"Cranks" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
Cranks are nouns that refer to a handle or a bar that is used to turn or operate a machine, tool, or device, particularly one that requires manual effort to generate power or motion.
The word "cranked" is a transitive verb. It means to turn or operate (a mechanism, such as a handle or a gear) with a twisting or rotating motion, often with force. For example: "She cranked open the old-fashioned door with a lot of effort."