Lesson learned
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=140784
Printed Date: 08 Oct 2025 at 12:33pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Lesson learned
Posted By: TMiller/NC
Subject: Lesson learned
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2017 at 8:16pm
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Pastor at Church asked if I would bring a couple of tractors for display and do a hayride for kick off party for Vacation Bible School this past Saturday, sure happy too. Hauled 39B up, unloaded went back and brought 52 CA, unhooked trailer from truck and hooked to CA. It began to sprinkle rain so backed CA and trailer under carport shed where Church bus is normally parked, thought I'll put B under shed too. Grabbed hand crank gave it a pull one click, went back gave another pull didn't start, went back one more pull, didn't start, turned off gas under tank, gave crank a mighty twist, KICK BACK, jammed, jerked, slammed TREMENDOUS pain in wrist. Went over and sat on trailer tongue, can't set here the old black curtain was creeping in around the edge of vision. Managed to get on trailer sat on straw bales put head down, finally focused enough to decide wrist not broken, fingers will move, can move wrist with immense pain. Finally got in truck and drove across street to Church and got something drink and some pity from my wife. Had Grandson come and drive for hayride.. Lesson learned NEVER, NEVER EVER grip a hand crank when cranking a 39 b... |
Replies:
Posted By: Don(MO)
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2017 at 8:58pm
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Man I hate to heir that! I treat a hand crank just like a loaded gun, never ever get on the wrong side of it. ------------- 3 WD45's with power steering,G,D15 fork lift,D19, W-Speed Patrol, "A" Gleaner with a 330 corn head,"66" combine,roto-baler, and lots of Snap Coupler implements to make them work for their keep. |
Posted By: pumpkinman
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2017 at 10:57pm
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YOU LUCKED OUT ! MY 39 B BROKE MY RIGHT WRIST IN THREE PLACES , TEN DAYS IN THE HOSPL. THEN TEN WEEKS IN A CAST, READ THE OWNERS BOOK, IT SAID STAND ON THE LEFT SI DE OF TRACTOR USE LEFT HAND TO PULL CRANK 1/4 TURNS. YES IT WORKS KENT
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Posted By: shattercane
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2017 at 11:06pm
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I went to an auction where they were hand cranking tractors and they were lucky they didn't backfire as the guy starting them had two hands wrapped around the crank with his chin over center. Apparently he had never been bit before. Glad you are okay. I have rapped the back of my hand a few times which always sticks in the back of my mind on the WD 45 ------------- 29 L Case, 37 CC Case,40 A-C allcrop 40, 43 B Allis Chalmers, 50 DC Case, 54 WD-45 WF, 67 190 Gas |
Posted By: Allis dave
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2017 at 8:36am
| My grandfather broke his arm starting is WC once. I must admit, I've been to scared to ever try hand starting my WD45. Hope you get healed up soon. |
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2017 at 9:03am
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My '39 B has rapped my knuckles only once!! Reminding me to crank with my left hand as per starting instructions. |
Posted By: DanD
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2017 at 3:06pm
I wouldn't recommend hand cranking a tractor with a distributor. I tried my RC once when it had a distributor conversion on it and it kicked back. With a magneto, it seems like the impulse retards the timing more than does the distributor to make hand cranking a little more user friendly. I've never had a problem hand cranking a magneto equipped tractor while using the correct starting procedure. |
Allis dave wrote:Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2017 at 3:49pm
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If the tractor with distributor has provisions for hand cranking, the centrifugal advance mechanism ought to retard the spark at hand cranking speed to be after top dead center so it doesn't kick backwards. It has happened that the centrifugal mechanism rusted fast advanced or a spring or two broke and it didn't retard. The centrifugal advance is usually out of sight below the points mounting plate. Its supposed to be lubricated by a fiber wad in the center of the distributor shaft that holds the timing cam and the rotor gets a few drops of oil at regular lubrication intervals. Access is allowed by removing the rotor. Gerald J. |
Posted By: LouSWPA
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2017 at 4:12pm
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well, I have never, and will never be injured hand cranking! That's because I am too chicken to even try! If I can't pull start it......it don't need started. I have hand propped a few airplanes.......can't pull start them, but I'm still not real fond of the maneuver! ------------- I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Ps 27 |
Posted By: TMiller/NC
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2017 at 7:01pm
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Thanks for the replies! This tractor is either hand crank or as of Monday parked on an incline. It normally starts really easy with 2 or 3 quarter turns, but I think Saturday it was so hot and humid the gas may have been vaporizing in carburetor and kind of had it somewhat flooded. Don't know if that is even a possibility, but made me feel and sound somewhat less dumb when I would tell people what happened. Wrist is much improved today, is still slightly swelled and a little tender to movement. Tim |
Posted By: SteveM C/IL
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2017 at 10:32pm
I'm not following where left is.Facing tractor,stay left?My left arm ain't long enough to reach the crank!?!? Is the 1/4 turns from the top down?Side up? Bottom up?
