Thinking about the idea(s) for the original car for the masses which would be reasonably priced easy enough to do basic maintenance on etc, I have often though it misses a starting handle ,I have looked on various sites re this ,and have been unable to find any info as to weather any model any year had one ,admittedly as a kid (eons ago) I was well impressed my father could start our family car with same (after much swearing !)kick start on motorbikes, same, though as I hear new bikes do not have them,what think yourselfs ?silly omission or glad they were never fitted ? or is there an engineering reason as to why not?>>>have for myself only started a jeffin portable genie with a handle and never ever want to have to do that again!
I cranked the handle many a time on my ol' mans cars, does seem like an ommision on modern cars though.Friend of mine , years ago, bought a new Harley and told them to take away the electric start and the amf stickers it was a bad time for Harley.
My Citroen Dyane had a starting handle. The only time it didn't start was when it was REALLY cold in Germany and it wouldn't turn over. The handle didn't help much, but a jump from my mate's Volvo did the trick.
It would have to be a reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally long starting handle to reach from the front to the engine in the back though!
They still do kick starters on Enduro and Motocross bikes. And when one kicks back on you on compression you realise what a bad idea they are.
Believe the wartime Kugelwagen had one. My Dad broke his wrist trying start our Humber Sceptre when we were kids. They weren't really a good idea.
There was a knack of holding the starting handle (supposedly) so if/when it kicked back it just came away from your hand. Don't ask me what it is though, last car we had with a starting handle was a Morris Oxford and I was only about 4 and a 1/2. My dad then upgraded to a Ford Corsair.......or did he down grade to the Oxford? I can't remember, I know he had a Herald as well, then eventually had an Anglia estate.
I wouldent mind a crank handle for my bus Just for when the electric starter fails for some unfixable reasons and im miles down a green lane My late father used to be part of a military vehicle club and i remember at a young age trying to start a truck of some sort with a starter handle and getting a fat lip Some genny we used to use in the raf used to use a stater handle as well and they took some getting used too but i loved the ritual of starting them
The last vehicle I owned with a starter handle was a Nissan Patrol 4WD which I bought new in 1975. 4.2 litre straight 6, luckily I never had the need to use the handle
C2mon Terrordales ,surely you gave it a go just the once ? just to see if you could ?you did ,didn't you !
Well, I did try it once but because I've got thin girly arms, I couldn't get it to turn over (which was probably lucky)
