Waterproof 12V Parts

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Nick_
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Waterproof 12V Parts

Unread post by Nick_ » August 10th, 2017, 10:17 pm

I'm converting my M151 drivetrain to a 12V system for use with my winches, lights, etc (in my CJ3A chassis).

So far 1 local shop could not rewind my starter to 12V, or convert the alternator to 12V. Are there any specialists that deal with these conversions on starters? What is my best route for an alternator/generator that I can submerge and not destroy? I'd like to submerge into a pond without any prep work, or major repairs after coming out every time.

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m3a1
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Re: Waterproof 12V Parts

Unread post by m3a1 » August 10th, 2017, 11:18 pm

Regarding maintenance -

First, four important little words about submerging these trucks and these "waterproofed" vehicles requiring no maintenance after submergence.

IT - IS - A - MYTH.

The military PM-ed the double-compound doggie-doo out of these vehicles, particularly after submergence, just as they've always done. I restored a DUKW for a local museum and we put it in the water for the first time since they had acquired it. I put that thing together with surgical precision with full knowledge that it was going in the drink and, after floating it, we pulled maintenance because (1) the expert said it WOULD leak and (2) it was the right thing to do. Well, it didn't leak (and he said it was the first one he'd ever seen that didn't leak) but it might have and that is what PM-ing after submergence is all about - making darned sure things are A-OK in there because the other option is going to be very very ugly, and very, very expen$ive.

Like the DUKW, this is not to say that your particular truck can't withstand submergence. It may very well do so but, if you value your truck, you'll be draining fluids and checking for the presence of water in places where there should be no water.

Sorry if this sounds a little preachy but a buddy of mine recently found that the previous owner of his 151 had run it in high water and the end result was a transmission whose interior looked like it was just salvaged from the Titanic. Oh yeah, everything was fine when he bought it. It ran and shifted and things went round and round but it took him some time to get around to restoring the truck and during that delay, the water did it's dirty work inside that transmission and that water got in as a result of old, marginal seals. That guy submerging and old vehicle and the failure to PM cost my pal a bundle and a lot of extra work. In fact, it cost him an entire transmission.

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Re: Waterproof 12V Parts

Unread post by rickf » August 11th, 2017, 10:59 am

Apparently you never watched the videos of our friends at the Vietnamese Jeep club running theirs under water up to their chins, Literally! And they do this every weekend. Or did until one of their members was killed in a rollover without a cage. I don't know if they still do or not.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: Waterproof 12V Parts

Unread post by rickf » August 11th, 2017, 11:05 am

Nick, I know we have talked on the phone and I have suggested the regular GM alternators, I have run them under water for years. That was when the old 10si style was a dime a dozen in the junkyard. What you might do is give Powermaster a call. They build specialized alternators for the wheeling crowd. They may be able to turn you on to someone that can rewind the starter also. I have seen 12 volt starters out there for the 151, just do not remember where.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: Waterproof 12V Parts

Unread post by m3a1 » August 12th, 2017, 7:07 pm

Yep, I've seen the videos. No mention of what kind of preventative maintenance they do, though. From the look of their rigs, they've had them apart and installed new seals. I'm betting a guy who swims his truck every weekend cares enough to check for water in his fluids which was my point. But to swim a tired old truck that hasn't seen new seals in decades without following up with a PM is rather careless.

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Re: Waterproof 12V Parts

Unread post by Nick_ » August 30th, 2017, 11:31 pm

rickf wrote:Nick, I know we have talked on the phone and I have suggested the regular GM alternators, I have run them under water for years. That was when the old 10si style was a dime a dozen in the junkyard. What you might do is give Powermaster a call. They build specialized alternators for the wheeling crowd. They may be able to turn you on to someone that can rewind the starter also. I have seen 12 volt starters out there for the 151, just do not remember where.
Hey Rick after our phone call I called a few local junkyards to see if they had the old school alternators. It was a bust. Guys seem to have troubles with newer replacement alternator bearings getting torn up in the mud and water.

Powermaster told me they only built hotrod alternators.

Through heartache I have finally come to a possible solution: the Humvee alternator. Humvee's used 24V but later also had 12V accessories. Thus the (later style) alternators output both systems, 14V at 50 amps and 28V at 140 amps. Most Deuce guys have been using these alternators and simply adding a third battery for additional accessories. My engine compartment is way too cramped already. I will find someone to rewind my starter and simply run a 12V system. I won't hookup the 24V wiring on the alternator.

Humvee rpm was 3,200 and the Mutt is 4,000 so it should charge alright. I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

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Re: Waterproof 12V Parts

Unread post by kmam » August 31st, 2017, 1:57 am

If I recall from an earlier post they beat 'em up on the weekend and then pay a local workshop to fix them ready for the next weekend.
If you have a decent income then that is a cheap solution as those workshops don't charge much.

Still, I take the same view of doing that as I do about 4WD activity: if you don't need to, don't; if you do need to then be sure you have the skill and recovery equipment you may need.

Howard
rickf wrote:Apparently you never watched the videos of our friends at the Vietnamese Jeep club running theirs under water up to their chins, Literally! And they do this every weekend. Or did until one of their members was killed in a rollover without a cage. I don't know if they still do or not.
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Re: Waterproof 12V Parts

Unread post by Fil Bonica » August 31st, 2017, 10:02 am

Why woukd soneone take a perfectly good vehicle and abuse it like that???
Its almost criminal!
I wont even let mine got wet fromnthe rain.

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Re: Waterproof 12V Parts

Unread post by m3a1 » September 1st, 2017, 2:32 am

Since you seem wholly dedicated to this course of action, why don't you give these guys in San Antonio a call?

http://www.bigmoedcelectric.com

If they say they probably can, they will likely also say they need to see what the starter looks like, in person. I suppose I could pull the one off my Alley Cat and take it down and let' em have a look at it (assuming yours and mine were the same type of starter.)

The ball is in your court, man.

Cheers,
TJ

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