Check out this solenoid

When I got my Jeep, someone had swapped in a F4, so it had this solenoid on it.

For some reason I noticed right away that it had that little button on the bottom. I wonder.....sure enough, push it and the solenoid works and starts the engine (course the key has to be on)! Make sure it is in neutral! Handy for checking compression or other tune up work.

No markings of any kind. Only one I have ever saw.

Anyone ever seen such a critter?

 

Never have seen one - but that's a neat trick!

 

That would definitly be handy!

mbe its some kinda aftermarket gadget, yknow like you saw in the old 4Xmags

that one could be usefull unlike alot of that stuff they used to sell

 

Nice find never one that old but I Have seen them alot like that on dirt cars .Most that dont have it have a push button mounted in the engine compartment that does the same thing. It only cost 5 to 10 bucks and a few minutes to rig up a button that does the same thing. Thanks for sharing it with us

 

I had one just like it on my '56, was used to power the Meyer plow lift. Mine was a 6 volt though, never seen a 12v. Was yours on the starting circuit?

 

Yes it was on the starter circuit. My Jeep was very "pieced together" I guess you could say, so it very well could be from a plow setup. All a solenoid does is pass current so don't think 6 or 12 volt would matter, except for the hold in coil, and even that might still work. In fact 6 volt would work even better on 12 volts, right?, and probably with no problems given the short time it operates (a few seconds at a time).
It is interesting that Hawk has seen them on dirt cars, i have kept my eyes peeled and never seen one besides this. I have seen remote starter switches mounted under the hood, as well as oil pressure and vacuum gauges. I especially like the vacuum gauge one, as you can set timing by adjusting it to the highest vacuum reading at idle and be pretty close. Little trick an old time race tuner taught me.