Cordless 1/2" drill for starting a handcrank B

"IMPACT" might not be the best .... might need a CONSTANT ROTATION like an electric motor ?

Edited by steve(ill) - 04 Nov 2022 at 7:22pm

I think if you could turn the PTO shaft at 20- 30 RPM it would start... I would work from the back....im just thinking a BIG REDUCTION would fit in the back... If you had a big enough drill you could do the front... Think how hard it is to crank by hand .. Do you really want to be holding that drill ?

Edited by steve(ill) - 04 Nov 2022 at 7:30pm

OK good it has been thought of and done before,  good idea on rear PTO reduction Steve, Mine has a PTO cover plate  on my 38 B, no PTO available at present time.  Yes was thinking holding drill to crank may be tuff on my arm hand as well....  Thinking drill with clutch !  ?   It is hard to crank over with hand crank, I aint a weenie but have severe pain it my right shoulder and arm, elbow from twisting wrenches most my life, arthritis has set in.   Thanks  for your ideas, TMiller and Steve ill,   I will think on it a bit more.  For now parking on a hill , poppin the clutch is working OK.   Good thing for hills.  I like this B since it is old and handcrank only !!!   I'm weird I guess.  

Good thought on Generator start, have seen them on older Cub Cadet's, not sure how strong they are?    It might work.    This 1938 B  has no generator though nor starter!  Magneto Ignition only on this Lil B.  I was thinking something just for cranking it, not to install or detract from it's original no accessories originality.  possibly one could make a generator bracket and run it to the crankshaft pully and add a battery.... not sure it might work out???  If it had a belt pulley PTO  I could also try that off one of my Farmall A's belt pulley PTO, they are newer though  1944 and 45 models.   thanks  truckerfarmer for idea.

My bad, Kenbow. Thought never crossed my mind that you didn't have a generator on there. Totally understand your desire to keep the clean look.

Edited by jaybmiller - 05 Nov 2022 at 7:07am

the BEST long term plan is park at the top of a small hill.... you can always pull start if needed.

I have a couple of 1/2 Milwaukee drills. Trust me the last think you want to do is have ahold of one if something catches. You would need some kind of clutch. I like TMiller's idea. May try that.

TMiller/NC wrote: I have used a !/2" corded electric drill to start a 39 B...

This proves that it can be done with a corded drill, some of the new cordless drills are pretty potent.

I would want a physical stop to prevent the drill torque from being too much to hang on to. A simple bolt screwed into the front cultivator mount hole should suffice.

I have a 3/4 hp black and decker drill, 5/8 chuck, that we used to raise silo unloaders years ago, the drill can be a wrist breaker if you don't hold on tight. Yes, I have a 5/8 rod about a foot long with a roll pin at one end. I have actually used it on the 37 U. Roll engine with hand crank just past last fire, that gives a little time for drill to get some momentum before next compression. But be careful. After ignition, only pull crank out an inch until drill comes to a complete stop to remove from pedestal. I'm not telling you to do it but yes it can be done.

Bosch makes a hydraulic 42MT starter with 11 tooth Bendix drive that will fit most Cat, Cummins, Detroit 14ish liter engines. I have run it off 30 gpm hydraulic from 325 hp 4wd and has lots of torque and power. It would be too big for your B but they might have a smaller version. Just a thought but it would require a power source and a way to attach it to your tractor??? Maybe a temporary mount on the front where the crank goes that just lifts off after it is running. Electric motor powered hydraulic power pack at the shop!
I have all the parts you would need! Would be a cool project for us retired guys!