The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop hand crank

hi..
is there a hand crank for a 51 chev 235?
if so where can a get one?
paul

Canada5window,

This is just a guess, but I will say no. The crank pulley 'might' have the ears required for a crank, but I think the radiator needs a special pass-through to access the pulley.

I think '51 was into the modern era in the hand crank game. Watch me be all wet!

Stuart

If your truck is supposed to have one there should be a hole in the lower core support matching the shape of the crank. I'm with Stuart in that I don't believe a 51 had a hand crank. I guess that means if he's all wet I'll need a towel too.

My 52 has a the hole and pulley for a hand crank.

"My 52 has a the hole and pulley for a hand crank."

So does my '52.

Hey Stuart, do you have a towel I can borrow?

Tiny, I have a dozen coming FedEx! I'm still wondering if this might be a carryover from earlier times.

For this crank system to work, there must be some route through the grill, and maybe some outboard support for the crank.

Soaking-Stu

Paul, the 51 was set up for a hand crank. You want to check the harmonic balancer to make sure that it has the proper lug hole in it to allow the hand crank to release when the engine kicks. There is a possibility that the balancer was replaced in the past. If you are trying to hand crank it over prior to starting you can pull the plugs and use the fan as a crank or pull the pan off of the fly wheel and use a pry bar or screw driver to turn it over.
Tom

Welcome. American classic lists the hand crank for 1936-1953 and I think all A.D. trucks have the hole in the lower splash apron for it. The crank actually goes under the radiator. As mentioned the balancer needs to have 2 "fingers" to grab the crank. If you're engine was replaced with a later one the hand crank won't work. They are actually quite dangerous so if you just want to turn it put 2 bolts in the threaded holes in the balancer and rotate it with a prybar. Good luck. Crank is at the bottom of this page:

http://www.americanclassic.com/asp/...&iyear=1952&ytype=to&exyear=

Curt B.

The balancer on my '55 has the lugs for a hand crank, too. There's not any clearance under the radiator to use one, though.

Yup my 53s got one to, but darn, that starter works so well on its own...

Jeff

Be sure to use the arm that you won't need for a while if you actually want to use the hand crank. Or am I confusing the method with a F*#@.

My 53 has the proper set up for the crank, but have not run across one yet, if I do, I will buy it, because it was an option that I would like to have.As far as "kick-back" can't happen because the way the ears are tapered on the ballancer. Will proabily make my own out of some 3/4" cold roll round steel.

Hi and thanks for the info and humor...great stuff!
My 51 has a slot hole for a crank, I just wanted make sure that it was for a crank....
I will use the suggestions for turning it over without the starter, first...just to make sure everything is freed up....Again thanks to you all for your suggestions and help....
Great resource centre....
paul

I have the original crank for my '46, and I only use it when I adjust the points.

My starter works too well.

I believe that there was an additional sheet metal support that the crank ran thru that was attached to the center hole on the inside of the bumper.

Beav said: "kick-back" can't happen because the way the ears are tapered ......

hmmmm... sounds like you've never actually tried to start an engine with a hand crank...

trust me, it will kick back and if your arm is in the way.... OUCH ! be careful !

I agree, I have 1 that I actually found stuck under the seat in my "51" 3/4 ton and wondered what it was at first. I have never used it other than to check and see if it fit. First you have to get down on the ground in front (as it goes in under the bumper, easy for all of us to do, LOL) then to try to crank it over, and remove it from the hole after you get it started without accidently hitting anything on the way out. I just keep it for looks and may fix it for shows only when I figure out how I want it. Oh, I do like to eat and would hate to loose any teeth with it either.