Anyone who flew Navajos or Chieftains remember having to slip your hand under the instrument panel and flick the solenoid lock pin out of the gear lever with you thumb nail before you could select the gear up ?
The Aztecs with the damaged cam inside the flap selector housing ( required some manipulation) that could prevent the flaps from working?
Remember having to remove cowls to belt the starter housing in order to loosen up the starter pinion gear solenoid for an engine start?
Other option was to attempt an air start, after getting it in the air , on one engine.
There was that infamous individual from my time who was known for doing this ( rumoured ) .