Push start

The Honker II, which is a midget racing car getting a push start at the 144th Wagga Wagga Show.

Attempting to push start a motorcycle.

Push starting, also known as bump starting, clutch starting or crash starting is a method of starting a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine by engaging the manual transmission whilst the vehicle is in motion.^[1] The technique is most commonly employed when other starting methods (automobile self starter, kick start, jump start etc.) are unavailable.^[2]

The most common way to push start a vehicle is to put the manual transmission in second gear typically, switching the ignition to on/run, depressing the clutch, and pushing the vehicle until it is at a speed of 5 to 10 mph (8 to 16 km/h) or more, then quickly releasing the clutch to make the engine rotate and fire, then quickly depressing the clutch so it does not stall. This is done by one person pushing a lightweight automobile, pulling or being pushed by another vehicle or even rolling down a hill.

Types

Push starting is most successful when the automobile is using a gasoline engine, uses a carburetor, and uses a capacitor discharge ignition (CDI) or an inductive discharge ignition system. Automobiles with other types of engine, ignition, and fuel delivery configurations may work, but may be more difficult to start. Some engines must have a battery providing some electricity since fuel injection systems must have power to operate.

Automatic or manual gearbox

A vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission (including semi automatic) is difficult to push start since selection of transmission gears is only possible when the internals of such a gearbox are rotating.

Gasoline or diesel engines

A diesel engine uses heat and high compression (compression ratios commonly 22:1 versus 9:1 for gasoline) to ignite the fuel. When normally starting a modern diesel engine, it typically uses glowplugs to preheat the cylinder(s). If a battery is completely discharged then it may not provide the necessary electrical power to 'glow' the glowplugs, making push starting a vehicle with a diesel with a dead battery almost impossible.

Fuel delivery systems

Fuel injection is most common for modern gasoline and diesel engines. Fuel injection needs electrical power to open and close the fuel injectors. If a battery is of a sufficiently discharged state that it cannot provide the power to turn an automobile self starter then it may also not be possible to activate the injectors. The most common method to start such a vehicle engine is to jump start it.

A fuel pump is used for fuel injection. It can be mechanically driven or is electrically driven. If electrical then the same problem may arise which the battery cannot turn the pump because it is heavily discharged. A carburettor only needs suction from the internal combustion engine to work best when push starting. Once the engine is running, a fuel pump (mechanical or electrical) will continue to supply fuel to the carburettor.

Ignition systems

A modern gasoline engine contains an electronic ignition system which precisely times the electrical pulse to the spark plug. The advantage of such a device is that it can deliver a full power electrical pulse to the spark plugs even when the alternator is turning very slowly (as in push starting a motor). The out-dated method of a mechanically timed ignition system is that is cannot deliver a full electrical pulse at very low engine revolutions per minute (RPM). This may affect the ease of push starting an engine to life.

History

In the early 20th century, many motorcycles could only be push started; the 1908 Scott was distinguished by introducing a kick starter feature.^[3] Excelsior Motor Company's Welbike, intended to be carried by paratroopers in World War II, was designed to be started only by push starting.^[3]

Push starts in motor racing

Motorcycle road races required push starts by the riders. This involved all riders starting from normal positions on the starting grid, with stopped engines. This practice was banned in the mid to late-1980s.

References