking it.
My grand father had a boat that you stepped on a bar stuck in a hole in the fly wheel. It always scared me that a back fire would swing it around and hole the hull. Never happened but it always had me ready to flee the engine room and be prepared to go overboard before it sunk.

Bill

[Little Indy]

I wear plastic sleaves over my forearms when cranking Big Red made from plastic pipe.

I have wondered about using a crank made from a ratchet wrench extension with the wrench. Good Idea or Bad Idea?

[beaconlight]

What are the sleeves protecting against?????????????????

Bill

[artc]

cubs turn easily enough that it's tempting to use the hand crank through 360 degrees of rotation. a hand crank is a pull UP only device, hands as beaconlight stated. that allows any backfire to pull the crank from your fingers.
i have a friend that's still not 100 percent a year later from hand cranking a D7 pony motor the timing was off on. smashed his wrist.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

The crnak sriking his arm on a kickback, or not releasing competely ion startup. Never got injured cranking an tractor, but know of several who have, including broken arms.