The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Hand crank photo

Since my truck is not in cranking condition now but the engine is good I would like to make a hand crank to turn it over from time to time. It is a 235 with the option on the front pulley. I don't want to ever crank it by hand just turn it over without having to put the battery back in or climb under the truck. I had my behind kicked by the hand crank in my MGA once when I was in my 20's don't want to try the 235. Any photo of the business end of the crank would be appreciated.

I use the fan and fanbelt to turn it over. Is this a new rebuild?

That is how I am doing it now. It was rebuilt in the late 80's according to the tag on the engine. It turns over with the belt but I want to hit it a turn or so when I pass it without having to then go wash my hands.

I see hand cranks on ebay on occasion. I think they will all fit the lugs on the balancer. They don't usually sell for much. Mine is simply a bar with what appears to be an 1/8" (or so) pin through the end that sticks out about 3/16" on both sides to catch the lugs. The pin is back a ways from the end. I'm doing this from memory so don't hold my feet to the fire if the sizes are a bit off.

Pull the plugs it will be easier. You won't be fighting compression

You can get hand cranks at Jim Carters - item # MEE506 pg.93 of their catalog $65 and LMC has them -item# 32-0001 around $80 . Most likly the other catalog guys out there have them also. ED H

I have cranks for both my 42 chevy and my 58 mga. Just don't wrap your thumb around the crank when you turn it and it won't bite you! lol Somehow I learned that around 1969..Good Luck

Don't really want to take the plugs out and leave them open sitting outside. The engine is pretty good now it didn't knock or smoke and ran fine. I got some 3/4" round bar on the way home to build one with I got the info I was looking for in enough detail to make it as good as what I could buy. The Stovebolt comes through again. I am way to cheap to spend $65. for something that I can bend up and drill in an hour. Kwhit you are the second Chevy truck MGA owner I have run into on the site. We must have great taste.
Thank yall
Neil

Four plugs? Believe me it will be much easier to to crank over the motor without fighting compression. It can't be that hard to remove the plugs.. jeez when done just screw them in hand tight.
Do it all the time on V8's to find TDC

When you are done bending your home made crank be sure to harden it . I made one back in the mid '70's for my 3/4 ton and the steel was not hardened after shaping - due to it's length the darn thing liked to bend all which ways when I tryed to use it until I took it in and had the dern thing hardened up by the local blacksmith . ED H

Thanks

ive been restoring tractors for years now be sure that you only
use that crank for keeping the engine loose like you say. i had one
on a tractor get me it put me in the hospital for surgery they used screws and stuff to fix my arm. oh ive heard the old keep your thumb under it bit but im gonna keep my thumb away from it.
just my 2 cents philip.