Hand-cranking my Fergie

Paul Hearsey · May 12, 2010

A neighbour found an old starting crank to fit my 1950 TEA-20 in his shop the other day. He had had a similar tractor years ago. I'd like to be able to hand-start the engine (just because!) without hurting myself. I once tried to start a Fairmont railway speeder without retarding the spark; I was lucky I didn't break my wrist and only suffered plenty of pain! Anyway, what should the initial ignition advance be set at in the distributor? Does the distributor automatically retard the spark sufficiently for safe hand-cranking or did Fergie owners once set up their engines just for this purpose? Many thanks! Paul

Jerry/MT · May 12, 2010

Your TO-20 has a centrifugal advance mechanism and you should not have to reset the advance to start the tractor, assuming it has the correct initial timing. Do not wrap your thumb around the handle when you start it and set the handle so that you pull up from the six o"clock position and you should not experience a problem.

Bob (Aust) · May 12, 2010

Jerry's advice for the TO20 also works for the TEA20. I've crank started my TEA20 on a number of occasions and never been "kicked". They are docile old ladies! :lol:

Anonymous-0 · May 12, 2010

the timing should be at zero tdc.
Only pull up on the crank, never ever push down.

Pull up and let go each time

Anonymous-0 · May 12, 2010

If the fergy starts easy, make sure she is in angel gear, or you end up chasing it to stop it. Increased chance of being run over and ending up with the angels.

rustyj14 · May 12, 2010

I've had some experience with hand cranking several old Model T fords, in my past. They were a tricky bunch! The advice given here is to be well taken. Some folks who didn't heed it, were later on nursing broken arms, or at least, a hurting arm!
One time, i brought home an old homade Model T tractor, so, not knowing if it would run, i connected a battery to the coil box, went around front, pulled the choke wire, pushed down on the crank several times, did it once more---and went right up over the hood! Didn't get hurt, but it wised me up right quickly!

Crem · May 12, 2010

We used to carry a crank on our TO-20 back in the sixties. I guess that dad couldn't afford a new battery so it was either park it on a hill or crank it.

Bob from Australia · May 13, 2010

Likewise, I have hand cranked Standard Vanguard and Triumph
cars with essentially the same engine as as the TEA20. They are
not prone to kicking.

The same can not be said of my old Case tractors. Even with the
spark retarded properly they have to be cranked carefully,
pulling the crank up and across with fingers and thumb on the
one side of the handle.

Was at a tractor show once and saw a man cranking a L Case
going round and round, with fingers and thumb around the
handle. I warned him that it was dangerous and was told to
mind my own business. Next swing it backfired and threw him
about 6 feet. He was lucky, only got a broken arm out of it.

Paul Hearsey · May 13, 2010

Thanks, guys! I figured advice might be cheaper than broken bones! I'll give 'er a try today. Paul

Hand-cranking my Fergie

Paul Hearsey

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Jerry/MT

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Bob (Aust)

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Anonymous-0

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Anonymous-0

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rustyj14

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Crem

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Bob from Australia

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Paul Hearsey

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