M100 convoy light question

ECVJeeps · Post by **ECVJeeps** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:06 am

captw · Post by **captw** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:56 am

okay, thanks Pat for posting the pics for me....as can be seen, switch is mounted to right front lower corner of cargo bed, in existing hole, as per pics of Pat's trailer....switch bezel is worn, but "Convoy Light" and "Off" can be seen....convoy lamp is mounted just forward of rear rib under trailer, w/ light directed at plate mounted on rib just above and behind axle...hopefully this clears up the convoy light question...Wilf

ECVJeeps · Post by **ECVJeeps** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:29 am

I don't know about Wilf's questions but this sure sheds some light on my questions and it add to my knowledge about the M100's in Canadian service a lot.
I will be installing an on/off switch on my trailer and changing the wiring on the trailer a bit to make it just a bit more original.

One last question, does the switch use Douglas connectors or Packard connectors?

Thanks
Pat

Post by **wesk** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:05 am

Packard didn't appear til around 1957 so that should help with the decision on which to use.

Wilf do you have a photo of the back side of the switch?

ECVJeeps · Post by **ECVJeeps** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:33 am

Now that I see the pictures the one thing that strikes me as odd, (however not really) is that the switch is on the passenger’s side of the trailer.
This I would have to attribute to "Military way of thinking".
That means that the driver would have to get out of the jeep, walk around behind the jeep and trailer back up the passenger’s side to turn on the convoy light and then return to the jeep by retracing his steps all the way around back to the driver’s side of the jeep.
Or the other way around the front of the jeep to the switch on the trailer and back to the driver’s seat.
He could possibly jump across the tongue and wiring harness or lean across between the trailer and jeep.
Why not just mount the switch on the D/S of the trailer and make things easy?

This is just the typical type of thinking in the Canadian Military, still in use today!

I think I will modify my jeep by mounting the switch on the D/S just because.

jasonm · Post by **jasonm** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 11:21 am

I just checked out our m-100 its a MDI # 1234 here at the museum, There is no sign of a switchand no sign of one ever being there, however the light bracket and white painted reflector is still there.
It has the newer style packard connectors on it.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 11:58 am

Actually the switch went over there because the trailer's wiring harness was always routed to that side of the trailer. The 1/4 ton trailers have routed their harnesses down the passenger side of the trailer since their introduction as the MBT and T3 trailers in WWII. The BO light switch on the WWII trailers were on that side as well. This is true to both US and CDN trailers.

As for the walk around it is really not necessary. One just walks back on the driver's side and reaches across the drawbar and actuates the switch.

captw · Post by **captw** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:39 pm

Hi Wes...I can take a pic of the back of the switch, but it's just a standard M38 ignition switch, that I'm using...the original two wire unit was rotted out...p.s. Wes, can you please comment on my post about the fuel pump question I have?...thanks...W

jasonm · Post by **jasonm** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:18 pm

Pat, thats not the same Trailer that i went and looked at for you is it?
Jees that looks good.

ECVJeeps · Post by **ECVJeeps** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:40 pm

Yup same trailer only now it has all new parts.
New brake, bearings, cable box, cable, drain
plugs, and is half finished.
As soon as Cheryl's M38 is done I get to finish
the trailer for her!

Then I get to start a jeep for me

Post by **wesk** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:05 pm

I was looking for how the wire's connected to the trailer harness from the switch.

captw · Post by **captw** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 6:20 pm

I recieved a call from a friend of mine here on ON who recently purchased probably the last M100CDN to come directly out of the CDN military...his info on the trailer is that it was used for air drop tests...anyhoo, his trailer has the convoy light switch, wiring intact and evidence of where the the convoy light and reflector plate were mounted...Wes...I'll look to see how they tied the power wire into the harness, and which pin is powered in the power cord connector...W

WESTCOMVIC · Post by **WESTCOMVIC** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:22 am

Hi Wilf, hope your trailer survived its "jumps"...I'll be looking forward to your description of the "how" on the convoy light wiring question.I'll be watching, Cheers,Dave

jasonm · Post by **jasonm** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:19 pm

Well Just to let you know if the trailer was used for drops, there was two things done to them...and these two things you could tell a mile away,
First they were painted a bright colour,Red, yellow and even pink, this was because when they were droped they needed to find them again.
Number 2 was they were filled with cement to give them some weight.
I have seen several here on base as the 403 Sqn is just up the road.
The other tell tail sign is they will not look like a trailer anymore.
In short we need to start seeing some real photos or wiring diagrams to back this up.
I know it has been said here that this would have been right but I myself have served in the canadian military, you would not put a switch on the other side and be expected to reach through to flick it,as it would be a safety thing, The SM would kick your arse all the way back to base.
Now with that said,some units may have had a reason to do something of the sorts, We were always seeing things that the Maintainers thought would be easer, some worked some dident.

I am not saying it was not done but i am doupting that it was a standard practice.
Please post a photo of the old switch that was no good to start with.
Jason

willysmjeeps.com

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