Improve your Willys jeep starting (other classic cars too!)

There's a simple fix for 6V systems, its easy and free
I know the Negative cable doesn't go to the battery tray there where I show it ;)
Have a go and let me know in the comments if it helps you!

[@ronhatch6853]

Great advice. My 1945 gpw is the original 6 volt . When I rebuilt it , I made sure that the connections were clean as you said. Starts and runs great like they intended 75 years ago.

[@daleguenther1811]

I converted my 1943 GPW to an 8V system, by simply installing an 8V battery and tweaking the regulator to slightly increase the generator voltage. This way the starter, lights, gauges are not stressed with 12V juice, I have more cranking power and it looks original. Yes, the system cannot charge the battery while the headlights are on, but I never drive at night. I converted 20+ years ago and no issues popping up. Final electrical tip, always use a trickle charger.

[@thomastownsend1094]

My Jeep was hard to start. It was even harder to start after it was warmed up. In fact I burnt the starter up trying to start it. In this or another of his videos he said the timing needed to be advanced on the old Willy’s to burn the new modern fuel. I advanced the timing by turning the distributor clockwise as he suggested. The jeep now starts immediately. Thank you very much!!! I have been monkeying around with this for two years.

[@alkaline3mc]

I’m having similar issue with ours, do you have more information about this or know which video it was where this was said?

[@F.Krueger-cs4vk]

Purchased a 44 gpw, wirh 12 volt system. Generator converted, original reg with new 12 volt internals. Cannot tell difference, looks original. 👋🇦🇺

[@jakebullock342]

Handy video for those new to the hobby and the simplest explanation i've ever seen. I'm building my first jeep and learning from the mistakes made by my dad when he built his 35 years ago. He has had starting problems on 6v for all the time he has owned it and only when it came to wiring up the stater on mine and we were recommended a cable that links the negative straight to the rear starter mounting bolts. They were from Jeffrey Engineering and work great. Although not original they do not look out of place. Knowing what i do now after this video i would be fitting the original frame earth strap but i figure i've already spent the money. We were also told at the time that there is an issue with the connection across the chassis due to the rivets and that was part of the problem that this cable fixes, now im not sure how true this is or whether or not it was just a bit of clever salesmanship.

[@Zincaloom]

Great information. Very clear and well demonstrated. Nicely done. Thanks.

[@garyallsebrook3493]

I restored the type B 6V system in my '42 MB , buzzed all the grounds with a DMM, used fresh star washers and it works and starts perfectly every time.

[@meltinghead9469]

You are 100% right. I think I am the only one who brought his 1942 Slat grill back from 12 to 6 volt. They al regarded me as crazy but I did. I use the same fat cables as you used and my old lady starts and runs great. Also important: 140Amp battery.

[@Greendot319]

Proper powerful 6 volt battery is very important, at the end of the day originality counts for something

[@dazaspc]

A few years ago I had a problem with a generator that I couldn't get parts for. Nothing original existed and the old generator needed everything. According to the name plate on the side it was only 30 amps in a 6 volt system. I converted it to a 6 volt alternator inside the original housing using motorcycle replacement alternators. 3 of them and a new solid state reg hidden inside the original reg box. It worked like a treat charging far better at idle {No more dull lights at night} and keeping the original 6 volt system in place. A fair bit of machine work inside but no external signs of conversion. Couldn't tell you what they were out of from memory I just raided an auto elecs stock room with a set of veneer calipers.

[@TexasADV]

when I was first getting into cars, my grandfather told me that 90% of electrical issues can be traced back to bad grounds. the more I work on vehicles the more I realize he's 100% correct.

[@non-prolific135thscalemode7]

It appears to be simple automotive electrics - not necessarily only for 6V. I had the same kind of current layout in a 12V 1970 Opel (Vauxhall to you :)), too, but it looks as if these simple things need to be explained properly. That's what you did and you did very well. I really enjoyed this vid. :)

[@453421abcdefg12345]

This is true for the lights as well, with loose of corroded earth connections the lights are like glow worms, I have even had people tell me that to change over to 12 volt you must replace the 6 volt wiring ? When asked why they say because it needs to be done to take the higher voltage ! I wonder where they learned their electrical theory?

[@focus82grothm.84]

Very good explained and good video. In our case we had a too little 6V. battery 98Ah, unfortunately i don't remember start capacity on it. Bought a 6V. battery with 140Ah and 900 A start current, voila easy start ups.

[@primitivebob8781]

