Thread: Hand cranking a Holden 186

G'day Travis,
It is quite possible to hand start any engine provided that:
1. The ignition timing is perfectly set (might be why you are having difficulties).
2. The choke is engaged (if the engine is cold) and there is fresh fuel in the carburettor.
3. The ignition is turned on.
4. Make sure that your thumb is outside the handle in case it kicks back

I used to make the driving students start the Army International trucks with the starting handle, all of them were successful,

Cheers Charlie

1. Don't wrap your thumbs around the handle.
2. Pull, don't push.
3. Make sure it is in Neutral...

I don't see why you couldn't crank a 186. Just last weekend I watched someone crank start an early Rangie, and previously I have seen a 101 crank started (same engine).

Although he was unsuccessful, I was also present while Steve D. tried crank starting a Centurion at Corowa - now THAT is a challenge!

I'm surprised that anyone fitted the cranking dog to the Holden engine in the first place!

You obviously don't have the engine driven fans, as they usually cross the path of the crankshaft centre line and I'm surprised that the front of your engine is low enough to get the starting handle under the bottom of the radiator.

At the AMVCS Winter Rally all the LR101 people had starting handle practice on their vehicles and all of them got going without a problem. Something that surprised me.

Originally Posted by Shonky

<snip> Although he was unsuccessful, I was also present while Steve D. tried crank starting a Centurion at Corowa - now THAT is a challenge!

Was Steve starting the V12 Meteor engine or the 4 cyl APU engine in the Cent'?

Maybe it wouldn't start because not enough people supplied petrol to keep it running.

Diana

You would need to retard the ignition timing on the Holden to stop it kicking back when hand-cranking. It probably has about 10 degrees initial advance, too much to easily hand crank. About one degree retard would be good. Old cars in the days of crank handles had manual advance/retard distributors. One fully retarded the timing before hand cranking.

I too am surprised than anyone bothered to fit a crank dog to a late model engine.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Was Steve starting the V12 Meteor engine or the 4 cyl APU engine in the Cent'?

Maybe it wouldn't start because not enough people supplied petrol to keep it running.

The meteor IIRC...

Certainly the amount of exertion put in was commensurate with cranking a V12 - and Steve is no pip-squeak!

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

I'm surprised that anyone fitted the cranking dog to the Holden engine in the first place!

You obviously don't have the engine driven fans, as they usually cross the path of the crankshaft centre line and I'm surprised that the front of your engine is low enough to get the starting handle under the bottom of the radiator.

At the AMVCS Winter Rally all the LR101 people had starting handle practice on their vehicles and all of them got going without a problem. Something that surprised me.

Was Steve starting the V12 Meteor engine or the 4 cyl APU engine in the Cent'?

Maybe it wouldn't start because not enough people supplied petrol to keep it running.

Diana

Yep, looks like a previous owner went to the trouble. I can confirm the fan has been removed in place of a thermo. It does also appear to sit low in the engine bay, I compared it to my Ex Army LWB Holden 6 and noticed the engine is about two inches higher and the centre of the crank does not line up with the hole.

OK, so the consensus so far is to:

1. The ignition timing is perfectly set or retarded?
2. The choke is engaged (if the engine is cold) and there is fresh fuel in the carburettor.
3. The ignition is turned on.
4. Make sure it is in Neutral...
5. Make sure that your thumb is outside the handle in case it kicks back
6. Pull, don't push

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

the 4 cyl APU engine in the Cent'?

I've cranked quite a few of those over the years .

Originally Posted by Scouse

I've cranked quite a few of those over the years .