[davew833]

I've used the breaker bar/bump the starter method a few times on a few different cars and yes, it works, but it's always a little scary. I always try to secure the end of the breaker bar against the passenger side frame rail so it doesn't flail around. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. Last time I used this technique, the breaker bar got loose, swung around, and sheared off part of the back of my headlight housing. I think the potential of 'collateral damage' of that sort is more of an issue than strain on the starter. There's plenty of other stuff under the hood that can/could get damaged as well, and I certainly wouldn't let anyone else stand anywhere nearby! Don't do it with the hood closed either.