Eccentric part of engine? (5)

I believe the answer is:

crank

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'eccentric' is the definition.
(crank is a kind of eccentric)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for crank that I've seen before include "Wind (up) - oddball" , "Turn (engine handle); eccentric" , "Person with strange ideas, or machine part" , "Eccentric - starting handle" , "Person with strange and often aggressive ideas" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.

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