How To: Hand-Cranking the Volkswagen 181

Putting the crank to a 1973 Volkswagen Thing.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Hand
• Crank
• handcranking
• hand-cranking
• VW
• Volkswagen
• type
• 181
• Thing
• Car
• 1973

[BigLon]

That's great,

I never knew these VW Things had hand cranks,

or did you or someone else install this ?

[ValkingParaWinger]

Hiya Lon, The military models did, but the civilian ones did not. They did however share the same bumper and it's cut out for the crank. Get the right crank, get the right crank shaft pulley bolt (notched & built to spin off the crank handle), get the right tin (or cut some) and you're there. I replaced my original tin with a piece from a bus and didn't feel bad cutting it like I would have the rarer original part. My mechanic installed the bolt and I did the rest, he loved seeing it in action.

[davejcarter]

@mypalrocco in case you get stuck somewhere and your starter dies and there is no hill to clutch start on?

[anguszx50]

@ValkingParaWinger

Hi - What do you mean by "get the right tin (or cut some)" ?

Also I assume you have the ignition key turned on before cranking - am I right ?

Thanks

[Pnoerre]

I have got a very good hint for you to keeping the nice old Engine in good shape with todays ultra dry eco fuels: Use 1:100 API TC two stroke oil / fuel mix as regular driving fuel, that keeps the old fuel-system gaskets, rubber parts, alloy parts etc... and cast iron metal surfaces of those vintage engines in excellent shape...and it also lubricates the valves and upper piston regions. Most Porsche vintage owners in Germany do so :) Also keeps carbs and tank clean and rustfree

[89239dfkdk]

Cool, I had an FJ60 Landcruiser like that.

[MrShota13]

omg that is crazay

[highdeserthater]

why not?

[mypalrocco]

Why?

[CorvZr1]

awesome dude, i woudl do anything for one of those