Joined: Jun 09, 2011 Posts: 776 Location: Bellmore, NY
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 9:43 pm Post subject: My three lever light switch looks fairly new
but recently it got a little jammed up. The "unlock" lever doesn't really move, and the top lever switches all the way over even without unlocking it. I have the jeep apart and not running right now, but can anyone tell me if the whole thing is broken, or is there a simple fix?
There's no simple fix. The first two military M series three lever light switches were built by Bendix/Scintilla. These were very well made rebuildable units and have a manual covering their rebuild TM 9-1825E. Bendix had been building magnetos, starters, generators, magneto switches and etc for the aviation world for 25 years before WWII.
The cheapy versions of the three lever light switches produced from 1952 thru about 1990 are junk, throw aways. Most cannot be opened without damaging the case. Those that can be opened with the spring wire retainers in back have no source for parts.
So your choices are find an early Bendix switch, Buy a new switch, or what the heck: bust her open and see what kind of jury rigging you can do. Keep in mind that these circuits on most of the jeeps built since 1951 have no fuses or circuit breakers upstream of that switch. _________________ Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
This is where you ask yourself another important question.
Are you wanting the correct light switch for your jeep at the risk of buying another left over 20+ year old switch or do you want a reliable, easy to use modern switch just like the ones in todays Humvees?
The modern switch on the left fits the same hole in the dash and the same plug as the one on the right. It does cost about twice as much.
Joined: Jun 09, 2011 Posts: 776 Location: Bellmore, NY
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 10:27 pm Post subject:
Well, so far I've gone out of my way to keep it looking original. Beachwood Canvas full winter enclosure, 1954 in cab heater, 1963 directional upgrade, and so on. The only really non-army issue thing I have, I think, would be the overdrive. So, I'm thinking, that modern Humvee one would stick out like a sore thumb in the dash!
Not much more than the 63 turn signals. Original generally goes out the door after you move past how it left the factory. I still recall seeing M38A1's at the base DRMO in SD for sale in the late 80's. That switch came out in the late 80's. An old switch and an unfortunate electrical fire behind the dash is always a possibility to think on. _________________ Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
My switch had broken parts inside, but I managed to fix it with the help of a lathe and file. It was mentioned on this forum about two years ago. I think I took some pictures of the repaired switch. Do not throw it away, try to fix it first.
Joined: Jun 09, 2011 Posts: 776 Location: Bellmore, NY
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:11 am Post subject:
The directionals might not be factory, but they fit in with the look I'm going for. That's one reason I took care get the older version of them. The more modern rubber buttons don't.
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