Operating Lessons For The Model T

The first video is published by the Henry Ford Museum, and it teaches you just about everything you need to know to make your Ford go. The museum wimped out and put a starter in this 1916 car to prevent cranking accidents. The second video shows how the crank will spin backwards if you forget to retard the spark. The proper way to crank one of these engines is with one hand only, and the thumb should be on the same side of the crank as your fingers. You want your hand to break free cleanly if the engine kicks, so your arm and hand are out of the arc when the crank comes around. Hang on tight, and sooner or later you will have a broken wrist.