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Posted By: corbinstein
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2017 at 7:15am
| my daddy broke his arm on a T-Model Ford the same way. |
Posted By: allisrutledge
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2017 at 11:35am
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Sorry to hear Tim,so I guess you cranking the A next year at Gray is out of the question? Had a tompson UC attact me one time, still not finished that one. Scott ------------- Allis Chalmers still exist in my mind and barns |
Posted By: Ray54
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2017 at 4:16pm
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I learned the 1/4 turn over the top at a young age,and just unnatural to do anything else today. But still been bit by a Cat pony motor a time or two. Had fellow that work on mags and has large supply of old new stock parts tell me if he did not install the mag he will not pull the crank over uses a rope on it to stay further away.
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Posted By: Hubnut
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2017 at 5:24pm
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While starting a WC, I took a hit to my upper lip. Loosened my front teeth real good. It wasn't kickback. The hand cranker slipped off and went right for my face! I had a really nice fat lip and loose teeth, but haven't lost them--yet. ------------- 1940 B "Lucy" 1941 B w/ Woods L59 "Flavia" 1942 B w/ finish mower "Dick" 1941 C w/ 3-point "Maggie" 1947 C SFW w/ L306 "Trixie" 1972 314H |
Posted By: TMiller/NC
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2017 at 6:15pm
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Hey Scott, no problem on starting A, as long as it is parked at the top of the grounds up near where we met! Could just roll it down toward where the RFD TV guy was doing interviews!!!! Looking forward to the GOTO next year. |
Posted By: Steve in NJ
Date Posted: 28 Jul 2017 at 12:53pm
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Ahh yes, the lovely sound of a Starter motor. That's why all my Tractors have Starters. First, I don't have enough ass to crank them over. Second, I'm also Chicken like Luigi even if I could turn em' over . And third, I don't need to do what you did. I've seen guys in casts for quite some time because of a kick back from the ole' crank. I tore a muscle in my shoulder this time last year, and I'm just finishing up with PT. That was a loooong recovery, and it doesn't get any better as you age. I have a couple B torque tubes with starter holes if interested.... LOL! Hope the ole' hand mends up quick for ya. Steve@B&B ------------- 39'RC, 43'WC, 48'B, 49'G, 50'WF, 65 Big 10, 67'B-110, 75'716H, 2-620's, & a Motorhead wife |
Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 28 Jul 2017 at 3:39pm
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Ouch! That's too bad... Guess I'm lucky. My '42 B has a dizzy and electric start, but I sometimes crank it just for fun. It usually starts right up on the 2nd or 3rd crank, and I've never had a kickback in the eight years I've had it. Every time I crank it, though, I always think about stories like this and make sure I stand in the right spot and use the left hand.
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Posted By: Ted J
Date Posted: 29 Jul 2017 at 7:55am
I'd bet there would be some videos on Youtube..........[TUBE]N43_dWx8Yrs[/TUBE] ------------- "Allis-Express" 19?? WC / 1941 C / 1952 CA / 1956 WD45 / 1957 WD45 / 1958 D-17 |
Posted By: SteveM C/IL
Date Posted: 29 Jul 2017 at 9:42am
| Thx Ted |
Posted By: Ted J
Date Posted: 29 Jul 2017 at 8:56pm
You got it buddy!! Hope it helped. I've see lots of ways and most of em are wrong. This is the easiest and the safest. I've had lots of backfires (flooded usually) and I've still got all my fingers and no broken bones........at least from that.  ------------- "Allis-Express" 19?? WC / 1941 C / 1952 CA / 1956 WD45 / 1957 WD45 / 1958 D-17 |
Posted By: Spencer with the WD
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2017 at 5:10pm
| What's the secret or is there even a secret to hand cranking a 38 b??? My dad just got one the other day my brother tried cranking it and he got some kickback so I tried the next day, cranked and cranked and cranked but never fired, it's been parked in a garage the past 10 years it will run if you drift start it but it hasn't yet with the hand crank, do you have any ideas as to what might be causing it not to start? |
Posted By: TMiller/NC
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2017 at 6:35pm
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Check for good spark, and correct timing...correct timing is essential!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: HD6GTOM
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2017 at 6:38pm
| Got a distributator and hand crank. They make a special anti kick back rotor for the distributator. They work. Got one from R and R equipment many years ago. Still in the dist. |
Posted By: TMiller/NC
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2017 at 6:39pm
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Oh yeah, drain old gas and replace with ethanol free gas, from experience I know that old gas does not start well. |