Rope Start Engine Alternative Starting Method

RTR · May 30, 2017

Guys, I have a 1948 Gibson Model D tractor with the original Wisconsin engine. It hasn't ran in about 20 or so years and I've gotten it all ready to try and start it up. It has the original pulley for the rope start on the front of the engine and the pulley is broken. I will be replacing it, but what is a good alternative to get this engine running without having to try and start it with a rope? You know when engines sit a long time, they can be a bear to get started. Now when I get it running and assess everything, I will make sure the engine is easily started with a rope once restored. Just for now it has about worn me and my hands (rope burn) out pulling on it (using the back drive pulleys with a rope wound on it) trying to get it to start. Out of about 25 pulls I got it to hit 2 times.

old · May 30, 2017

I have taken open shaft starters and removed the bendex and install a belt pulley on them to use to start engines like that one and it worked just fine. i have one mounted on a Yazoo mower i have on the place. I used a make shift mount and a lever on the starter to pull the belt tight. Hook up the battery to get ti spinning then pull the lever and the engine spins over real nice like

coshoo · May 30, 2017

I don't know anything about the drive system on a Gibson, but could you just pull start it? Put tractor in highest gear, have the pull vehicle go slowly, and if timing and carb settings are even close,
eventually it should start.

kcm.MN · May 30, 2017

I used to have a walk-behind snow thrower that was really hard to start. Ended up using an air impact wrench on the nut holding the rope pulley on. Used to work great.

tim s · May 30, 2017

I weld a 5/8" nut into a alternator pulley and screw it onto the side grinder run a short belt and make sure your spinning in the correct direction,, the grinder has enough torq to deal with it and when the motor starts just let the belt jump off..

Janicholson · May 30, 2017

The device I have linked to will allow a 1/2" drill to be used directly on the front pulley nut. This makes it impossible for the engine pulses to be
twisting up the drill in your hand. It should be used with a short pipe or handle in the drill motor to help hold the torque. Jim

Janicholson · May 30, 2017

Forgot the link.
one example.

MtMan · May 30, 2017

I have a Model D and I'm getting too old to pull start it. So I disengage the clutch pedal and tie it down. That makes turning the engine so much easier. Other wise your are turning the transmission over even if its in neutral. Have fun with this tractor as they are very much fun to drive. I have used a heavy duty 1/2 electric drill to start mine also, especially with the clutch tied down.

Fritz Maurer · May 30, 2017

In every Wisconsin operator's manual there is a paragraph (Restoring Compression) for engines that have been in storage a long time. 90% of the time a few squirts of oil down the spark plug hole will start a recalcitrant Wisconsin, assuming the mag and the carb are in good enough shape to operate the engine. When properly tuned, this engine will start and run before you can get all rope off the starter sheave. Fix the engine first then install starting aids if you want to.

Fritz Maurer · May 30, 2017

Also, the engine will crank much easier if A) Rotate the engine by hand until compression begins, B) Put the rope in the sheave and wind it by turning the engine backward until you run out of rope or compression begins in the other direction. This way, the flywheel will carry through the compression stroke with a minimum of effort. If the engine is in a good state of tune , you will only have to do this once.

stonerock · May 30, 2017

back in the 70's, worked in the oil field pumpin water for petro. old wisconsions very hard to start so take
chain and bar off saw get small v-belt on saw clutch and motor, rev up saw motor starts quick. works good
when real cold out

docmirror · May 30, 2017

Take the auger off a 2 stroke two person auger. The shaft will have a keyway. Get a small pulley and a long slender v belt from napa, maybe one off a cheap mower. Loop it around the rope and the auger pulley, and start the auger. put some tension on it, and hit the throttle.

psimmer · May 30, 2017

I vote for trying to pull it also. If memory serves, the one my Grandpa had was equipped with maybe 3 v belts for a drive system. Seems they would hold enough in high gear for it to roll the engine over.

RTR · May 30, 2017

(quoted from post at 08:11:24 05/31/17) I vote for trying to pull it also. If memory serves, the one my Grandpa had was equipped with maybe 3 v belts for a drive system. Seems they would hold enough in high gear for it to roll the engine over.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!!

kcm.MN · May 30, 2017

Jim, nice accessory! I saw where a guy had built his own device that disengages automatically, but cannot find it now. That's why I used an air impact wrench though, as I could always pull away from the socket and could, if I wanted to, leave the socket permanently attached. However, I didn't start the thing up enough to mess with it anymore.

Loosehandle · May 30, 2017

What exactly have you done to get it "ready"
to start?

rusty6 · May 30, 2017

Pull starting with another tractor or truck is the easiest way to start a stubborn old engine as long as you have help. I've got a 60 some
year old Wisconsin, about a 7 hp, on a grain auger. It usually fires up on the first or second pull. Had a Briggs and Stratton I used to
start on the belt when it was on the grain auger. Just grab onto the belt with both hands and lean into it for a good spin. Worked great but
I've got an electric start Kohler now that works even better.

Geo-TH,In · May 31, 2017

Did you try giving it a snort of ether, starting
fluid? If you don't have starting fluid, try putting
a few drops of gas in carb.

I had a 13 hp honda I could start, so I put a new
flywheel with starter ring and an electric starter.

Pull start it.

RTR · May 31, 2017

(quoted from post at 09:18:09 05/31/17) What exactly have you done to get it "ready"
to start?

I have put a little oil in the cylinder, put the engine at TDC and removed the magneto and filed the points and replaced the condenser, I have blue spark, and I also drained the old golden looking gas and filled tank with fresh. Tried some ether down the breather pipe when starting.

BarnyardEngineering · May 31, 2017

Depends on how much compression it has, but you might be able to turn it over with a good cordless drill.

RTR · May 31, 2017

(quoted from post at 18:10:45 05/31/17) Depends on how much compression it has, but you might be able to turn it over with a good cordless drill.

90-95 psi average of 3 different pulls/readings

tim s · May 31, 2017

You need to be careful using an impact wrench I have seen them hammer a few time as the start turning the engine and twist the end of the crankshaft off..now that will set a project back wards...

RTR · May 31, 2017

(quoted from post at 18:24:44 05/31/17) You need to be careful using an impact wrench I have seen them hammer a few time as the start turning the engine and twist the end of the crankshaft off..now that will set a project back wards...

Yeah I don't think I'm gonna do that

Determined · May 31, 2017

I had an old Case 442 (1 cyl kohler) that was set up with a generator on front with a belt going onto a large pulley on the flywheel.
To start it would feed 12 volt from the battery to motor the generator, once it started it reverted to being a generator to charge the battery.

INCase · May 31, 2017

its a bit dangerous but our old neighbor back home used to start the old rope start motors with a small electric motor and a belt. he would get everything in place and plug the motor in. then hang onto the motor and put enough tension on the belt to get the motor to spin. once started he'd take the tension off the belt and it would usually go flying somewhere. then turn off the electric motor and go do whatever he was up to.

i've done it a time or two and you'd better watch your hands but it works. you could rig up a motor on a mount to be safer. BE CAREFUL.

Rope Start Engine Alternative Starting Method

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