Dash mounted fuel primer pump.

Carter · Post by **Carter** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:09 am

I have located a source for the early hand primer pump that was used on early M37s. If anyone is intrested in filling that hole that's located on the lower left corner of the dash this might be what you are looking for. While located on an aircraft parts site, it looks exactly like the ones I have found on several orig. un-tampered with trucks as well as the one installed on my Korean War PE95 generator. It's item MS-4 in the Miscellaneous section, page 1 of Warbird Relics website. I have never found another source for these but there maybe others I have not seen.

http://www.warbirdrelics.com/miscellaneous_1.htm

Tom @ Snake River · Post by **Tom @ Snake River** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:24 am

That is one heck of a good price, we use them on the M29 weasels, however I have never heard of anyone really useing one to get the engine started.

Carter · Post by **Carter** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:59 am

I have never had one on my truck but do use the one on the generator set which has an electric automatic choke, but with it, the engine takes 30-40 revolutions to start and run but with the primer it fires off in 2 or 3 revs. thus saving a lot of battery drain as the engine has no starter motor but uses the generators direct drive exciter generator as a starting motor and draws a massive amount of current when first energized, 4-5 hundred amps. out of 2 huge 12v. tractor batteries

cuz · Post by **cuz** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:43 am

however I have never heard of anyone really useing one to get the engine started.

Depends on how far north you are.

I've been in cold enough places that without a service cable jump, or power plant heater running, the primer had to be used if you wanted her to start before the battery gave up.

DeBella sold the 6 cyl. Studebaker kits. The only difference in kits are the number of elbow vs "T" type jets and the length of the copper tube in the kits. They all use the same primer assembly. In the last few years I have paid around $30 to $40 for the kits.

Captnsim · Post by **Captnsim** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:32 am

I might have to get me one of those.

cuz · Post by **cuz** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:08 am

You can get by without them in extreme cold climates if your carb has a mechanically operated accelerator pump. The M38/M38A1/M170 jeeps had vacuum operated accelerator pumps which meant pumping on the gas pedal did not squirt gas in the manifold to help with starting. Also side or up draft carbed engines do better when cold starting with a hand operated primer pump. Many folks confuse these with the little handle on many of the military fuel pumps. That handle only pumps fuel into the carb bowl to fill it up. This is helpful when vehicles sit for long periods and the fuel in the bowl evaporates and there's nothing there for the initial attempt at starting.

Army jeep Parts http://www.armyjeepparts.com/

WO-801139 M-38 1950-52 Pump, primer, w/elbow, assy., cold morning NOS (new old stock) $48.00

Debella http://www.debellajeepparts.com/m38m38a1fuel.htm

Primer pump kit $75.00 NOS

Captnsim · Post by **Captnsim** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:19 am

Great info cuz!

JBizal · Post by **JBizal** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 3:44 pm

Midwest Military also has the correct pump for the M37. The one in the first post is not the correct one for the M37.
John

cuz · Post by **cuz** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:49 pm

John,
Does your pump come as a kit with enough parts for the 6 cylinder engine?

hndrsonj · Post by **hndrsonj** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:26 am

Antelope Valley Equipment also has the correct ones for $40.

JBizal · Post by **JBizal** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:49 am

I have the pumps separate, or in kit form.
John

Carter · Post by **Carter** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:49 am

JBizal wrote:Midwest Military also has the correct pump for the M37. The one in the first post is not the correct one for the M37.
John

I am

, I thought all of the primer pumps were the same but having never seen one installed on an M37 that I could remove and examine closely I made an error, appologies to all M37 fans for posting incorrect info. Thanks John for the correction.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:02 pm

so thats what that thing on my dash is... I was wondering what it was. I thought it was some type of control for the vacuum wipers.

Post by **T. Highway** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:20 am

I learned what that hole is for in my dash now. I saw the lines under the dash but I thought they were vacuum lines. I'll have to order a kit from John now because the steel lines are cut at the firewall. Is there a data plate for its proper use, for on the dash?

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 6:53 am

I'm not aware of any data plate for it, and as far as priming goes, it is usually specific to your individual rig. Some work best with just a plunge or two while others pump it a number of times for best results--odd but true, you gotta know your equipment!

Gary

Dash mounted fuel primer pump.

Dash mounted fuel primer pump.

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