Morris Minor Owners Club

I've just noticed my Moggy has a hole in the front bumper for a starting handle....only the second car I've ever owned with the this feature, the first being a 2CV.

Is it just a case of ignition on, choke out, (handbrake on/in neutral!) and spin away, or is there some witchcraft needed?

cheers guys

You must keep your thumb on the same side of the handle as your fingers, just in case the handle kicks back.

If starting from cold, I always wind the handle slowly round twice before giving a fast turn to start it, I find it helps get the fuel into the cylinders for starting. Should also mention that I always lift the bonnet to ensure the correct engagement of the handle.

I always found a more of a quick flick rarther than winding it

That'll be christmas treat to start her on the 'andle...I do live such an exciting life

I wouldn't bother, I've put the starting handle through the bottom of radiator on two different moggies. I am very careful now

At this years National Rally, part of the planned branch challenge was to start the club car on the handle and drive it thought the cones. The first person managed to put it straight through the bottom of the radiator

Always lift the bonnet before you fit it so you can see where your putting it!

DAVIDMCCULLOUGH wrote:At this years National Rally, part of the planned branch challenge was to start the club car on the handle and drive it thought the cones. The first person managed to put it straight through the bottom of the radiator

Always lift the bonnet before you fit it so you can see where your putting it!

Rest my case. There's a bit of copper on the bottom of radiator, when I soldered up mine I bashed up a piece of copper pipe and soldered that on.

Cranking a few turns on the handle also puts a bit of warmth in the combustion chambers - due to the compression of the air. Then as above - a sharp pull over TDC should get it running.

Invest in a good quality battery

My car likes a little bit of accelerator when crank starting. Pull the outer cable so that the end just rests on the edge of the cable stop.
The car will be easier to start on the handle if the engine is set up correctly with clean and correctly gapped points and plugs and correctly adjusted timing

if you have to use it just be careful

irmscher wrote:Invest in a good quality battery

.....battery?..electric starter motor?....Ive got a new car for all that cutting edge technology

Back in the winter of 81/82 yorkshire had an arctic winter. My old '55 sat outside while my Dad's almost new Escort was undercover. It was often below minus 10C, Most mornings I'd go out to the car, chip the ice off the doors to get them open, turn on the ignition and grab the starting handle. Lock the choke and crank it up on the handle. Five minutes of idling and the fug stirrer had coughed out enough heat to get the screen cleared. Then my Dad would ask for a jump start 'cos his new Ford wasn't having it. Whatever the conditions, it would always start on the handle. Happy days.

iconic wrote:I've just noticed my Moggy has a hole in the front bumper for a starting handle....only the second car I've ever owned with the this feature, the first being a 2CV.

By the way, many French post war cars did offer the possibility to get them started with a handle. I remember the Renault 4 and 16 and Peugeots 403 and 404, and I am sure there were even more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqw8ZcI0eEw

I managed to get much improved starting when this engine was converted to modern electronic ignition that raised the firing voltage at the plugs from circa 15000 volts to at least 40000 by ditching the entire original system for a Ford Mondeo based coil. I have the same system about to go on a 1933 Austin Seven which reeeeeeally needs it. Having more available firing voltage allows you to increase the plug gap out to 35-40, the gap size being defined by the maximum distance your coil can push a spark. The engine in the video used to be so hard to start before, even when in perfect tune, that you'd need someone else to start it by hand or you wouldn't be able to use your arm for a good half hour.

The same rule applies, keep your thumbs out of the way!


I recall an article in one of those 1950s magazines where they showed someone using a starting handle and a couple of 9-volt torch batteries just to power the ignition. 18 volts connected to the SW side of the coil and then to earth. Not sure how effective this would be although in theory it would be viable.

How do you get the starting handle through the rad!
Surely with the shaped handle guide in position that is not possible?
I would set the choke, turn in on to fill the float chamber turn off then crank with handle until I had been through 4 compressions.
Ign on, and with a turn of the handle, voila!
Good advice about thumb on the same side as fingers.

Alan

alanworland wrote:How do you get the starting handle through the rad!
Surely with the shaped handle guide in position that is not possible?

Alan

I was wondering that too....
Worth sticking with a Series 2 or MM with the funnel shaped guide bolted to the rad panel. And you get a starting handle with a nice swiveley end so its kinder on your hands.

I used a Minor starting handle today, but it was for turning over an eight cylinder Hudson engine, albeit just as maintenance on a laid up car, not actually trying to start it...

First time I used a starting handle it was on a 1936 Rolls Royce, I was only about 17 at the time but can remember it being so easy!

Alan

Is it right then that the Minor 1000 starting handle is a combined starter and wheel-wrench and the SII/MM version is a dedicated handle with a rotating sleeve?

I've got both and can attest to the latter being much easier to use. A long-ish layup often sees Phyllis reluctant to proceed, but a few swift turns of the handle gets her going. As indeed it did for the midnight service at church this Christmas Eve. Thankfully she started first time for the trip home.