STARTING BY HAND

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1933, Page 15

STARTING BY HAND

HOW TO AVOID INJURY

Many motorists have very little idea of starting an engine with tie handle, and sometimes fail, altogether- when some cold morning the starter, refuses to 'work for the first time. The easiest way of starting an enr gine, and also the safest, is first to crank it 'with- the ignition. switched off and the strangler fully closed. Turning the engine over a few times in this way will ensure plenty of fuel reaching the cylinders without risk of a backfire. . ■ ■ The ignition lever should then be .well retarcfed and the ignition switched on. Engage the starting, handle ;so that it points straight down; put the four fingers round it, but not the thumb, and give a sharp pull up. This will allow the hand to disengage and. pull out of the way in case of a backfire, or should the handle refuse to disengage when the engine starts.The latter is a not uncommon occurence with, some- of the poorly-made detachable handles usual on modern cars, and, like a backfire, it may easily cause a broken wrist. Detachable ■..handles shojald .be very carefully engaged with the dogs' on* the front of the crankshaft. Otherwise the handle may come off and cause a black eye. Blisters on the hands quickly result from stiffness in th» turning of the sleeve over the handle grip. If no sleeve is fitted, as is the case with many cheap cars, always grip the handle with .a handkerchief. • It should be remembered that a large throttle opening docs, not always facilitate starting. In f aet^ with some carburettors, easy starting will beseeureft only when the throttle is closed down to the slow idling position. ~ ;•.■.: