When cranking an engine between 15 second intervals is ok?

Question

The service manual in my car says that I should wait for 15 second before trying to crank the engine a second time. So does this website.

make sure not to crank the engine for more than 15 seconds at a time.
Current going through the armature may overheat parts, damage internal
components and ruin the starter. Crank the engine 5 to 7 seconds at a
time and let the starter cool down for a few seconds after three or
four tries.

When I'm on a steep slope (facing upward and at a just-turned-green signal), trying to start the engine, with people honking behind me, the first attempt at cranking the engine works and I try to accelerate, but let go of the clutch too quickly, and engine stops. Now I can't sit and wait for a full 15 second before trying to start the car again!
This wait-for-15-second rule seems too impractical. Did I misinterpret it or can I try starting the car before 15 second?

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You should be fine in that instance. I wouldn't make a habit of it. The rule I was taught was crank for no more than 15 seconds and let the started cool for a few minutes in between. The goal is to keep the starter from overheating so your time is cumulative. It shouldn't take more than 3 - 5 seconds of cranking to start the engine. Based on that you could try 3-5 times before you would reach the 15 seconds of cranking limit.

As you get better at driving a stick it will be less of an issue. In the mean time just as anyone learning to drive a stick the clutch and the starter are going to get a little more than normal wear on them.

When cranking an engine between 15 second intervals is ok?

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