willysmjeeps.com

I haven't got my new M38A1 home yet, but have been able to "mess with" it a little. I am anxious to get it home so I can really dig into it.I have removed the plugs and put some PB blaster in the cylinders so it could soak for a week or so ,untill I get it home.A couple of friends have suggested that I remove the starter , thinking that it may be what has the engine locked.I tried , but didn't have the right tools with me . The lower bolt, or nut appears to be 13/16 but a box-end wrench won't go on. I suppose a socket and ratchet will work.The top appears to be 3/4 and I don't know what kind of wrench will work there. The combination wrench I had woudn't do it.What works?

Hi Tommy,

If your M38A1 has the 24 volt military starter I doubt that it is keeping the engine from turning. That starter uses a foot pedal from inside the driver floor. That pedal pushes the starter gear out to the flywheel ring and also makes the electrical contact.

Have you checked the transmission to make sure it is not stuck in gear? When it gets moved to your place it might help free it up any pushing or pulling that gets done.

I still think the engine has some light rust in the cylinder walls. Your carburetor looks like it has been closed to any rain. I hate to go look at an old jeep and see the carb open to the sky.

Alan

Should I be able to move the lever on the starter by hand? Does the starter drive disengage from the flywheel gear because the engine turns it faster than normal starter RPMs? If I had the starter off , could I retract the drive somehow? The transmission appears to be in neutral as the shift lever feels right. The clutch pedal feels normal to me. I pushed the clutch pedal down several times and slipped my foot off sideways to "jar" the clutch loose if the disc was stuck to the pressure plate. A friend told me that he had a vehicle, not a Jeep, that was stuck and he took a putty knife , actually a scraper , and drove it between the disc and plate with a hammer before it ever broke loose. I can figure out the problem pretty quickly once I get it home, but it's driving me nuts not being able to jump into it.It's a good thing the weather forecast for here is for a return to normal or slightly above normal temperatures because when I get this thing home I'm going to want to get busy working on it . My garage is full so I'll be working on it outside at first.Thanks

There should be a ‘L’ shaped lever on the back side of the starter near firewall. It is very hard by hand to push it towards the front of the jeep. When you push it forward is has an internal lever that pushes the starter gear backwards to the ring gear. If the foot push plunger is still on the floor board try sitting in the jeep and pushing it downward. That will move the lever. The starter gear retracts when you take your foot off of the plunger not when the engine starts.

Just take your time and try one thing at a time. If you want to take the starter out, no big deal.

By the way I sent you a PM asking where in Western NC you were. I might be not too far away.

Alan