Wiktionary
vb. 1 To start something mechanical, an act that often used to involve cranking. 2 (context idiomatic English) To increase, as the volume, power or energy of something.
WordNet
Usage examples of "crank up".
Those big flower shaped horns on old crank up record players weren't just decorative.
But the Professor, insisting that the entire valley was falling to ruin about them, thought it best to crank up the paddlewheel.
Though Tess isn't in a mood to draw, I crank up the height of one of the stools, adjust a tabletop easel for her drawing paper, and put a stick of vine charcoal into her hand.
We might need a bit of rapid fire at this point, so crank up the bows.
He just wants us all to crank up our own enthusiasm for the outrageous ideas.
He hoped like mad that she wouldn't, because then he would have to crank up the hospital bed and sit next to her and give her the tea a sip at a time, watching the toothless mouth fold itself over the rim of the cup, and listen to the slurping sounds as she took the tea into her dank, dying guts.
ANYWAY, NOW THAT YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF THE BOATS OF THE EMPIRE, KEEP A FIRM HAND ON THE THROTTLE AND CRANK UP THE STEAM, GIVE THE BOILERS HEAD AND STOP DRAGGING ANCHOR.
George realized that he could crank up the science fiction rumor mill with one phone call, but in doing so, he would not receive one word of consolation or consideration for his plight.
Now it's ten o'clock, the library closed an hour ago, and a proper old jeezer is starting to crank up outside.
Without thinking about it, Bill swapped hands on the control stick, using his left hand on the stick to counter the Wildcat's tendency to veer to the right on take-off and freeing his right hand to crank up the landing gear.
Then Ancient Evelyn would take Gifford and Alicia into her room, and crank up the little Victrola.
Gifford and Alicia into her room, and crank up the little Victrola.