Question from an old crank

[Restorer32]

Was there ever a car built in the Brass Era that you turned the crank counter clockwise rather than clockwise to start?  Enquiring minds want to know. Question came up as we were assembling a '24 Citroen engine with "dippers" on the con rods. I say NO since majority of people are right handed.

[Guest]

Brush was one engine that ran counter clockwise.

[JV Puleo]

I believe Humber also turned counter clockwise.

[Restorer32]

Interesting.

[Bob McAnlis]

Stearns run counterclockwise

[1937hd45]

Orient turned counter clock wise a friend lost three teeth trying to start his 1906 at a meet with a crowd around him. Bob 

[Bloo]

Wouldn't counterclockwise be easier for a right handed person? I'm right handed and crank with my left hand.

[Ivan Saxton]

Four cylinder "15hp" Napier were reverse rotation up to about sometime late 1912; whereas all the larger cars were conventional rotation.  The small 2 cylinder variant of the small four were likely counter clockwise also, though I have not had a chance to question an owner.  When they changed the rotation, and flipped over the side of the crown wheel in the back axle, it was said by some to have been co-incident with the termination of the commercial; association between Montague Napier and S.F.Edge.  I have seen no documentation of that.   Many of the 15hp fours were used as taxis, and there may have been some tradition of reverse rotation in other makes used as taxis.  The 1911 I have is very soundly engineered.  There is full pressure oil to the crankshaft, with sensible dimensions of crankpins and main bearings.  There is an adjustable oil pressure relief to the main feed, and the earliest full flow oil filter I have seen.  This is brass wire gauze, which might collect the biggest debris.

[Chris Bamford]

1 hour ago, 1937hd45 said:

Orient turned counter clock wise a friend lost three teeth trying to start his 1906 at a meet with a crowd around him. Bob 

 

That’s odd. My 1906 Orient is Clockwise rotation (viewed from the rear, where one stands to crank). 

[dibarlaw]

 

 I believe the earliest Oakland 2 cylinder cars were counterclockwise.

Since we are talking about cars with names starting with "O" how did the "ONLY" you were working on turn out?

[padgett]

Pairs of marine engines often turn opposite,  just takes a special camshaft, oil pump,  and starter.

[Restorer32]

9 hours ago, dibarlaw said:

 

 I believe the earliest Oakland 2 cylinder cars were counterclockwise.

Since we are talking about cars with names starting with "O" how did the "ONLY" you were working on turn out?

Working on it as fast as we can given the financial constraints on the project. 

[Terry Bond]

12 hours ago, dibarlaw said:

 

 I believe the earliest Oakland 2 cylinder cars were counterclockwise.

Since we are talking about cars with names starting with "O" how did the "ONLY" you were working on turn out?

Early 4 cylinder Oaklands also cranked that way also.  One of our local club members had one.

Terry