Crank, Fire, Start, and Stay Running

I didn’t want to hijack the water pump impeller thread but notice a lot of folks seem to use the word crank as a part of the sequence of an engine starting. Which it surely is. Particularly when talking about an outboard and usually at the boat ramp.

Me climbing out of the truck to buddy who’s in the boat backed down in the water
Me “What’s wrong”?
Buddy “She won’t crank”

Now, personally, when i hear the word crank associated with starting a boat motor, i think of the starter bendix gear engaging and spinning the flywheel.

M: are you sure the battery is charged or maybe a loose cable?
B: no, that aint it - was fine when i checked it at the house.
M: well maybe something came loose or the solenoid decided to quit.
B: that aint the problem, the flywheel is spinning like normal she just won’t crank
M: (scratching head)
B: maybe I flooded it.
I’m thinking ah HA! I get it now. Cranking to him is what i call firing.
And our problem is sunny beach no pop-pop.

In my mind that condition would be called not firing rather than not cranking.
We also sometimes had the condition of it would crank but wouldn’t stay running.

What do you guys associate with the word crank involved with the act of engine not cranking aka she won’t crank?

same as you, no fire means no go.

did your buddy finally remember the kill switch?

The engine will not obtain the condition needed to propel the boat.

Motor quit moting

I would consider cranking to mean while the starter is engaged, I wonder if this is why they call them cranking batteries.

Yes, that was the first thing i checked after i learned what cranking meant. Lol

Yes - cranking means the electric starter is running, and the crankshaft is rotating.
"Start" or "Firing" means that the engines combustion chambers are burning fuel/oxygen and producing power.

It won't crank = engine will not spin from electrcial input. Another term used is "It won't turn over" for this.
It won't start = engine won't burn fuel to produce power.

Exactly right.

I use the generic catch all.....F'er won't start.

i like this!!!

It means your not going fishing today!

Yeah, I would say it will crank but not fire.

Fixed it for you.

da*n thing won't start!

Whole lot of over thinking going in here.

Words have meaning.