This probably won't work with electronic ignition systems and automatic gearboxes; but with old-fashioned distributors, plugs and points, and a manual (stick) shift, clearly it does! Here are two video clips from Russia showing a novel way to start a car when the battery's dead.
I never tried that on my stick-shift cars in South Africa, but I have to admit, it's pretty ingenious!
Peter
9 comments:
We popped the clutch on the Morris Minor. Oh, the good old days. :)
Greetings from Texas,
I never did this, but have started a homemade bnadsaw - sawmill in a simular fashion. It scared my wife to watch, but if you know what your doing it isn't dangerious.
Two weeks ago I was working at a car and airplane show. One gent had a Model T with ye olde "Armstrong" starter. His assistant approached the crank handle with as much care as I approach a propeller on a Cub or other aircraft! It took a bit of work but they soon had the Ford chugging away.
LittleRed1
Never seen one started like this before.
Thanks
A friend told me Russians have been known to start helicopter in the same fashion.
Gerry
Push it and bump the clutch always worked for me :-) I'd REALLY like to see them try that with an american V-8!
I think I recall reading that early VW Beetles had an optional rope start pulley in the early days.
I wish I had known that when I drove one as a teen as I think it might have been more reliable than the 6 volt system on cold winter mornings.
I used to park my Austin-Healy Bug-eyed Sprite at the top of our hill. I could get three tries before reaching the bottom. There's a reason Lucas electrical systems had (have?) a bad reputation. I don't miss living like that...
My only concern about their method would be that loose tail of rope getting wound up (and bound up) around the axle, leaving you in a worse position than where you started!
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