Thread: the 2.25L petrol/diesel, doesnt matter theyre both crud.

Originally Posted by djam1

I thought the reason they had crank handles and starter dogs was because like us the factory didnt trust lucas starter motors.

Now you're on the money!

Actually, in 1948 almost all cars had crank handles, and the move to drop them had only just started. I can remember the incredulity of members of the family when one of my uncles bought a new Vauxhall in about 1950, and it turned out not to have a crank handle. Sure enough, within months the battery had failed, leaving him stuck by the roadside.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Now you're on the money!

Actually, in 1948 almost all cars had crank handles, and the move to drop them had only just started. I can remember the incredulity of members of the family when one of my uncles bought a new Vauxhall in about 1950, and it turned out not to have a crank handle. Sure enough, within months the battery had failed, leaving him stuck by the roadside.

John

Likewise when the first Holden, the 48-215, was released. Opposition salesmen would use this as a selling point against a Holden. Either Wheels or Modern Motor published a serialised article over several months giving instructions and illustrations of how to fit a crank dog to a Holden engine and a tube through the bottom radiator tank and an access port in the front bumper.

Bigger engines, higher compression ratios, and better starter motors in 12 volt systems, and, of course, accountants looking for a few cents to cut out of production cost eventually finished off the hand crank fittings.

Yes my 2a is 6volt and it has a generator and the headlights are dull at idle and get brighter as you rev it.It also has a cotton woven wiring loom and relays all over it and I recon I could wind it with the hand crank nearly as fast as the starter.I haven't seen another six with the SU carb either,all I've seen are stromberg. Pat

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Likewise when the first Holden, the 48-215, was released. Opposition salesmen would use this as a selling point against a Holden. Either Wheels or Modern Motor published a serialised article over several months giving instructions and illustrations of how to fit a crank dog to a Holden engine and a tube through the bottom radiator tank and an access port in the front bumper.

Bigger engines, higher compression ratios, and better starter motors in 12 volt systems, and, of course, accountants looking for a few cents to cut out of production cost eventually finished off the hand crank fittings.

I remember reading a contemporary comment on the Cadillac V16 in the 1930s - "A starting handle is not provided as it is impractical to turn this engine by hand".

More reliable electrics as you say, penny pinching, wealthier society more able to maintain vehicles properly and replace batteries when needed, fewer rural buyers (where a flat battery might mean a long walk, not a phone call), more people with phones to call for help.

I'm not sure, but I suspect that the Series 3 Landrover may have been the last car with a crank handle as standard. Citroen D series retained them up to the end of production in 1975, but I can't think of any others going into the seventies.

John