Morris Minor Owners Club

This brilliant device should be fitted to all cars. However a lot of people worry about being injured and it does require a knack to avoid injury. Practise with the ignition switched off first as the engine can only kick back with the ignition on.

Now ensure the car is in neutral. Before starting the process I usually turn the engine slowly several times with the ignition off. I assume this squirts fresh oil onto the moving parts because it quickly reduces internal resistance. During this stage you can grip the handle as hard as you like. You should hear the slight wheeze of air being pushed into the cylinders.

Turn the ignition on and pull the choke out . Stand by the offside (driver's) headlight. Engage the starter dog by pushing the end of the handle into the bumper hole and jiggle the end around until it catches. There are two possible positions but I always start with the bar at it's lowest position. Curl your 8 fingers around the bar, but avoid gripping it tightly! At the same time keep the thumbs out of the way. Pull slightly against the bar with both hands (using the inside of the fingers) to get a grip. Now pull hard towards yourself and increasingly upwards to gain momentum. As it goes towards the top of the turn, allow the bar to be cradled by the top of the palms, before pushing away and downwards. From this point you are allowing the handle to maintain the circular motion whilst allowing it to continually slide around the semi-circle formed by the fingers and palm. By doing this a sudden kickback will merely brush the bar past the fingertips or palm.

For original style starting handles see Les's post below:

Do you mean 4 fingers? I've haven't heard of using both hands, is that what you mean? Also a decent glove can make it more comfortable.
I left my lights on a while ago and was I glad of that handle!

Les - I was somewhat confused by your post because my starter handle has a long bar (about 9") onto which 2 hands fit perfectly - however it is a replica from ESM without the socket at the end. I guess you have an original starting handle and when I looked at a photo of one it's clear that the bar length is several inches shorter. Thanks for pointing this out. I guess the principle is the same but you only use the right hand? Let me know if the technique is different and I'll amend the original post.

Chris

Chris, I've only just managed to access the board to-day. Hence the late reply!
Yes, my handle is intended for one hand, must confess I didn't know there was a two handed version, the only difference in method I can think of is perhaps the standing position adopted.
I've seen a two handle type used for starting a aeroplane though!

Only just found this thread so sorry if it's a bit out-of-date! It took me a month of trying unsuccessfully to start the car with the handle before I learnt the knack from a neighbour! I stand by the off-side headlight, left hand on the bonnet and right hand on the handle. Be careful not to grip with your thumb as this is how you can get injured. Basicilly, it needs a short, sharp turn. Mine starts after about 180 degrees but the trick is to do it fast enough. Also, make sure the ignition's on

thanks very much for the very useful guide. I'm a novice so have printed out your wise words and will get the sheet laminated for quick and easy reference when out and about!

juliet xxxx

I didn't know there was a two handed version

I have a posh 2 handed design starting handle - it even has a rolling grip
However I've never manged to start a cold engine using the handle.
My traveller take 5 mins of cranking after it's been stood for a few weeks so that would be about 5 days with a handle!

i've tried (as Hornmeister) two or trice with Riley (battery was punt) and i has to try about ten times to succeed but when the engine is hot i succeed first time

battery was punt

flat battery? Oh Dear!!
The battery is still in guarantee, and the dynamo is about 18 months old... Did you leave the lights on or was there something wrong?

aah- thinking about it, maybe the battery guarantee is running out just about now!

The starting handle is an essential bit of kit . Useful for turning the engine for : tappets/ timing and starting .
Being of a cetain age, when the starting handle was the norm. to start cars , tractors etc !! I learnt the hard way, to ensure that you used one hand , and wrapped your fingers and thumb around the handle , so that if the engine fired ,and caught you out , the handle would spin out of your 'open' hand , without tearing your thumb off . I' m not sure how you can keep your thumb ' out of the way' without risk ?? Arfron

The trav. starts beautifully on the handle. Not like that 1902 pig that matt drives - I had a go at starting that last year and it didn't want to play

My everyday saloon always starts quickly on the handle, even when it's cold and it's very well behaved (as was the 4 door until the fuel went stale). My project traveller however seems to really resent having the handle inserted and I have to be very careful to avoid the kick-back!

CHRIS... perhaps your 'awkward' Traveller has the timing more
advanced than the other car? Or the compression is higher so it
doesn't turn over so easily?

Not like that 1902 pig that matt drives

Its not a pig.... its a car, and I don't personally drive it!!! When you know how to start it its easy (assuming bo' isn't playing up)

Back when I first got Rebecca my dad explained to me how to start her on the handle 'cos the 'free' battery the guy 'threw in' with the car shorted under load; it was fine for running everything but the starter motor and would uh, get very hot and produce rather less volts.

So I got pretty good with the handle pretty quick

Willie - I think you're right about my 'awkward' traveller - it needs a lot more effort to turn the engine over so I guess it has got higher compression.

I used an original handle earlier this year and I must say that the ESM replica is much more user-friendly.

Going back to Chris's original post and the point about turning the engine a couple of times before trying to start it.
This also makes doubly sure that it is not in gear.
Starting an engine with the handle while the vehicle still in gear is can be a very unpleasant experience, as this tractor owner found out at a steam rally I was at.



Luckily he got nothing worse than a bruised thumb and a bit of panel damage.