Yeah, I was wondering if the clutch interlock swith that requires you to depress the clutch fully before key-starting it had something to do with it. Seems it has to do with achieving a minimum 300RPM on the crankshaft then?

 

My folks had a 1972 Land Rover which came with a hand crank. It took some serious muscle and coordination to start it. When I was dating, I would try to impress the ladies by hand cranking it. Like usual, they just thought I was nuts.

 

Yes I always suspected the clutch pedal interlock just prevented the starter motor from operating, rather than the ignition as well.

 

Hmm, I never had to retard the spark timing on my Landrover..........

 

Maybe when at rest, the spark is retarded to the point it can be hand cranked?
As slow as a hand-crank is, you wouldn't want it to fire much before top dead center, if at all before.

 

If I had to guess, I would say the hand cranks stopped being an option whatever year the overhead valve engine was introduced in the Jeep. 1955? Maybe a tad earlier? I just can't see an overhead valve engine being spun with a hand crank. They have much higher compression than a flathead. I suppose some kinda gear reduction box could be added if you just had to have one.

 

Hi Jeepherder! I'll give it another try today...but in second. I did try it in 3rd but to try is free! I'll feel a whole lot better if it roll-starts. Living in the country (farm) I roll-started tractors and farm trucks more often than using the starter. SARA's (my JK) engine turned over several times and usually (with roll-starting) an engine in decent condition would fire off after a couple of revolutions. I just figured that the engineers screwed that up with the computer right along with everything else! (Implication is that they need to "get back to basics" with the JK family of Jeeps) Thanks and take care... Mike

 

From Wilkipedia:

Before starting a Model T with the hand crank, the spark had to be manually retarded or the engine might "kick back". The crank handle was cupped in the palm, rather than grabbed with the thumb over the top of the handle, so that if the engine did kick back, the rapid reverse motion of the crank would throw the hand away from the handle, rather than violently twisting the wrist or breaking the thumb. Most Model T Fords had the choke operated by a wire emerging from the bottom of the radiator where it could be operated with the left hand while cranking the engine with the right hand

 

I have a '49 model Ford 8N tractor. Same engine as the model A. It has hand crank capability and does not have a way to retard timing. I'm glad it has an electric starter.

 

In high school I had a 59 rover with 8:1 compression (7:1 was stock)
The looks on peoples faces was well worth the danger (when your a teenager)

I would also stand on the bumper & step onto the handle .... It did not look cool but was safer