Gentlemen, (how do you) start your engines
 

I've just discovered that since my '16 Explorer has a Start/Stop button, that I cannot shift it to neutral if the engine doesn't start. I've seen several work-arounds, but so far none have worked. There's certain to be a way, and since it's running fine it's not an issue at the moment, but it bothers me nonetheless.

However, it got me to thinking of all the ways that used to be available to start mine and other vehicles. I push started my splitty bus all through college as I couldn't keep the starter working, but here are several others. Did I miss any?

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Pony Start

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Starter button the floor.......Beside the Dimmer switch...........OR:

1960's Brit bike in the winter:

Put on a ton of clothes.....Kick, Kick, Kick ..........30 times......Take off jacket........Kick 30 more times, take off sweater.....Adjust advance lever.......Kick 30 more times......Take off sweat shirt........30 more times..........hold down plunger till it's flooded..........Kick 20 times and it starts. Hope it doesn't die while you get dressed again............College days.......Happy times......

Rule of thumb: If it doesn't start in 100 kicks, do a tune up...........Also, Always rent a flat on the top of a hill so you can bump start going down - I always considered location based on this.......

(*****This story had been modified to not offend fans of old Kick Start Harley's****)

Porsche 944's are a key to the right of steering wheel, manual transmission. Can roll start them.

Jaguar X150, push button start, if it doesn't go, you stuck. Could make a habit of shutting the car off in neutral and relying on parking brake.

C5 Corvette, same deal as 944.

I don't like the push button start, it doesn't feel engaging.

You may be able to shut your Explorer off in neutral instead of park if moving it while its dead is a concern.

V8 race car with dry sump oil system.

Plug in 110v oil heater blanket on the 5 gallon dry sump tank.
Preheat engine oil.

Prime dry sump oil pump.
Peel cog belt off the external 5 stage dry sump oil pump.
spin the dry sump pump with a drill and prime pump.
Check oil pressure gauge show 30 psi on the drill.
reinstall 5 stage oil pump cog belt.

Prime carb with fuel pump.

Turn everything off in car.
with ignition off Spin motor with starter verify oil pressure.
with engine spinning turn on ignition
engine starts turn on fuel pump.
https://youtu.be/R90CRp6e8P0
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1516079131.jpg

Fascinating. Thanks.

All the foot starters I've seen have been to the right of the gas pedal, so you can work the pedal with your heel while the crank the starter with your toe.

This is a process I've been through many, many times.

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1. Pray some idiot didn't shut the tractor down while it was running on kerosene.
2. If God didn't answer, switch from kerosene to gasoline, drain the carburetor.
3. Open the compression release petcocks
4. Roll the flywheel over, get it on a compression stroke and pull it through.
5. If it fires more than once, run around the tractor closing the petcocks before you set the barn on fire.

Early electric start John Deeres had enclosed flywheels. They supplied an adapter so you could take the steering wheel off and use it to turn the flywheel if the electric starter didn't work.

Generally make some sweet talk. I’ve been known to employ flowers when necessary....

A mòre mundane start process for my 911 is - disconnect coil to distributor lead and crank her up till oil pressure gets at least half way up the gauge. Disclaimer, I have Sal Carsellers MAF, injectors and chip which pre primes the pump. With his setup the car always starts immediately like a modern car regardless of how long it has sat. Hence my oil pressure build up start routine if it's been sitting more than a few days. I'm the type of guy you want to buy a used car from, never driven hard until up to temp. Wouldn't even drive a rental hard until up to temp; cold engine abuse is top of my pet peeves list (oops that's another thread).

Alexa...start my engine :)

I'd be careful with that one in case Alexa decides on a different meaning.

Think you are correct. My memory is failing me.....So recall some cars with starter button on floor when I was a kid....

Big marine 2 stroke diesels start with compressed air.

Best
Les

I have push started the 911 more than once but I prefer to just twist the key.

My brother's daily driver is a 1954 VW bug. He was at work the other day and had left his headlights on. It was converted to 12 volts 30 years ago but it there is no buzzer to warn him.

Anyway he asked two young coworkers to give him a push. They both looked at him like he was nuts and one said I ain't pushing you home. He explained he just need a push start. They had never heard of such a thing. They finally gave him a push and of course it started and he drove home. The 20 something coworkers were astonished and thought he was magic. Of course that all think he is nuts to drive a 63 year old car to work.

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Sometimes you have no hill so you have to pull it to start it. Sometimes a mile or two with my 600cc. Oh I wish it had electric start.

My 1970 240Z when it still had the sidedraft SU carbs and manual choke, in any weather below 32°F, required a can of ether......