Nooo,
that should be pull up not push down.
If it kicks back when you're pushing, that's going to hurt...
http://www.abarnyard.com/workshop/handcrank.htm
ken

2 X Ford Model A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=en ... C1SJE&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMjCeRvr ... re=related

or Rolls Royce Phantom?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQGajSwC ... re=related

I reckon a starter handle is one of the A series greatest attributes, it's such a nice feature to have IF (big if) you need it....but you guys are so right about hurting yourself. On older vehicle with advance and retard levers ( before centrifugal timing weights became common) you had to make sure that the timing was retarded (he he ....I said retarded ) othewise the ignition stands a much higher chance of kicking back on the lever due to the position of ignition....On my model A I have screwed up and hand cranked her while she was advanced but I got away with it and she didn't kick back...on the model A the starter is absolutely necessary for setting the timing too as otherwise you would have to remove the rad and ancilleries...not cool.

Anyone kickstarting older bike with a tendancy to kick back knows how sore it can be....but on a wrist or a thumb it will almost certainly break bones....ouch....

Just use the safe technique, not wrapping your thumb around the handle and you can't go wrong......

Good luck

I just thought of an extra feature for you 1-2-spark Lpgo, retard the ignition under 100rpm for safer hand starting. But you probably already thought of that.

Its OK Ken, I have cut out the bit where I am talking Bollocks (well most of it, as It would look daft with just the full stop as a post)

One other thing about hand cranking...it's knackering if you have to keep doing it, I haven't started a vehicle with the handcrank in over a year but I used to find it helpful to turn it over a few times at an easy speed with the ignition off to draw some fuel into the chamber...especially when cold...

F**4,
just realised it's 5 decades since I was shown how to hand start a tractor on my friend's farm.

10 shillings a day for collecting potatios and no heater to worry about on your pedal bike...
ken

Stop it you will get me thinking about my Engineering YTS... £28 a week.
Earn while you learn, and to be fair sweeping up swarf and making the tea has stood me well all these years

The Stupid thing is somehow I actually managed to run a car, but I digress...
Anyway
Until I get some daylight spanner testmeter quality time on saturday i will be playing the Starter v Handle Lottery
There is no prize (Only the, yes told you so rights) but would anyone fancy taking a guess at which it will be tomorrow morning?
Odds are about 50/50 at this point
and this is kept at evens by driving a bit further home tonight v having to use wipers and lights.

I'm saying Handle, with several fruitless turns on the starter then that sickly clicking...

My apprenticeship was £35 per week, I ran an '87 D*lly, lived in a crappy flat, ate badly and managed to get drunk several times a week....how?....I seem to remember living on noodles....still can't look at cheap noodles without the PTSD kicking in...

I will report back tommorrow
I still cannot work out how i did it, I also had an 87 D*lly paid housekeeping to my Parents and go to at least one Gig a week.

Good times.....Good bleary eyed times....