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1957 CJ5 floor mounted starter button?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by 1957Willys, Jan 12, 2016.

  1. Jan 12, 2016
    1957Willys

    1957Willys Member

    Birmingham, Alabama
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    How is the floor mounted starter button wired into the ignition switch on my CJ5? Some one has rewired it at some point in time and removed the original ignition switch and did not reconnect the starter button. But instead put in a three position ignition switch instead of two?
     
  2. Jan 12, 2016
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    A '57 shouldn't have a floor starter, they're a '55-'56 feature but what the hey-

    The floor starter isn't wired to the ignition switch at all- it sits in the middle of the cable that runs from the battery to the starter (item 14 below), theres a wire that goes from the battery side of the switch to the voltage regulater to supply power for the ignition switch & lights. etc.

    The ignition switch is only used to turn on & off the power to the ignition coil.

    Probably someone decider to "get modern" & installed a new switch & a solenoid for the starter.

    [​IMG]

    H.
     
  3. Jan 12, 2016
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    It isn't. The floor switch operates the starter only. The ignition switch simply turns on and off the ignition system and iirc turns on the auxiliary equipment like lights, gauges, etc.
     
  4. Jan 12, 2016
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Howard just barely beat me to it :). But for posterity sake my '57 has a foot starter also.
    And I have no doubt he's more accurate on the wiring of the auxiliary equipment.
     
  5. Jan 12, 2016
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Huh.

    I thought they went away with the introduction of 12 volts as an option, but now that I think about it I seem to remember something about that being a mid-year change. :rolleyes:

    H.
     
  6. Jan 12, 2016
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    My '57 has a floor starter. (I thought every jeep did???:rolleyes:)

    But it was built as a '56, then invoiced and sold as a '57.
     
  7. Jan 12, 2016
    durangotang

    durangotang Member 2022 Sponsor

    Not Western CO
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    Strange... my '55 doesn't have a foot starter and there's no sign that one was ever meant to be mounted there (no hole, indent, etc)
     
  8. Jan 12, 2016
    1957Willys

    1957Willys Member

    Birmingham, Alabama
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    Ok that makes sense mine might be a early production 57 then. The reason I asked is because I am thinking about wiring it back in and just use the existing three position ignition switch.
     
  9. Jan 13, 2016
    mike stg

    mike stg Member

    gilbert AZ
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    would the floor starter switch also be used with a 6v system? when did they switch to 12v? I ask because my '57 is 12v and does not have the floor starter switch.
     
  10. Jan 13, 2016
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    My '56/'57 is six volt and has the floor button.
     
  11. Jan 13, 2016
    Stu

    Stu New Member

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    We had some '67's, 24 volt in the Canadian Army that had the floor mounted starter switch, may have been a military option in later years.
     
  12. Jan 13, 2016
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Different setup- military starters have a pedal linked to a manually operated gear engager (coupled to a contactor for juice to the starter), civvy setups had an foot operated electrical switch for the starter that has a regular "spin'r'out" style bendix.

    H.
     
  13. Jan 13, 2016
    1957Willys

    1957Willys Member

    Birmingham, Alabama
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    My 57 used to be 6volt because all the gauges have 6v stamped on them. Also it had the 6v distributor in it that I had to change out to the later 12v so I run electronic ignition. So it could be a 56 or 57.
     
  14. Jan 13, 2016
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Correct. And military set-up was similar to early Jeep pickups, IIRC.
     
  15. Jan 15, 2016
    1960willyscj5

    1960willyscj5 Well-Known Member

    Mesa, Arizona
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    Not exactly true. My '51 Willys Pickup had the floor button that when pressed down with your foot would slide a bendix type gear into engaging the flywheel and at the same time would close an electrical switch that spun the starter motor. Can't say on the wagons from then because the one I had was already converted to a 283 v8 and 12v system when I got it. My '48 CJ2A had a button on the dash for push to start. It also had an 8 volt battery and all the goodies that went along with that.
     
  16. Jan 15, 2016
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    They are not identical but the M38A1 functioned in the same manner.
     
  17. Jan 15, 2016
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Correction- upon further study the military starter has a switch mounted to it but with a regular bendix drive, not a mechanical engagement as I said above.

    My Bad :oops:

    H.
     
  18. Jan 15, 2016
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Ahhh. The military has an external actuating lever - that made me think it was a manual engagement for the drive.o_O

    I learn a lot from you all.
     
  19. Jan 15, 2016
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Have I mentioned I'm a psychotic pathological compulsive liar with delusions of omnipotence?

    In fact everything I post here is a lie.

    Everything.

    H.

    (that's a lie too) :D
     
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