"Dave Liquorice" wrote in message
idual.net...
Possibly lorries had a similar device too, to allow the starter to crank
the engine over. Called a 'valve lifter' I think (?)..

Any diesel that is/was intended to be hand startable will have one.

Such a lever would stop a runaway diesel engine, if used on all
cylinders.

It'd have to operate on all cylinders to enable hand starting...

I'm always amazed that my car starts on a very cold morning when the oil
will presumably be more viscous. It sometimes takes longer to fire, but
apart from one time when the battery was on it last legs (wouldn't hold as
much charge) it turns over as fast as normal. I suppose once you get past
the first cylinder compression and over top dead centre, that stored
pressure will act in your favour and counteract the compression stroke that
is beginning on the next cylinder etc. But you have to overcome the first
compression stroke.