Howdy from west Texas. LOL, I kept waiting for you to 'drive back to the right lane'?! I have a 6 volt starter that I am about to use to power an electric cart for my wife, as we live in the mountains and are old (60) and our 'walkway' from the road, where we park the truck to our hand built, 4 story (14 yrs) lol, Castle, is 300 ft at 30 degrees. We (I) thank God for the original folks that did so much for the world WW2 Generation. Figured everything out and saved the world. And now, 'poor as dirt' me uses there everlasting starter motor to get our groceries to my castle, till I die! And then even for the next owner. Mine was a free pile of 2 partial jeeps and the two bodies sit next to our moat where I sit with em in the evenings and imagine the 'old' world and the folks. I'm at the moment feeding white winged doves from our balcony, this morning and thinking how a American Jeep purist in England meets a west Texas castle owning purist. I wish I could send yall my Jeep bodies as yall would do better with them than I can. I like your video and I'm just learning about the particular starter motor I'm about to use. In Texas, things don't rot and mine wound up perfectly when I gave it the juice and see about it's condition. Lol, I hooked up to 12 volts first and boy did it run, after so many years of sitting outside. Our 'kart' designed to go 300 feet up to the castle at about 3 miles per hour/fast walking speed and park to be recharged for the next evening. It is V belt drive, reduced... We coast down to the road from the castle. My wife gets home from work with groceries at often, 2 in the morning and gas motors only disturb the silence. (Our castle is solar/propane, off grid) My starter motor is I think from a cj3b. (not Prestolite) and has no tag. Runs like a beast tho! Top of the day to yall from SkyCastle and thank you for your well grounded video. My love of Castles and yalls love of Jeeps. Excellent! Most excellent.

[@incomingshell3268]

Great comments....You are right.....I think I'd rather be hit in the nuts with the 6 volt hammer than the 12 volt one !!!!!

[@motorv8N]

“They won the war on six volts...” Nuff said! 😎

[@wesleypatton5820]

I turned my jeep 12v with a Chevy 1 wire and I couldn’t be happier

[@mohabatkhanmalak1161]

Jeep, 1943, those were the early days of automobilia and a few decades before manufacturers didn't even know or were not in agreement on the layout of cars. Gradually, things started falling in place. The design of gearboxes, layout of control pedals, clutch design, one headlamp or two head lamps etc. 6 or 12 volts? First, is cheaper to produce 6 volt batteries than 12 volts, and in the ensuing years after WW2 when automobile demand picked up. Most manufacturers were happy to stick to 6 volts - with the attitude of if it ain't broke, don't fix it. 6 volts was fine for a small vehicle, but as cars and trucks were made bigger with more items to power such as wipers, interior lights, cigarette lighter, powerful head lights etc, some manufacturers began fitting 12 volts electrics. Those old engines also need a high cranking effort so it was best to have a 12 volt starter motor. Gradually everybody fell in favor of 12 volts and it became standard. Then was left the question of negative earth or positive, but that is another story altogether.

[@Greendot319]

Good information thanks

[@mattroberson8679]

Can you do a video on tinning? I don't think alot of people know that points of grounding straps were tinned too.

[@GunMetalEngineer]

The 44MB I’m bout to Go get next week: has a 8volt alternator (never heard of it) says it’s from a old tractor…. Bout to see how that works I guess…

[@Patrick-c8x]

I thought you'd showcase the manual HAND crank option ?? Just like on tractors -- dead battery in the middle of nowhere ? No problem -- hand crank it !!

[@Greendot319]

That's how I broke my wrist!

[@Patrick-c8x]

@@Greendot319 - I've heard of things like that and there's a correct way of doing it - something about having your palm up and thumb outta the way ...?? But at least you know your Willy's has awesome compression !! 👍🏼

[@Greendot319]

@@Patrick-c8x Yes apparently you don't do it the way I did it, I wont touch the thing anymore, its unbelievable how strong these engines are, try pushing your jeep up a 60 degree gradient, impossible of course but your engine can do it!

[@General_Eisenhower1945]

@@Greendot319 a lot of guys say they just kick/stand on it, so nothing is in the way.

[@shall2117]

I converted mine to 3V

[@scoots8519]

How come your driving on the wrong side of the road?

[@stroudstractorshootingchan1417]

My one does not have this going from the start please could you send me a picture what it should look like

[@nobodywho3254]

Just bought a 50 Willy's pickup I have heard it start and run but it has a 12 volt battery and I think that is the problem

[@modellbaupur2142]

Nice Channel i must subscribe.I build the jeep in 1:8

[@outdoorexplorationgear5070]

Im getting a 1947 willys back on the road for an elderly lady, and im considering going to 12v system for a couple reasons. If it needs jumped its way easier to find a 12v car to jump you than a 6 volt. And im thinking a 12v alt a d starter may be easier to source for someone like that too. If it was mine id totally keep it 6v for authenticity. Am i wrong?

[@MikeBaxterABC]

I've converted three 1940's farm Tractors from 6 volt to 12 volt ... I always leave the original starter as is ... it REALLY spins good on 12 volts! :) ... is that common on Jeeps? ... I mean to run the 6 volt starter on 12 volts?

[@Livedracersteve]

The answer is “kinda” people do it quite a bit because the starters can “handle it” but get hot much faster. they do spin so much faster, but sometimes it almost sounds painful (like your hurting it when you start it)

[@MikeBaxterABC]

@@Livedracersteve Good info! :)

[@rogerwilkin9220]

hi which workshop manual do you think is the best for technical information when rebuilding to buy thanks roger

[@Greendot319]

TM 9-803 TM 9-1803A TM 9-1803 ORD 9 G503 These tech manuals have all the information you need ;) cheers

[@rogerwilkin9220]

Hi, Thanks for that information very appreciated. Where would be the best place to search for these books. Roger

[@barbaraannen3340]

I know what the problem is. He's driving on the wrong side of the road.

[@GunMetalEngineer]

But then I can’t charge my cell phone (sarcasm)