How To: Hand-Cranking the Volkswagen 181 (close-up)

[k0namiman]

I couldn't help but notice how you hold the crank- you shouldn't wrap your thumb around the crank, if the engine kicks back, it'll break your thumb.

[robinbowmaker]

Okay where can I get the crank handle? And will this work on any 1600 VW engine. I've got a 181 (73) and this is the first I've ever heard of this.

[luigi2999]

could you do this on a regular beetle as well?

[ValkingParaWinger]

@luigi2999 The kit I found on eEay had a bracket that would attach to the back of a flat-4 creating the handle stand-off. I immediately thought of a Baja Beetle or Volks-trike where the rear apron is not covering the back of the engine as a possible application, so... minus the rear apron, yes. There's a video somewhere here of an early beetle that had hand-crank capability, so it's something Volkswagen moved away from.

[SuperHashashin]

2 people like replacing starters

[halverdha1]

thats what that is, i have my dads thing in my garage never knew about that

[zakhanson]

looks like you fan belt is a bit loose

[ValkingParaWinger]

@zakhanson Probably was three years ago when I filmed this... Wait a minute, I'm pretty bad about loose belts, I probably need to tighten it again... (grin) Thanks!

[userunavailable3095]

@zakhanson If I'm not mistaken, air cooled engines don't have fan belts.  There isn't any fan or radiator visible. I'm not sure what that belt is driving, but it looks like an alternator or generator.

[Trompetteenchamade]

@userunavailable3095 Oh, yes it has a fan...the engine wouldn't last but a few minutes without it. It's a centrifugal fan enclosed in a shroud at the front end of the generator. The fan is mounted to the generator armature shaft.

[steamwally]

Nice video, car starts easy and sounds superb!

One tip, keep your thumb inline with your finger, otherwise if it kicks back you'l get a sprained wrist and broken thumb....

[stickom]

How crank don't hit you back when the engine starts?

[ValkingParaWinger]

@stickom The point where the crank is engaging is a rotary inclined plane with a sort-of-a hook to it. If the handle it turning faster than the engine, it's engaged, if the engine rotates faster than the handle the engine bolt forces the handle out of engagement and you don't get hit.

[stickom]

@ValkingParaWinger Phenomenal!!!!!

[vandenabeeleandries]

Would it be possible to get that installed in my camper? Dont know if it was origininal. I do remember is saw this on a camper once. Sure know my battery will never let me down again if i got that :p

[cazuow]

Ya gatta change the intake manifos. Air leaks bad

[042576705]

so u.don,t need a Battery could save u life if battery goan middle dessert

[CarGuyZM10]

You never want to crank a car like that. Cup the crank with your hand (do not wrap the thumb around the crank), and pull up with your right hand, or up and over if you are using your left hand.

[fluffiebottems]

I have a 1974 VW thing. I was wondering where I could get a hand crank?

[ValkingParaWinger]

Well The Thing Shop in Chandler Arizona has the nuts for $60, I found my crank on ebay with the nut and a bracket to attach it to the engine minus any bodywork (A Baja comes to mind) a few years back... I keep looking and see if I see cranks anywhere...

[hoppes9]

I hand crank my old tractor once in a while. The only thing to worry about is if the spark is too advanced, the engine may try to start backwards. If that happens and you hold the crank the way you're doing it, you may end up with some very painful memories.

[damanbaird]

mine starts with the key! lol.

[luigi2999]

is it possible to apply voltage to the generator and use it as a starter?

[2000boxter]

@luigi2999 no. the generator does not have the torque.that's a great question though...

[har32]

o wow reminds me of this one time my dad went to hand crank this welder thing he made he started the engine but the crank fle of busted him in the nose yeah it sucked bad...

[DRNEGOLICIS]

@har32 that has to hurt lol i would be afraid of the same thing on this little car even though the little engine caint have no more than 40HP its the torq u got to worry about

[har32]

@DRNEGOLICIS well the way he had to crank t had to do with it. like the we he was standing kind. but if you know what youre doind and doing it right its fine. i used to crank start a alis chalmers WC (probally spelled it wrong) any i would crank start it when i was 11 and never had a problem (now that i think about it my dad may have been drunk.

