MTFCA Forum

Just assembled my ‘26 RPU and am having trouble with the starting handle contacting the apron. Did the later cars use a longer handle or are they all the same? I’ve got the apron as far back as it can go, right against the leaf spring clamp and just can’t get good engagement on the pin.

Check out this earlier post:


https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/7 ... 1491922062

Your crank handle could have been shorten (rare) or the pan bushing is too far out keeping crank handle from reaching depth, or crank ratchet teeth worn bad, or repro crank pulleys can have too thick center to allow ratchet mouth to enter or crank pin is off. Your apron should be screwed to the 26-27motor mount to keep it flush.

Dave,
The parts book shows one crank for 09-27. Here are pics of mine on the 26TT. There is about 3/4” of clearance even with my apron bent out a bit and the crank bent in a bit. If you have a torch, heat the bend in the zone 90deg to the engine axis, and with the pinned end in a good vice, bend it out an inch.

Mike’s crank is correct for a ‘26. The sleeve should turn in your hand. The crank should not be bent in. If it is, it may have bumped into something in the past. Remedy would be to pull it out to a precise 90 degree angle. May need to remove the crank, clamp it into a strong vice and, attain the correct angle using a small sledge hammer. Wrap the crank in burlap or leather to prevent damage by the hammer. Should bend without heating. Is your apron screwed into the front spring clamp? If not, the apron bottom may be protruding out somewhat. Thereby making contact with the crank. Jim Patrick

PS. It the crank has been shortened, you can take it to a fabrication shop and ask them to weld a 1” piece of round rod on the end to lengthen it. So they won’t have to drill a new hole, you may want them to cut off the end and insert the 1” piece between the cut end and the cutoff end.

Dave - pictures of my ‘26 RPU.

Make sure the handle and the end go into the pan are parallel and the arm is 90*
These hang down and get hit often

Sure enough, that free dangling starting crank may have met up with a high curb while bouncing in on your last stop at Wawa for coffee altering the 90 degree bends.

The problem got resolved today. As it turns out, the crank length had been shortened years ago. As soon as I compared it to other cranks that I had, it became obvious what to do. The short one now sits on the shelf…