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Starter Wiring; Solenoid or not?
Topic Started: Sep 27 2012, 05:41 AM (982 Views)
sinannasirli
Member
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Hi Guys,

My 6 volt cj3b has a solenoid and ignition trough key setup.

I have thinking of maybe switching to the foot-button set up.

My foot starter switch is still at its place and looks it will be working.

Is it a good idea to keep the solenoid but use the foot starter button to let it work, instead of the key?

I have found some of the oldtime's posts about getting rid of the solenoid and directly using the foot button.

Are there any drawbacks using the solenoid? Or any benefits?

I have a pretty good wiring and all cut to measure, and if I get rid of the solenoid now I will have to make all the wiring again, too many wires to change.

I basicly thinking of running a wire from the ignition key to the floor button to trigger the solenoid, instead of using the ignition terminal of the key. Is there something not logical?

Regards

Sinan
1953 CJ-3B / Green Color / Ventilating Windshield / Dualmatic Hubs / 6 Volt generator Harrison Heater (hoses not yet installed due to a stubborn plug) / Ramsey PT1-J (Currently on the balcony, waiting to be installed :) /
Istanbul - Turkiye
Trying to make it as stock as possible..
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oldtime
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MODERATOR
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I've used both the floor type starters and the key switch which activates a solenoid type starter switch.

Quote:
 
Is it a good idea to keep the solenoid but use the foot starter button to let it work, instead of the key?
As you know the floor starter switch is perfectly capable of handling the high amperage required for starting.
There is no advantage to using the floor starter to activate a solenoid switch.
It's a redundant switching system, yet there no reason why it cannot work.

Quote:
 
Are there any drawbacks using the solenoid? Or any benefits?
Using a solenoid that is activated via key switch can potenially have 1 advantage.
If the engine is started on a very steep incline then Key starting allows one to keep their feet upon the brake and clutch pedals.
Currently building my final F-134 powered 3B .
Rock Crawler using factory parts from the Willys Motors era (1953-1963)

http://s4.zetaboards.com/CJ3B_Bulletin_Board/topic/30228766/1/#new
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jyotin
Member
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Two advantages to the solenoid version...

One is that while you are driving 40 mph a passenger can't say "hey, what is this extra dimmer switch for.." just before he depresses it to see how it works....

Second is that I have a natural dislike for large cables connected directly to the + side of the battery. There will always be at least one, but the more there are, and the longer they are the greater the potential for short circuits either through abrasion or through an accident or other jolt. It is unlikely that one will happen, but it is simply more exposure.

A long time ago I considered how to prevent #2 from happening, so I connected a fused wire to the floor start switch which simply controlled a solenoid that did the actual switching instead of the floor start switch. Now, that worked fine, but actually made no practical sense... But it was cool to have a foot mounted starter switch. It still didn't change the potential for problem #1.
It's just my luck that something good is going to happen to me today.
54 - 3B - down on the farm
67 - cj6 - former state of Alabama vehicle
?? - cj5 T98a - made from spare parts - Ford tractor blue
?? - cj5 T98a - made from spare parts - Jeep green
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VIC543B
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Use the foot switch, its one of the many simple nuwonces ( I cant spell) that make the jeep so cool.
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sinannasirli
Member
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I think I will use the foot starter for any case. But maybe for now I will use it to activite the solenoid. I think it will make we less hassle for the wiring that way, and also if I am not happy for whatever reason will be easy to change it back.

It looks cool, besides can be an early stage immobiliser :)

Not many people would now what it is for..
1953 CJ-3B / Green Color / Ventilating Windshield / Dualmatic Hubs / 6 Volt generator Harrison Heater (hoses not yet installed due to a stubborn plug) / Ramsey PT1-J (Currently on the balcony, waiting to be installed :) /
Istanbul - Turkiye
Trying to make it as stock as possible..
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Don
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I've always though it would be fun to have both.

I wanted to connect the foot switch in parallel with the key switch starter circuit to operate the starter solenoid. That way I could use the key switch when I was alone or had my feet busy. But with company in the jeep, I could just turn the ignition on then press the foot switch to start the engine.

I just haven't gotten around to it yet.
Don Norris
Southeast, NC

1953 CJ3B
1959 Jeep Pickup
195? M100 trailer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The trail never ends
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If lovin' Jeeps is wrong,
I don't wanta be right.
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VIC543B
Unregistered

Don

When I first bought my Jeep, that is kinda how the PO had the ignition wired up, well thats what I think I found in the ratnest under the dash. I had to turn the key to the start position then push the foot switch until it fired up, then let the key go back to position 2. I ended up pulling the entire nightmare of wires out and rewired it as original with no solenoid, no key starter no fuses and I love it. Had no electrical issues since, except a faulty light switch that was shorting out and killing the coil on start up.
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williams3b54
Williams3B54
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I use my 54 highhood for trail rides and some around town driving.
To the trail usage, if you are by your self in the jeep and need to stop on an incline and shut the jeep down, getting started on the hill is a joke.
First of all you need a very good parking brake to hold on the hill so you can depress the clutch and reach across the tranny cover to push the start button with your right foot and maybe heel the gas pedal. I know that in some cases you can leave the jeep in low gear and start the jeep that way, but going up hill does present it's problems for the F-Head to do that.
I left my 54 that way for a while and my wife would be the start button operator, while I kept my right foot on the brake and toed the gas. That works if there are two of you in the front seats in the jeep. But does not work if by yourself.
So I have the start button on the floor board as a deterant and for authentisity, but have installed a solenoid and a start push button on the dash I can reach from the drivers seat. I think this works very well. It does not take away from the original look of the jeep and it makes it confusing for somebody going to "borrow" your jeep when you don't want them to.
I mounted the solenoid on the firewall on the engine side and it is wired thru the key switch.
Dick W. Spokane Wa.
1954 CJ-3B
Semi-modified for trail riding in the Northwest.
See photos on CJ-3B page owners photos 1954.
1968 CJ-5/1975 231 odd fire V-6/ many other mods. ordered new from Toledo 1968.
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