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How to CRANK Start a 1918 Automobile Reo

                             Starting The Motor
Hand Crank. It is advisable to start the motor with the hand crank, provided with tool equipment, when car is just received from the factory or taken from storage. After motor has been started and run a few minutes it will turn over quite freely.

Electric Starter.--These models are equipped with an electric starting device. This electric starter can only be operated when the gear shifting lever is in its neutral position.
Locking Device. A locking device has been provided and made a part of the electric starter. It is necessary for the owner to purchase a Small padlock; the locking ring of which is about 1/4-inch in diameter. By pushing the starter button down slightly, ring of lock can be inserted in slot provided and car will be securely locked. Gear lever must be in neutral position before attempting to push down on the starting button. When lock is in position it will be impossible to shift the gears, operate electric starter or remove the floor board, thus securely locking the car. The gear being in neutral position it will be possible to push the car around for washing or other attention that might be required if stored in a garage.

To Start with Hand CrankBefore attempting to start Motor see that.....

  • First: Make sure the gear shifting lever is in neutral position.
  •  Second: The clutch pedal is unlatched and the clutch engaged. The brake pedal is pushed forward as far as possible setting brakes on the rear wheel.
  •  Third: See that spark control lever, which is the short lever located on top of the steering wheel on the right side. is back as far as possible toward the driver and the long Lever an top of the steering column controlling the carburetor, is pushed forward about one inch from its retarded position.
  • Fourth: Turn ignition switch to point marked "B" or "M"
  • Fifth: Set the carburetor control on the steering column to the point marked "START." Be sure there is gasoline in the carburetor. Test for this by pressing down on the small pin projecting from the front of the bowl until the carburetor floods. If it fails to flood it shows that the fuel is not being delivered to the carburetor properly and the Motor cannot be expected to start. See instructions on page 56 for filling the vacuum tank.
  • Sixth: When it is certain the carburetor has a supply of fuel, grasp the handle of starting crank, push in endwise to engage ratchet with crank shaft pin and turn over the motor by giving a quick upward pull. Never push down, because if for any reason the Motor should kick back, it would endanger the operator.

Starting with Electric Starter. Observe all of the above directions, with the exception of flushing the carburetor which is usually not necessary, and instead of using the hand crank, push down with the foot on the small starting button located just in front of the gear shifting lever. Remove the foot from the button as soon as the motor starts to explode and adjust carburetor control lever on steering column to the "RUN" position.
Failure to Start:

  • (1) If the starting device does not spin the Motor. See that the gear shifting lever is in neutral. See that the clutch pedal is unlatched and the clutch engaged.
  •  (2) Be certain the battery is not run down. (See page 77 for battery instructions.) See page 73 for detailed instructions in regard to starting device.
  • (3) If the Motor spins but will not start to explode. See that ignition switch key is turned to either "B" or "M."'
  • (4) Be sure that throttle lever is not too far open or too near shut. It should be about one inch from its closed position.
  • (5) See that carburetor control lever on steering column is in the "Start" position.
  • (6) Flush carburetor and see that gasoline overflows, which will show the vacuum tank is not empty and that there are no obstructions in the pipe to prevent fuel reaching the carburetor. Flushing will sometimes be necessary in extremely cold weather when car has stood in a Gold garage all night.

Also see article an HOW TO DRIVE A 1918 AUTOMOBILE REO

source: 1918 Reo owners manual, 95 pages