12v or 6v

I can't figure out if the 47 CJ-2A I'm buying is 12v or 6v. I've been storing it for a friend for years and took the battery out a long time ago. I'm pretty positive that it was a 12v, especially since I don't seem to have a 6v battery anywhere around here. He parked it here when it quit starting. I was able to bypass the solenoid at the time to move it to where I wanted it so I'm pretty sure that was the problem. But now, after a couple of years of sitting, I put in a battery and hook up a new solenoid and get nothing. Now I'm questioning myself because everything looks like the original 6v stuff to me - generator (no numbers or plates on it), voltage regulator, wiring seems to match old diagrams - all with the exception of no foot starter, newer ignition switch with start position, fender mount solenoid, and 12v headlights. What's going on here? Was a 12v generator an option at one point?

Edited by Snowturtle - 08 May 2017 at 11:58pm

I would think it would be a 12v since it has the generator in it, but the things on the fender, I don't think all that is how the were wired.

So is that the wrong solenoid? That is the only thing that has been changed since my friend used to start and drive it regularly. Or is it just hooked up wrong?

This basically how mine is wired, except that I have a solenoid inline between the battery & the starter.

Thanks, I'll check that

Looks like 12v from the slim pic of the battery ran the same system on my 482a for years 6v and 12v but what's really bothering me is the way the pos. side terminal is too close to the grounded fender, better turn the battery around or put a piece of rubber in between. Joe Wadoyado

Looks like you have a ford starting set up from the 60's, like a mustang would have.  The starter relay can ground itself to the fender through the mounting tab, if the jeep has a good body ground to battery.  The safe bet would be to run a wire off the mounting tab straight to the negative terminal on the battery.  The little wire should be coming from the S terminal on your key switch to the S terminal on the fender mounted  starter relay.  All that the little wire does is open a switch in the starter relay and engage a large switch that sends current directly from the battery to the starter.  If its 6 volt I don't know if it will work right.

To make a long post short, you could have a bad starter relay, I have gotten one bad right out of the box haha.

wadoyado wrote: Looks like 12v from the slim pic of the battery ran the same system on my 482a for years 6v and 12v but what's really bothering me is the way the pos. side terminal is too close to the grounded fender, better turn the battery around or put a piece of rubber in between. Joe Wadoyado

67charger wrote: Did it start rolling over when you were jumping it when hooking up the battery?  If it was trying to rollover, there might not be enough voltage going through the starter relay, making the starter engage without turning the key.  For some reason those relays when the battery is dead or not full 12 volts it can make the relay contacts close.   12 volt foot starter: I used a ford starter relay on my jeep.  I wired the dash key switch to only power the coil in the "run" position.  I bought a push button switch and mounted it to the floor where the old foot starter would be.  I wired that switch so power coming from the fuse box goes to one terminal on the switch and the outgoing terminal wire goes to the starter solenoid.  When you push the button down with your foot it energizes the starter relay which then opens the switch between the battery and starter.  Its a safer way of wiring because the push button switch only has a couple amps running through it.  To start my jeep you turn the key to "run" and push the button on the floor to activate the starter.  What is great is it looks stock.

Bolding & underlining mine.

"which then opens the switch between the battery and starter." I am sure that you meant to say "which then closes the switch between the battery & the starter." As I am sure you know, opening a relay or switch stops current from flowing. Closing said switch or relay allows current to flow.

Lets not confuse the folks on here that are just learning about the electrical circuits that are in our Willys. It can take a while to figure out the terminology used for electrical circuits. I know that you do not mean to confuse some folks.

IHTH, Cpt Logger.

PS. I am also curious about the results from jumping the relay.

Edited to add the PS.