Originally Posted by Idaho_Shooter
I think I remember a hand crank to go with a 1940 Ford pickup my folks were driving in 1962. But it was not a permanent fixture hanging out the front of the rig.

Tractors are another matter. I was still using a hand crank to start one of these in the late seventies. I think ours was built in 56. [Linked Image]


That picture brings back the memories. Growing up on the farm we had a WD 45 that was only used in the fall for being hooked up to the silo blower, to blow the chopped corn up the silo.

It sat in the back corner of the shed the rest of the year.

Every year just before harvest started, usually late August/Sept., a afternoon chore was to get it started for the first time. Usually it was a bit of a chore as the battery was dead, often the carburetor needed attention.

One year my my Dad had a particulary tough time but got it going and was pretty proud. I was 13 or 14. Getting home from school I decided to take my friend on "a rip".
From the farm we had a woods road that went downhill through a big woods to a fork that went three ways. Coming back towards the farm from any of those three ways it really wasn't the easiest turn to go anyways but up towards the farm.

I went flying down the fork on the right, turned around at the end and came flying back up the in high gear. When I came to the fork I tried to make the the R turn to the road going opposite rather than back up to the farm. This caused the R front tire to hit a depression between the roads, pop up a pretty fair wheely, and the right front tire to end up off the right side of the road which was sloped down,woods, and overgrown with grape vines-still flying along in high gear with my friend sitting and hanging on the fender.

No problem. Just turn out of it and use the brake to pull the front end back on the road. Well, there was a stump covered by the grapevines I couldn't see.
Next thing I know everything was quiet and I'm still on the tractor sideways in the woods with the rear axle hooked on that stump.

My friend somehow managed to hang on the fender and is still there white faced with his mouth hung open. The front end laying on the road behind me along with some pieces. The new battery my Dad put in laying down the road a bit with both posts busted out.
That was not a good walk home or a pleasant conversation.
My Dad was PO'd but kept together pretty well considering.
He actually got it fixed while I was in school the next day as he knew of a parts tractor.
I see that friend once every 4 or 5 years but it always comes up pretty quick.