Hand crank start

[maxhifi]

To the OP: is this a theoretical question, or do you actually want to try it? The danger of hand cranking an engine, is kickback, when the engine starts and violently jerks the crank. A lot of people in the early 20th century got broken wrists from this, and there's a special open handed way to hold the crank to minimize the chance of this happening.

I have to say though, I don't know about you, but for me, my hands and wrists being in good shape basically determine my ability to work, and be financially solvent. I wouldn't want to risk them over a broken down car. Consider hand cranking an engine to be like asbestos insulation, or gasoline welding torches, or leaky steam boilers in houses, or using mercury to separate gold out of Ore. .. There's some things which are just too dangerous to your health do, no matter how traditional. It won't make anyone more of a man to be injured or dead in the course of a trivial activity like starting a car.