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pdrews · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 4

I'm restoring a R-985-25 and I thought I would like to be able to hand crank it to life. I wasn't too serious until I read the article on accessories on our website and now I know a lot more than I did and I'm really fired up about the idea. I have an Eclipse E-160 electric starter. Does anyone know if the hand crank attachment is available somewhere? Has anyone actually used a hand crank on this engine and have good advice to pass along?

gwhite · Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 58

Not sure what you mean by:
Does anyone know if the hand crank attachment is available somewhere?

Are you talking about the handle? Or the right angle drive in the starter for the hand crank mechanism? I've never been able to locate a handle but I haven't looked that hard either. For a while I was thinking of hand cranking the IV-1430 but that idea is now nixed; too much stuff in the way and it's too balky starting.
As far has cranking them by hand, I agree it is great fun. Takes a while to get the flywheel spun up and after a few attempts you may want to use battery power instead.!

pdrews · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 4

Thanks for the reply. I'm looking for the mating bevel gear unit that would mate with the starter. I realize the only people who might still be interested in having hand-crank capability are bush pilots who might face being stranded somewhere, but I'm going to proceed until some problem comes up that's simply unsolvable. I'll probably design one myself but I thought I would ask about off-the-shelf units anyway.

jschauer · Joined: 19 May 2004 Posts: 93 Location: Justin, Texas

I used to fly a BT-13A, and we could hand crank it or use the aircraft battery. The starter should have the adapter already built into it with a small lever to be used to engage the starter. Hand cranks are fairly common to find, one from a Stearman will work just fine. What is rare is an electric crank... it consists of the ninety degree crank except instead of a handle there is an electric motor for either 12 or 24 volts. You insert the crank and start the motor to winding up the fly wheel, when the proper speed is reached you remove the crank and pull the t-handle to engage the starter. We would hand crank the BT once in awhile for fun, but you better have the engine ready to run as we would run out of energy to crank it again if the engine didn't start the first time. Everyone I know of just loved to hear that starter wind up before engaging it.

pdrews · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 4

Thanks for the info. I'll be the first to admit that hand cranking is pure nostalgia. It had ocurred to me that the BT-13 and the folks who fly them would be a good source of information. I've been searching the warbird websites looking for parts, but nothing yet. I'll keep an eye out for the electrified version too. Thanks again.