In Borneo we used a Malayan 10 cent coin when the starter safety disc blew. Before starting the engine we had to turn the crank handle 72 times for 1 engine revolution to make sure the lower cylinders didn't have oil leaked into them over night! We also cranked started in the bush if we ran out of starter cartridges, you had to crank really fast & with luck, 1 cylinder would fire, then another & finally all of them! Only ever had the inlet manifold crack, so quite reliable, it was the clutch that caused most problems I think!