I recently watched several Youtube videos on starting gas Cats and almost every one did it wrong. I used to use both hands and get the old beast spinning. I was lucky that I didnt get hurt. I finally read the operators manual and it says to put your right hand on the radiator side and pull the crank thru the top. It keeps your chin far away from any potential spinning crank. My mag is rebuilt and I can hear the mag coupler snap so I know it is working, so I sometimes wonder why I did not get a kickback. Dumb Luck. Grant.

I'm new to the forum and old cats but I was given a cat 22 that has sat out in the woods for 25 years. I have been able to get it started and am in process of getting it working again. I am also interested in an alternative starting method to the crank. I was starting it about 2 weeks ago and I'm not sure what happened, since event is pretty fuzzy, but short story is that crank kicked back somehow and broke my nose and necessitated 13 stiches. So I am less excited about the crank start. It was definitely a learning experience! But I am just glad my eyes and teeth were ok.
I will pull off the plate and look at the flywheel but I'm guessing probably no ring gear. I like the picture of the gear on the starting crank with a chain drive to starter motor. Could the person who posted it possibly give a bit more info on it. Like how much torque is needed and what type of starter or is it just an electric motor with a sprag clutch? The cat will fire up after a few cranks but I am understandably gun shy now. I have been wearing a helmet while cranking!

Thanks for the input. I'm not really sure there was even a back fire, I could have been at top dead center and the crank and cam both flopped over and it just spun around. I was trying to spin it too much. I feel like it was probably operator error. After incident I looked at owners manual and it describes that way you do. But I am still hesitant, it was quite a hit and my face can't take another. no sheath on crank, I think its not stock and something that someone just welded on.
Its been a super enjoyable activity to work on the cat 22, except for getting walloped in the face. It was given to me by neighbor who said it "ran when parked" 25 years ago. It was left in gear, so I had to get it unstuck and back into neutral. I clean and gaped plugs, checked oil, cleaned gas tank, and added new fuel. I was first able to get it to run with lots of cranking, too much probably, on the priming fuel. I then pulled carb, it was full of rust and very corroded. I gave it a major cleaning and then I could get machine to run and idle but not throttle up. It didn't want to shift into gears with clutch in, so we started it a few time in gear with clutch in and let it move a little. Eventually the clutch plate let loose and I can now start it in neutral and shift into the gears. It moves but almost dies in gear because of low rpms. I have sent carb out for professional rebuild as I can t seem to get main jet fuel. Its been a bit tricky as its a 5 min walk out into the woods to get to it. It has a bulldozer blade and the hydraulics are working! I burst a hose but replaced it and the blade goes up and down. It has a huge PTO winch off the back for dragging logs. The road it cut in 25 years ago has 6" trees on it so I have chain sawed a path out for it. So I am hoping as soon as the carb comes back, I can drive it out of woods and to the shop for further evaluation. I think its a 1937. So its pretty awesome to think that this machine thats 85 years old and has sat for 25 years is now running and moving and soon will be put back to work. I really liked the crank aspect of it until it kicked me in the face.

 

This is my machine

My R2 had a blade also and i found it difficult to start standing between the blade and crank- I usually started it standing with one foot on the blade brace and using the other foot on a down push on the crank---this worked for me but not recommending it!!

That's a cute little 22 dozer. Thanks for sharing your photo and "incident". Perhaps we can all learn from others. I see a Berglund dealers decal on you tractor, are you from N. California? That was the dealer way back in the day around Ukiah, CA I believe. JM

Yep. Dozer is located near placerville in foothills of Sierra. all advice is appreciated and I shared my story to remind new guys like myself that a crank start is cool and nostalgic but in a matter of less than a second it can turn ugly.