Title text:
"How does the spring not run out almost immediately?" "We pull it back REALLY far."
Transcript:
Transcript will show once it’s been added to explainxkcd.com
Source: https://xkcd.com/3244/
this post was submitted on 12 May 2026
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Put a big wind-up key on the back for when it runs out.
or dont do that for planned obsolescence
i've seen people do that with vw beetles. it's cute.
Hand-crank starters were in production until the 90s apparently. The lada niva (a small weird truck thing) had them through 1998. Who knew?
I know it’s not quite the same but.. wind up key part is! I was gunna find a pic but there don't seem to be any showing the crank in use, only videos.
That was a great read, thanks for sharing!