hows it work

[k d]

I have an inboard desiel 8 hp, it has a crank to turn over the engine when all else fails, other than taking the entire companionway steps,supports, and anything else thats in the way how do you get it to rotate . I tryed it onceand gave up ,went for the charger.do they sell an extention for the thing or a trick to do it or is the trick on us?

[Carl]

You have to hold down the compression release to get it going. When you let it go the engine should start. No idea on the things in the way.

[Ed Schenck]

There were some posts, pretty old now, where crank starters were discussed. But I don't recall anyone having clearance issues. I do remember that almost nobody was successful in starting their Yanmars by hand. My H37C crank resides in the nav table, is only about 12" long, and I can turn the engine with it. I can turn it quite fast if I hold down the compression lever but I have never tried to start it.

[Jim Rice]

Our Renault R8 diesel doesn't have the compression release lever shown in the Renault documentation! FYI

[Jack Laird]

Your just lucky you have a crank. The R8 has a rope to be pulled, only by the largest of the largest crew. No compression release.