Crank handle starting a 2.25 diesel

[Aaron IIA]

I have heard that it can be done, but how does one start a 2.25 diesel engine via the crank handle? I have tried, but not succeeded.

Aaron

[JDNSW]

I won't say that it is impossible, but I have never managed it, nor heard of anyone else managing it. You would need to be very strong, I think.

John

[Dinty]

There is a technique, you don't have to be overly strong, just aware of what your doing. I always pull the engine over a few times slowly, I always (when attempting to start it) have the crank handle @ the 7o'clock position and always pull up, that way if it does backfire you have a better chance of your hand not getting hit by the crankhandle, it can be taxing but it is achievable, cheers Dennis
ps now that I'm getting a little older (not as senior as JD, with respect John) I prefer to use a battery jump pack if needed,,.

[schuy1]

Years ago, as in when my brother and I were still going to school!, He acquired an Austin A40 ute. The elderly owner had used it about his dairy farm and never bought a battery and he showed us how to crank start it which is as Dinty's technique , Always pull up, there is less chance of injury, I have been told the same regarding all crank started motors.
Cheers Scott

[JDNSW]

There is a technique, you don't have to be overly strong, just aware of what your doing. I always pull the engine over a few times slowly, I always (when attempting to start it) have the crank handle @ the 7o'clock position and always pull up, that way if it does backfire you have a better chance of your hand not getting hit by the crankhandle, it can be taxing but it is achievable, cheers Dennis
ps now that I'm getting a little older (not as senior as JD, with respect John) I prefer to use a battery jump pack if needed,,.

Did you see the diesel in the original post? Are you saying you can start a diesel by hand?

Petrol is easy if the engine is in reasonable tune. And yes, I can still start a petrol one by hand. As you say, always pull not push, and have your thumb on the same side of the handle as your fingers.

John

[Loubrey]

Back in the mid 90's we use to crank start Lister diesel engines on construction plant, but they had compression release handles and when you got a turn of speed up on the crank you or someone else would engage the compression...

Bloody dangerous if you ask me, but that was the norm at the time.

Cheers,

Lou

[JDNSW]

Back in the mid 90's we use to crank start Lister diesel engines on construction plant, but they had compression release handles and when you got a turn of speed up on the crank you or someone else would engage the compression...

Bloody dangerous if you ask me, but that was the norm at the time.

Cheers,

Lou

I still use a crank start Lister diesel generator - but compared to the Rover 2.25 it is smaller, lower compression, and has a much heavier flywheel as well as a decompressor. And I haven't got a hope of starting it without the decompressor.

But it is perfectly safe.

John

[67hardtop]

I remember my dad hand cranking our lister diesel engine generator. He would turn the crank handle over a few times to get the flywheel going then flick something on top of the engine (im guessing the decompression lever) and she'd fire into life, and we had electrikery for the night. 32 volt IIRC. No phones, fresh milk daily from our cow, chopping wood for the stove and hot water, garden vegies and fresh eggs. Many moons ago near Condinup in WA. Dad worked on a station down there (early 60's) as a mechanic/all rounder till the station boss found out he was German and sacked him on the spot. I spose the war was still fresh in a lot of ppls minds back then.

Cheers Rod

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[Aaron IIA]

I have hand started a GM 270 in a DUKW, a Rolls Royce B80 in a Saladin and regularly hand start my Ford 239 side valve V8, aswell as numerous Land Rovers. But these are all petrol engines. I am asking about a 2.25 diesel, without a decompression valve. Somebody on this forum said that it is possible. We shall await his response.

Aaron

[schuy1]

Yes, a landrover diesel can be hand stared as per the preceding instructions. A neighbour had swb 62 mod diesels and was always too tight to buy 2 6v batterys at the same time, The early LR had 2 6vs , 1 in the engine bay and another under the passenger seat. He was always cranking it! I was only a kid then but I remember him slowly rocking it over to the 7oclock position and pulling up , I think sometimes he turned it slowly over several rotations be 4 the starting pull though. Been a while
I also know dad used to crank the inter b250 tractor sometimes if the key had been left on over night. The LR d is not as high compression as some are too.
Cheers Scott