1. Preparing the Car:
- Ensure the car is in neutral gear.
- Set the parking brake.
2. Fuel Source:
- Early cars typically ran on gasoline or other alternative fuels like steam or electricity.
- Gasoline-powered cars required a hand-operated fuel pump to pressurize the fuel line.
3. Ignition System:
- Before the widespread adoption of electric starters, cars relied on a hand crank to start the engine.
- The hand crank was attached to the front of the engine crankshaft.
4. Starting the Engine:
- To start the car, the driver had to turn the hand crank vigorously by hand. This required significant physical strength.
- As the hand crank was turned, it engaged the engine's flywheel, causing the piston to move and initiating the combustion process.
5. Timing:
- The driver needed to crank the engine at the right time in relation to the piston's position in the cylinder to ensure proper ignition.
- This process required practice and coordination to achieve a successful start.
6. Throttle Control:
- Early cars often had manual throttle levers that controlled the air-fuel mixture.
- The driver needed to adjust the throttle lever to provide the right amount of air and fuel for efficient engine operation.
7. Spark Advance:
- Early engines utilized a spark timing lever to adjust the ignition timing.
- The driver had to adjust this lever based on the engine speed to optimize performance.
8. Choke:
- To assist in starting a cold engine, a choke was used to temporarily enrich the air-fuel mixture.
- The driver would pull out the choke lever before starting and release it once the engine warmed up.
Starting a car in the early 1900s required a combination of mechanical knowledge, physical strength, and practice. It was a more complex and hands-on process compared to the convenience of modern vehicles with electric starters and electronic ignition systems.
