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How old military jeeps were started

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by RJ'sCJ6, Apr 15, 2014.

  1. Apr 15, 2014
    RJ'sCJ6

    RJ'sCJ6 Member

    Gibson, LA 40...
    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2013
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    351
    Hello flat fender jeepers
    Just visiting this forum since I know you guys could answer my question.
    I was talking to a gentleman about how the old army jeeps were started up, he said that you started them by pushing or stepping on a starter on the floorboad, and they didn't use any keys. Is this correct?
    Thank you
     
  2. Apr 15, 2014
    Mike S

    Mike S Sponsor

    Cameron Park Ca.
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    Yes, some had a floor knob that you pushed with your foot----------took the place of a solenoid on the starter.

    Not sure if there was a key for the ignition though...........
     
  3. Apr 15, 2014
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    No key - 2 types, one with a switch to the solenoid, the other had a leaver to the solenoid. Had both as a kid...

    Heal on the gas, toe on the switch, learned to start a jeep that way :D
     
  4. Apr 15, 2014
    RJ'sCJ6

    RJ'sCJ6 Member

    Gibson, LA 40...
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    Jul 4, 2013
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    Wow, that is cool. I guess there was no time to be asking who's got the key when on the battle field!
     
  5. Apr 16, 2014
    Mr. Gangrene Jeans

    Mr. Gangrene Jeans I See Voices&Hear Visions

    Kansas City
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    Jul 17, 2009
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    Which made them easy to steal. Our auto shop teacher was an Army mechanic, he said it was common to switch two plug wires or remove the rotor so your JEEP would be where you left it. Of course unauthorized personnel started carrying a rotor with them when they wanted to go out on leave. Teacher claimed he was working on one with the carburetor off and somebody drove off with just raw fuel squirting out of the hose into the open manifold. Believe it or not, I was not there.
     
  6. Apr 16, 2014
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    It was common to see ours with a chunk of really heavy chain welded to the floor at one end looped up through the steering wheel with a hefty padlock.

    H.
     
  7. Apr 16, 2014
    RJ'sCJ6

    RJ'sCJ6 Member

    Gibson, LA 40...
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    Good stories!
     
  8. Apr 17, 2014
    RATTYFLATTY

    RATTYFLATTY I think you need a little more throttle

    Central MN
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    Oct 23, 2007
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    I learned to drive in a 50 Chevy truck that had the foot starter.
     
  9. Apr 17, 2014
    joe51

    joe51 Member

    c. Fla.
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    May 24, 2011
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    Yeap, my M37 is the same way. It just has a rod sticking up through the floor with a large button on top. You press down on it and the other end goes directly into the starter and pushes on the starter contacts directly. No relays, no switches and no extra wiring! Also just a flip lever on the dash to turn the ignition off and on with.

    The M35 Deuce and a Half is even stranger since it's diesel there's no ignition switch to shut it off with. You pull out on a knob on the dash that looks like an old-time mechanical choke. It vents the fuel pressure going to the injectors and that causes the engine to stop. The Deuce and a Half will also actually start and run without a battery! Once the fuel lines are purged of air, it will siphon feed fuel and and doesn't even need the in tank electric fuel pump to run! (the injector pump is mechanical). So you can take the battery out and push start it and it will start up and run until you vent the fuel pressure!
     
  10. Apr 20, 2014
    Mike C

    Mike C Member

    Austin, TX
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    We converted the MB to a push button start, but the hole for the foot engaged starter is still there.

    You see pictures of several different styles of "anti-theft" devices, the chain mentioned above being one. A more common one was a eyebolt through the dash. You put the shifter in reverse then a padlock around the shift lever and through the ring. This left the jeep stuck in reverse, so the would be thief wasn't going anywhere too fast!
     
  11. Apr 24, 2014
    Unkel Dale

    Unkel Dale delivery on my Jeep from Ft. Campbell, Ky.

    Pittsburgh, Pa.
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    My uncles tell a story about the motorpool Master Sergeants carried a .45 caliber pistol to "curb" unauthorized use of the units MB's.
     
  12. Apr 25, 2014
    spud

    spud Nope..it's not finished!

    Augusta Co. Virginia
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    I thought the early ones had some type of key switch in the dash that was part of the ignition coil. Am I dreaming???
     
  13. Apr 25, 2014
    joe51

    joe51 Member

    c. Fla.
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    I think that was just on the early CJ-2s. The ignition switch was part of the ignition coil. The coil mounted under the dash and the switch stuck out through a hole in the dash. Those are now expensive collector's items, of course!
     
  14. Apr 26, 2014
    uncamonkey

    uncamonkey Member

    Greeley CO
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    I believe the M38 Jeeps also had the keyed coil, at least that's what's in one of my brothers Jeeps. It is now changed out to a more standard system but the old coil is still mounted in the dash. Yes the starter is still activated by the little button above the transmission.
     
  15. Apr 26, 2014
    PeteL

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

    Hills of NH
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    The foot button idea starter was pretty common in many vehicles before WWII. In the teens or twenties the first "electric" starters were optional, which may partly explain it.
     
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