Ignition switch terminals

swat · Post by **swat** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 4:34 pm

I am replacing the keyed ignition switch currently on my M38 with the military levered ignition switch. Looking at the back side of the switch, starting with the upper left pin , going clockwise, which is for wire 11, 12, 27, and 85 as shown in TM 9-8012 page 214?

evanso1975 · Post by **evanso1975** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 1:06 am

Which igntion switch are you intending to use? This thread will help ID it:

http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php? ... ion+switch

If it's the 4-pin douglas type (3rd picture down), then if you look closely at the connectors on the back there is a number for each moulded into the rubber connector (I needed my glasses for this

).

Owen.

swat · Post by **swat** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 7:14 am

Guess I have an oddball switch. It is like the four pin packard as in your illustration, but has the letters A, B, C, and D stamped on the rubber connector instead of numbers for the pin connections. Anybody?

Post by **wesk** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 9:51 am

That 4 pin switch came out in the late 50's /early 60's. The M37B1 used it.

This is the adapter harness used by the M37 for that switch. This would be the easiest way to adapt the switch for use in your jeep. Saturn surplus usually has these.

evanso1975 · Post by **evanso1975** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 3:04 pm

Wes is correct. On closer inspection, mine has A-B-C-D too. The adaptor harness Wes refers to has the A-B-C-D at the switch end and the wire numbers at the harness end.

Sorry for the confusion.

Those adaptor harnesses seem to be fairly common (I got mine off ebay). This is a photo of mine:

There's a bigger photo on page 4 of my gallery

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... php&page=4

You can make out the part number (2920-796-2655). It's 1973 production, and the rubber sheathing is nice and supple. Not that I have any strange fixation with rubber, you understand........

Owen.

swat · Post by **swat** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:43 pm

Thanks for the photos. I think that, between you and Wes, I have all the info to get that bugger installed. The photo number 60 in your album - strange to see a military jeep in service with civy tires. Guess the general wants a real soft ride.

Post by **wesk** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:47 pm

In southeast Asia during the 60's and 70's over half our trucks and jeeps had civvy tires.

The proliference of NDCC GI tires is like M2 Machine guns on jeeps. It is a big gonads, chest thumping wannabe GI thing that really doesn't accurately reflect the jeep's real life service.

evanso1975 · Post by **evanso1975** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 9:57 am

It is a big gonads, chest thumping wannabe GI thing that really doesn't accurately reflect the jeep's real life service.

After a few hundred miles of road driving in a jeep on NDCC's, the gonads wouldn't feel anywhere near as big.

That Johnny Cash song "Ring Of Fire" would be more apt.

Owen.