Mystery cable on bell housing

I have a '69 CJ5 with 134 F head engine and 3 speed trans. Can anyone tell me the purpose of the short steel cable that runs back from the bell housing to the cross member of the frame? It's less than a foot long and on the drivers side. It looks like it would keep the engine/trans from sliding forward, but I can't imagine why.

What am I missing?

 

http://www.earlycj5.net/forums/show...ion-Tension-Cable&highlight=engine+stay+cable

Just one post. Do a search for "engine stay cable", "transmission stay cable" and other variations. Lots of discussion.

 

And you will find out that it is probably an un-necessary item.

 

It is very handy to have if you don't like wheel hop in reverse. I have seen several Jeeps that were practically undriveable once someone left off the cable off that obviously does nothing.

 

Got it, thanks. It doesn't seem to be causing any problems, so I'll leave it alone.

 

I have not had a problem with mine not having it there.
I wouldn't even have known about it if some one here hadn't brought up the subject.

 

Daughter's '70 chatters horribly without it. There's a reason it was installed. Certainly not to waste money.....


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Yup. That's what I would expect.

 

Maybe it is the way I drive or something. Mine does not chatter.

 

I always thought it was a spare clutch cable.

 

Not sure I buy that. If one is still using the stock cross member mounts for a D18, you would have to assume that even with an engine/trans swap, that the reverse hop would remain present. I have yet to experience that in my 3B and that cable has been gone since 1974. I can certainly get forward hop if I really get on it but perhaps I have missed it just because I have never got on it in reverse? I can certainly see some benefit of that cable for keeping the fan out of the radiator, but even then, both the motor mounts and transmission/transfercase mounts would have to be in poor condition, and if the motor mounts really fail, the fan will likely be in the radiator anyway from angular offset.

I would think a lot of other factors, such as spring rates, shocks, ladder bars, etc would affect potential hop way more than that cable. On the other hand, it weighs next to nothing so why not.

 

So you're saying first hand experiences by people on here with stock type Jeeps that have tried them with and without them are not being forthcoming?

When you swap transmissions typically the mounting is different and that can effect this situation. Don't you also have a different engine? Engine mounting can have a dramatic effect on this as well. SBC's have a wider mounting than an L or F head and that changes the leverage on the frame, mounts, etc. hp ant torque notwithstanding. Engine and transmission mass alone can have dramatic effects on this type of issue.
Again, Willys and Kaiser didn't arbitrarily waste money on installing unneeded items. They couldn't afford it.


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leave it off, then when sumpthin breaks you will know why they installed it hopefully your close to town. my v6 has one also its there for a reason.

 

Well, when you look at how the clutch linkage works, it makes sense. The last link in the chain is the fore/aft movement of a pushrod connecting the throwout arm to the bellcrank, and the bellcrank has one end mounted to the frame bracket.

Now, if the engine/transmission package can move forward because of inertia when you are trying to back up, it will tend to let the throwout arm relax pressure on the throwout bearing, making the clutch go closer to lockup, making the Jeep lunge backward, etc. Then driver's foot presses the clutch pedal down harder because of his inertia, releasing the clutch again, setting up for the cycle to start all over again, hench the chatter.

This is a classic example of a positive feedback loop, with the mechanical linkage doing the amplifying.

Don

 

Djbutler, that is the best explanation I've ever heard. After 45 years of jeeping, now I get it.

 

I agree. Very good explanation Don!


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Thanks Don!!!!!!!! Not only does that explain why it's there, it also explains why at least some of us with different clutch release systems do not experience reverse hop. That might also be a factor if one is choosing a new clutch release mechanism. One that does not have some of the linkage mounted off the frame will likely be less prone to reverse hop.

 

Indeed.