2QM20 Hand Start
Date: March 15, 2005
From: Roger Long rwlong@maine.rr.com
I’ve been reading Nigel Calder’s book and thinking about an electrical system upgrade to accommodate gel cells. The gains in battery life from tying all batteries together so each is drawn down the minimum amount are impressive. The only drawback is the possibility of discharging all the batteries and not being able to start the engine.
With a engine that can be hand started in a pinch, having a dead simple system with essentially just one big battery appeals to me. It seems it would be a lot easier to keep track of the charge level of that one bank than juggling back and forth between two or buying combiners, isolators, etc. We’ll now be at a marine slip with shore power so would probably be better of spending the money on a good AC driven charger.
This brings up a key question though: Can the 2QM really be hand started or is it a theoretical, "only when your life really depends on it" kind of thing
Date: March 15, 2005 Hi All: My starting battery is a flooded type, separate from the house batteries. On those occasions when I had run the house batteries too low, it was very comforting to know that the engine could easily be started and recharge the house batteries. And once, when a very old starting battery almost wouldn't start the engine, it was nice to know that I had a big, separate house battery that could be called on to step in and get the engine started. Until recently I have used gel cells for house power and a flooded battery for engine starting. I have a charging system that charges both from the alternator or shore power. It has worked fine. The gel cells lasted nearly 10 years before needing replacement. Last fall I replaced the gels with a flooded house battery. I'll see how well the new batt works, compared to the old gels. Good luck in getting the real answer you were looking for. Date: March 15, 2005 have started mine by hand but it is a 2 person job. Swing the decompression levers over so you can actually turn the engine over. Have one person stand -by to swing the levers back. The other person turns the crank handle. When he or she senses their effort is max'ed-out (hand crank RPM's are as fast as they are going to get), they should let go a "grunt", which is about all that I was good for by then. The decompression lever guy swings them over and God willing, you are up and running. Don't forget to keep your thumbs wrapped over the handle on the same side as your fingers....... also, I think that you can also try starting on one cylinder only. Date: March 15, 2005 This is from Bob Griffin, with a 1079 E32. I am 5’10”, and 160 lbs. It would be very important to have the compression release hooked to a control cable. Even then, it will be a two man job. I have tried to do it by myself, and can’t turn and manage the compression release at the same time. Even with two people, I cheated and had my helper hit the starter ( the batteries would not do the job by themselves) at the same time I cranked, and I was only barely able to crank it. I have considered how a weed eater engine could be rigged as a pony engine, but haven’t pursued this. Oh, I did go buy new batteries right after this experience. Date: March 15, 2005 I spent a good part of one summer trying to manually start the 2QM20-unsuccessfully. I eventually worked my way down to winding up the crank and then compressing only one cylinder-this resulted in only throwing me halfway across the cabin instead of all the way as was the case with compressing both cylinders. In all my efforts I never got the engine to complete a compression stroke. I abandoned this effort after innumerable bruised hips, shoulders and knuckles. The exercise taught me that if I was ever without a battery and needed the engine I was dead. I was always very careful of my batteries thereafter. To save on battery drain and starter wear, I always decompress the engine, wind up the starter, then engage the compress lever. Date: March 16, 2005 G'dy, a few years back my starter went out (more like fried) and we just happen to be in a marina with a number of sailboats. I went around asking if anyone had a hank crank for a yanmar and finely found on from another motor that just fit. I had someone who was willing to help hold the decompression open and I cranked & cranked to no success. I did years ago with a smaller yamnar get one started just to see if I could and it worked. On the batteries I use wet deep cycle with one dedicated to starting. I use solar panels to keep the batteries up to snuff we are on a buoy in our marine and a dock is a rare stop for us as we ply the great lakes. I have been using solar panels for long time now over ten years and they work well. Date: March 24, 2005 Sorry to join in the conversation so late, but it has afforded me the opportunity to read all the replies to hand starting the 2QM20. I feel lucky! I've hand started my 2QM20 (1977 E-32 original engine) several times just to see how difficult it might be. I was amazed and pleased that it took very little effort. I agree on setting the compression release with one hand and cranking the engine with the other. After engaging compression, it takes a continuing several turns and off she goes. My engine is an easy start under any conditions I've been in, so that may have a lot to do with the ease of hand starting. The only objection I have is that the crank handle is slightly too long and whacks against the portion of the counter under the sink as you spin the engine. Extending the drive hub by 1/2 an inch would take care of that problem. I have never hand started in cold weather, but she battery starts nicely in the cold (never tried below 45 to 50 degrees F).
From: Larry White lwhite@fbiacademy.edu
I haven't ever started my 2QM20 by hand, so this is not the reply you were looking for. My engine starts reliably, every time. I love it. But given the number of seconds that the starter has to crank to get the engine to fire, I would not want to have to start it by hand.
From: Robert Hanraads RHanraads@absconsulting.com
From: Bob Griffin Bob.Griffin@moen.com
From: Charles R. Mackey mackeyc@juno.com
From: Don Shepard stoneware@charter.net
From: Gerry Larocque gkrock@optonline.net
