CJ8 ignition switch problem -- strange and I'm stumped .....

Revising and continuing to try and solve this old problem .. have been
starting the CJ with a screwdriver and I'm getting tired of that.

Now I know the problem is NOT with the ignition switch low on the
column, but with getting that rod to move far enough to work.

Took the dash apart enough to see that the rod from the top of the
column does not travel far enough to work the ignition switch ..
whether pushed by hand or by turning the keytumbler it only has a
travel of about 1/2 what it needs to in order to work the ignition
switch. (I can grab the rod and watch the key appear to go through
all its positions .. but the rod itself has moved only a little bit.
Or I can move the rod using the key .. same results.) The key/key
tumbler 'seems' to turn freely and the rod does not appear to bind.
Just does not have enough travel.

So should I assume the problem is with what the Jeep Manual calls the
"LOCK BOLT" and/or "LOCK RACK"?

I pulled the steering wheel and got down to what the Jeep Manual calls
the "housing and shroud to column jacket" -- thats how she sits right
now. I loosened the 4 bolts that seem to hold this part, but it
doesn't seem to want to come loose and I'm afraid to force it.

And once I do .. what will I see?

I have not tried to remove the lock cylinder .. would that be helpful
and should I remove it??

Any help will be very much appreciated .....

Mike


On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:34:31 -0400, wrote:

>1982 unmodified CJ8 6 cylinder.
>
>Vehicle would not start with key .. turned out to be the relay.
>
>However before I realized that the relay was the problem I tried to
>replace the ignition switch (located on the top of the steering column
>-- not the key cylinder), which was actually OK.
>
>Still is OK .. I can connect the original or replacement switch into
>the wiring with the two plugs and work them with a screwdriver. Both
>switches work this way just as they should in every position.
>
>However when I try to mount either of the switches (the original or
>replacement) back into place on the steering column I cannot get the
>rod to work the switch down to where it initiates the starter.
>
>I have the original shop manual and have read several consistent posts
>about how to correctly mount this switch .. tried everything to no
>avail.
>
>The rod from the key cylinder will never push far enough on the switch
>to initiate the starter.
>
>Turning the key all the way seems to push the switch into the run
>position -- never the start position.
>
>I've tried repositioning the switch in every way possible, including
>of course all the way towards the steering wheel. I've even bored
>out the mounting holes on one of the switches so I could move it even
>closer. No joy.
>
>There does not appear to be anything wrong with the rod movement or
>cylinder -- and it was working prior to me removing the switch..
>
>I do not know what else to do, or what else to try.
>
>This means the CJ8 is dead in the water .. so please help, and thanks
>.....
>
>Mike

Pull the lock cylinder (watch the little plastic piece) and check the end of
the assembly. There is a lug on the end that pushes the rod and best I
remember, it is in constant contact with the rod. I do remember noticing
that the one I took out was pretty well worn (it's just pot metal). A
quick check is whether the rod moves continuously throughout the rotation
of the key.

After market ignition locks are cheap, but you lose the pretty Jeep key...

none wrote:

> Revising and continuing to try and solve this old problem .. have been
> starting the CJ with a screwdriver and I'm getting tired of that.
>
> Now I know the problem is NOT with the ignition switch low on the
> column, but with getting that rod to move far enough to work.
>
> Took the dash apart enough to see that the rod from the top of the
> column does not travel far enough to work the ignition switch ..
> whether pushed by hand or by turning the keytumbler it only has a
> travel of about 1/2 what it needs to in order to work the ignition
> switch. (I can grab the rod and watch the key appear to go through
> all its positions .. but the rod itself has moved only a little bit.
> Or I can move the rod using the key .. same results.) The key/key
> tumbler 'seems' to turn freely and the rod does not appear to bind.
> Just does not have enough travel.
>
> So should I assume the problem is with what the Jeep Manual calls the
> "LOCK BOLT" and/or "LOCK RACK"?
>
> I pulled the steering wheel and got down to what the Jeep Manual calls
> the "housing and shroud to column jacket" -- thats how she sits right
> now. I loosened the 4 bolts that seem to hold this part, but it
> doesn't seem to want to come loose and I'm afraid to force it.
>
> And once I do .. what will I see?
>
> I have not tried to remove the lock cylinder .. would that be helpful
> and should I remove it??
>
> Any help will be very much appreciated .....
>
> Mike
>
>
> On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:34:31 -0400, wrote:
>
>>1982 unmodified CJ8 6 cylinder.
>>
>>Vehicle would not start with key .. turned out to be the relay.
>>
>>However before I realized that the relay was the problem I tried to
>>replace the ignition switch (located on the top of the steering column
>>-- not the key cylinder), which was actually OK.
>>
>>Still is OK .. I can connect the original or replacement switch into
>>the wiring with the two plugs and work them with a screwdriver. Both
>>switches work this way just as they should in every position.
>>
>>However when I try to mount either of the switches (the original or
>>replacement) back into place on the steering column I cannot get the
>>rod to work the switch down to where it initiates the starter.
>>
>>I have the original shop manual and have read several consistent posts
>>about how to correctly mount this switch .. tried everything to no
>>avail.
>>
>>The rod from the key cylinder will never push far enough on the switch
>>to initiate the starter.
>>
>>Turning the key all the way seems to push the switch into the run
>>position -- never the start position.
>>
>>I've tried repositioning the switch in every way possible, including
>>of course all the way towards the steering wheel. I've even bored
>>out the mounting holes on one of the switches so I could move it even
>>closer. No joy.
>>
>>There does not appear to be anything wrong with the rod movement or
>>cylinder -- and it was working prior to me removing the switch..
>>
>>I do not know what else to do, or what else to try.
>>
>>This means the CJ8 is dead in the water .. so please help, and thanks
>>.....
>>
>>Mike

--
Will Honea

Thanks for the suggestion but no joy yet.

