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Starting handle kit

Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2024 4:42 pm
by 360gts
A really big long shot....
I am missing a couple of bits for this Oselli kit......my old man gave it to me way back....seem to have lost the bracket that bolts onto the hub.
So, looking for that bracket.....or a whole kit...or some good pictures of the bracket....
Looks like it could be fairly easy to fabricate...if I had some pictures.

Re: Starting handle kit

Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2025 10:32 pm
by 360gts
Surely there is someone here who has seen one of these kits.....was hoping there was one lying around in the back of a garage somewhere...still hoping LOL!

Re: Starting handle kit

Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 1:50 pm
by Polarsilver
Seem to remember it was easier to Bump start the car.. as there is a Faff to fit this system that involved changing the Crank Bolt to the type with the two lugs as fitted to 1950,s era cars that had hand starting facility .. i do remember Oselli from their business days located at Baynards Geen nr Bicester .. Oselli then moved to a new building at Eynsham.nr Witney & used them for Machineing work on Engines at that time .
Sorry Dermott i have no other info .

Re: Starting handle kit

Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 2:48 pm
by Exminiman
Did they use the Austin A35 front pulley - as it has a starting handle boss

Re: Starting handle kit

Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 2:51 pm
by mab01uk
An old ad as a further reminder and some info below.

Image

Image

Re: Starting handle kit

Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:48 pm
by 360gts
Polarsilver wrote: Fri Jan 03, 2025 1:50 pm Seem to remember it was easier to Bump start the car.. as there is a Faff to fit this system that involved changing the Crank Bolt to the type with the two lugs as fitted to 1950,s era cars that had hand starting facility .. i do remember Oselli from their business days located at Baynards Geen nr Bicester .. Oselli then moved to a new building at Eynsham.nr Witney & used them for Machineing work on Engines at that time .
Sorry Dermott i have no other info .
Norm, you were one of the people I thought may have some info. I am still hopeful that someone out there has one...or has some pictures.
They must not have been very popular....big drawback would have been the fitting of the bolt/dog on the crank pulley.
Not an easy kit to install.
My old man was always shouting at his 59 mini as it would never start....maybe that is why he had this kit. (Reminded me of John Cleese in Farty Towers beating the crap out of the 1100)🤣🤣🤣

Re: Starting handle kit

Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 10:10 pm
by Polarsilver
As yes now remember Oselli started out at Wheatley .. this was before they moved into the next shed which was located @ Baynards Green.Garag Workshop .. you should also be advised that £5 back then was a lot of money ( for-me ) to splash out ..and then start taking the Radiator out to then get that Dog Drive fitted onto the Crankshaft ..do not remember this being a popular kit to buy & fit ..if it was "others" would have got onto this income earner & produced copys to sell.
Also not that sure it would have fitted onto my 997 Cooper because of that engines Crank Damper.

Jogs the memory in that if my Battery was Flat it was not unreasonable back then ..to ask a passing stranger to help push your car to help with a bump start. .. how things have changed any stranger that was passing today would not know what a "Bump Start" was & i might get arrested for asking :lol:

Re: Starting handle kit UPDATE

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 11:53 pm
by 360gts
Well, this has been a lot more work than I had envisaged.....spent hours researching....not much in the way of pictures etc.
Have gotten a few tips on what it may have looked like....but that is about it. Even tried Oselli....they were not able to help....been many years since the original company produced them.

So, after a few attempts...I think I have come up with the design for the missing bracket.
Just about to weld up the guide on the end.....give the bits a coat of paint and ....hopefully, ready for a trial fit. Unsure of what the color was....may have been silverish.....don't think it was the traditional red/orange that was used on the Minor starting handle...

Pictures will follow.
Th

Re: Starting handle kit

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 11:52 pm
by 360gts
Finished the kit....this is as close as I can get to the original kit.......lot of searching and begging....finally, arrived at his setup.
Did a bolt up...worked like a charm.
What will I do with it???? Maybe add it to the tool kit in my 61 Elf....otherwise...another useless piece of memorabilia😂😂😂😂😂

In spite of what the Oselli ad. said...couldn't have been very successful as this may be only one in existence!!!

Re: Starting handle kit

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:14 pm
by AndyPen
Great workmanship as ever Dermot, on a very, very unusual part ;-)

Re: Starting handle kit

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:26 pm
by Polarsilver
Dermott , take great care when cranking because of the "Kick Back when starting :lol:

Re: Starting handle kit

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 11:23 pm
by 360gts
Polarsilver wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:26 pm Dermott , take great care when cranking because of the "Kick Back when starting :lol:
Yes sur Norm, I learned that from my old man when starting his old Ferguson tractor..."put your bloody thumb over the handle and not around it".....his words still echo in my ears😂😂😂😂