Let's crank up the old motorcycle and take it for a spin.
If you crank up the volume of something, you turn it up until it is very loud. Someone cranked up the volume of the public address system By about six, they're cranking the music up loud again. = turn up
If you crank up a machine or device, you start it. May's warm weather, which caused Americans to crank up their air conditioners. = start up
[ 'kra[ng]k ] (noun.) 13th century. Middle English cranke, from Old English cranc- ; probably akin to Middle High German krank weak, sick; more at CRINGE.