Bristols in Los Angeles

[johndschaefer]

Amazingly, my Citroen DS sold new in 1969 still came with a factory fitted starter handle. I've used it a few times too! Fantastique! I wonder if that was the last make/model so fitted - anyone know of anything later?

[julf]

Land Rovers came with starter handles well into the 1970's.

Julf

[Bellerophon]

Well I am amazed, I was brought up in the time that all cars had starting
handles and no one thought twice about starting an engine by hand, even the
big ones, this reminds me of the storey of mice and men!
Now how on earth do you turn the engine in the correct position to set the
points without a handle?

For those people who have never tried to start a car this way the thing not
to do is to wrap your thumb around the hand piece, keep your fingers
together turn the engine slowly until you can give it one sharp lift upwards and
hey presto. With a Bristol you can retard the ignition if you are not
certain but it should not kick back, so I hope some of you will have the
courage to give it a try you never know when a starter motor will pack up.
Best of luck,
Bellerophon

[Rubbond]

Isn't it something to do with the fact that modern engines won't run
anyway if the battery is flat?
Plus the fact the crankshaft usually faces one of the front wheels....

[UK6]

The start of it all......
In addition to setting the points, I find that the crank handle is useful to
set the valve clearance. My 3.5L SS can be hand cranked - the 7:1
compression helps! Interestingly my dizzy is set to fire at 10 deg bef top
and I don't need to retard to start.
Has anyone started their car by flicking a suspended rear wheel?
- the old bikes could be started this way!

Brett

[dave dale]

Originally Posted by UK6

The start of it all......
In addition to setting the points, I find that the crank handle is useful to
set the valve clearance. My 3.5L SS can be hand cranked - the 7:1
compression helps! Interestingly my dizzy is set to fire at 10 deg bef top
and I don't need to retard to start.
Has anyone started their car by flicking a suspended rear wheel?
- the old bikes could be started this way!

Brett

Yes Brett - I have done this in my younger days, when desperate. I once heard of someone ( maybe apocryphal ) who started his E-type Jag thus, with devastating consequences. The lesson here is don't try this trick if the axle has a limited - slip diff.

BTW, another reason that modern cars preclude the use of a starting handle is because the lower profile bonnet necessitates that the radiator is kept low and thus it covers the crankshaft. Some older cars got around this problem by having a custom made hole in the radiator.

Dave Dale.

[peterg]

With my SAAB I could jack up the front wheel, put it in gear and turn the
engine by hand. Presumable the same would apply to a rear wheel on the
Bristol?

Yes, modern cars will not start with a dead battery because of the way the
alternator output is regulated (same with modern bikes).

Yesterday exercising the 403 I heard 'bonking' from in front of the
steering wheel. It was quickly traced to a wind screen motor which had
detached itself from three rubber legs which mounted it onto the car. Is
there a glue that I can use to re attach the motor? Currently it is wedged
in place by a piece of wood I begged of some chaps working on a traction
engine.

Oh the joys of modern motoring!