[Mariano095]

Esto se podra hacer con un renault 6 del 79???

[hackerunivac]

y mas gasolina.

[hackerunivac]

as lo que te digo aumentale la mescla

[hackerunivac]

tienes que darle mas aire al motor, con ver tu video, se que por eso se apaga, yo tengo un VW 1965 sedan y tenia antes el mismo problema, de echo lo boy a aser de crank

haha

XD

[knipdlo]

Where do you get the handle?

[HybridPineapple]

How do you stop the car then?

[ValkingParaWinger]

Turn off the ignition switch (turn the key to the off position).

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

Man that's Great... It would be nice to go back to simplier cars. To many "Accessories" on cars these days. Society needs a reality check. Good job.

[TheShockful]

If anyone knows if it's possible to convert a normal for handcrancing, please mess me.

I gues I need a nut (one that does not break my arm when the engie start) for the pulley and a cranc.

[pepesanchezx]

orales yo no sabia que tambien se podia prender asi esta de lujo...

[marlonsroad]

oh man, i love vw air-cooled engines. They are so damn reliable and easy to repair. And actually so durable...

damn, i got a 1963 vw bug, dad has a 1973 karmann and a vw thing is on the way ;D

THOSE ENGINES ARE FOREVER!!! :)

(btw mom has a new beetle, cool but not that much)

[archerrobinhood]

can this be done with a vw beetle '64 1200cc engine?

[ValkingParaWinger]

It's pretty simple german engineering really. The point where the crank is engaging is a rotary inclined plane with a sort-of-a hook to it. If the handle it turning faster than the engine, it's engaged, if the engine rotates faster than the handle the engine bolt forces the handle safely out of engagement, thus preventing the beating to death you mention. I really don't think being killed by the process is a worry though. Gotta love those Volkswagens.

[adventchildrendoc22]

How does the handcrank disengage from the engine before it beats you to death? Do you just pull it away as the engine catches?

[8nguy]

is it supercharged

[ValkingParaWinger]

Nope. Bone stock. The tube going to the right from the carb leads to its oil bath air cleaner.

[MacSociety]

Not sure if this is correct but... "Stand to the left of the crank, and outside of its arc, with it engaged in the 6 or 7 o'clock position so you have to pull up; never push down on the 3 o'clock side to crank the engine. Grasp the handle with fingers of right hand; don't wrap your thumb around the handle.

Give it a sharp pull to the 12 o'clock position. If it kicks back, it will simply pull out of your hand and not break any bones."

[MacSociety]

Thanks for the video. I own a 1973 Thing and have purchased the hand crank and proper crank nut to one day do this. Just have to find that rare crank tin is all.

Anyway, over on the Samba forums, someone posted a proper way to hand crank a VW. Just thought I would post those notes here. Not sure if that method is accurate or what you did is. I understand you can really tweak your thumb and arm if not done proper. One crank it looked like you started at the 3 o'clock position so. tj

[ValkingParaWinger]

Hey TJ I appreciate the input. In practice yes I've had about equal start between 3 & 9 positions. I'll admit it's easier from the 3 as I can put more weight behind it (possibly leading to a better broken bone later?). I'll be careful and try for more from the 9 in the future. My cut tin is off eBay (they said for a bus) but it looked right, and I cut the keyway like the bumper myself. The hang up putting the crank in is actually the compartment seal hanging into he way as I snake the crank in.

[MacSociety]

Probably the engine needs to be in perfect tune for it to turn over in the 6 position. I know mine is not. hehehe. One day though. Have lots of fun with your Thing! You should check out the Thing forums over on the Samba. tj

[ValkingParaWinger]

Been fun for the past five years now, I'll try to keep at it. More fun is getting my daughter's (Thing also) kept up to speed since she just got it a month or two ago from Grandpa for her 16th birthday and it was sitting for a bit. She's been in it a few weeks and I'm learning again everything I forgot since I first got mine. That is to say, once I fixed it i was lucky and it stayed fixed. (;->)