Starter motor

Brinken · Post by **Brinken** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:28 pm

My 1961 M38A1 have along the road been converted from the original 6 volt to 12 volt. All lightbulbs are changed, generator is a 12 alternating current type, and everything seems to be OK, BUT the starter motor is still a 6-volter. The F-134 plays with me again. About two weeks ago the engine started for the first time in 8 years, after a struggle, now it have been sitting again for two weeks and when I tried to start it yesterday it wouldn't run. The cables from battery to starter motor got really hot, but the F-134 baerly turned around.

I took the starter motor to the local car electric workshop to determine if there is something wrong with this 6-volter. I am very well aware that it is not healthy to run a 6-volt starter on 12 volt, but what to do? When the F-134 starts, the starter just run 1 to 2 seconds, and that would be OK.

Now my question: Is there an alternative starter to buy for the F-134, one running on 12 volt from the beginning?

The electric guy at the workshop says it is quite difficult to rewind the old one, might not be worth it. I can't find any marks or numbers on the 6-volter, but I assume it is an Autolite

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 7:29 pm

The quick answer is yes.

The trick will be finding a starter that matches your flywheel
as well as the motor casting and bell housing so everything
bolts on correctly.

Remember the M38A1 is the brother to the CJ5. Both used the
F134 F head motor and the US CJ5 was 12 volt from the factory.
You should be able to find a CJ5 12 volt starter. Again, just
confirm the gearing and mounting holes.

Take care,

_________________
Brian
1950 M38
MC11481
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

Post by **wesk** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 8:30 pm

Prestolite MDU-7004 Old manufacturer was Autolite.

http://walcks4wd.com/starter-12-volt-re ... u7004.html

http://www.kaiserwillys.com/category/el ... 66-cj-3b-5

Brinken · Post by **Brinken** » Thu Jun 02, 2016 12:36 am

Thanks Wes and Brian, now I have something look for in sad moments.

skyjeep50 · Post by **skyjeep50** » Thu Jun 02, 2016 6:50 am

"Original" M38A1's weren't 6 volt, they were 24 volt with 2 12 volt batteries in series.

Brinken · Post by **Brinken** » Thu Jun 02, 2016 7:33 am

I am very well aware of that US M38A1 originally are 24 volt, but my M38A1 were originally exported from US to Saudi Arabia as a 6-volter, and sometime between manufacturing year 1961 and today converted from 6 volt to 12 volt.
Sorry for that

Post by **wesk** » Sat Jun 04, 2016 1:15 pm

Brinken is correct! Original US built M38A1's for US military use were 24 Volt. Several export categories were 6 or 12 volt.