Already had a replacement lock cylinder so I replaced the original
with the new. No good results.

Looked at the gears that are worked with the lock cylinder installed
... they all appeared good. (
http://www.murklagoon.com/cj8/IMG_8701crop.jpg )

But even without the ignition cylinder in place, and moving these
gears by moving the rod to the ignition switch .. there is NOT enough
movement to work the ignition switch.

And at some point I've now managed to get the gears I can see (ones in
the image referenced above) off the other gears .. so I can move the
rod and the gears shown above don't move. I can get these gears back
on, but of course then they appear to be not correctly adjusted and
still the rod won't move far enough.

I'm losing ground here, and now the CJ is not drivablle.

Another wasted afternoon. Owned this cj8 since new in 82; but at the
moment am sick of it and thinking it might make a great hunk of melted
metal?!

Any suggestions please ....

Mike

On Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:45:19 -0600, Will Honea >
wrote:

>Pull the lock cylinder (watch the little plastic piece) and check the end of
>the assembly. There is a lug on the end that pushes the rod and best I
>remember, it is in constant contact with the rod. I do remember noticing
>that the one I took out was pretty well worn (it's just pot metal). A
>quick check is whether the rod moves continuously throughout the rotation
>of the key.
>
>After market ignition locks are cheap, but you lose the pretty Jeep key...
>
>none wrote:
>
>> Revising and continuing to try and solve this old problem .. have been
>> starting the CJ with a screwdriver and I'm getting tired of that.
>>
>> Now I know the problem is NOT with the ignition switch low on the
>> column, but with getting that rod to move far enough to work.
>>
>> Took the dash apart enough to see that the rod from the top of the
>> column does not travel far enough to work the ignition switch ..
>> whether pushed by hand or by turning the keytumbler it only has a
>> travel of about 1/2 what it needs to in order to work the ignition
>> switch. (I can grab the rod and watch the key appear to go through
>> all its positions .. but the rod itself has moved only a little bit.
>> Or I can move the rod using the key .. same results.) The key/key
>> tumbler 'seems' to turn freely and the rod does not appear to bind.
>> Just does not have enough travel.
>>
>> So should I assume the problem is with what the Jeep Manual calls the
>> "LOCK BOLT" and/or "LOCK RACK"?
>>
>> I pulled the steering wheel and got down to what the Jeep Manual calls
>> the "housing and shroud to column jacket" -- thats how she sits right
>> now. I loosened the 4 bolts that seem to hold this part, but it
>> doesn't seem to want to come loose and I'm afraid to force it.
>>
>> And once I do .. what will I see?
>>
>> I have not tried to remove the lock cylinder .. would that be helpful
>> and should I remove it??
>>
>> Any help will be very much appreciated .....
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>> On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:34:31 -0400, wrote:
>>
>>>1982 unmodified CJ8 6 cylinder.
>>>
>>>Vehicle would not start with key .. turned out to be the relay.
>>>
>>>However before I realized that the relay was the problem I tried to
>>>replace the ignition switch (located on the top of the steering column
>>>-- not the key cylinder), which was actually OK.
>>>
>>>Still is OK .. I can connect the original or replacement switch into
>>>the wiring with the two plugs and work them with a screwdriver. Both
>>>switches work this way just as they should in every position.
>>>
>>>However when I try to mount either of the switches (the original or
>>>replacement) back into place on the steering column I cannot get the
>>>rod to work the switch down to where it initiates the starter.
>>>
>>>I have the original shop manual and have read several consistent posts
>>>about how to correctly mount this switch .. tried everything to no
>>>avail.
>>>
>>>The rod from the key cylinder will never push far enough on the switch
>>>to initiate the starter.
>>>
>>>Turning the key all the way seems to push the switch into the run
>>>position -- never the start position.
>>>
>>>I've tried repositioning the switch in every way possible, including
>>>of course all the way towards the steering wheel. I've even bored
>>>out the mounting holes on one of the switches so I could move it even
>>>closer. No joy.
>>>
>>>There does not appear to be anything wrong with the rod movement or
>>>cylinder -- and it was working prior to me removing the switch..
>>>
>>>I do not know what else to do, or what else to try.
>>>
>>>This means the CJ8 is dead in the water .. so please help, and thanks
>>>.....
>>>
>>>Mike

Bill,

No .. the problem is with the rod that connects the key cylinder to
the ignition switch .. it won't travel as far as it needs to travel to
work the ignition switch by turning the key.

Today I replaced the key cylinder .. that rod just won't go far
enough.

Can you or somebody else please tell me how to get access to the lock
rack. It may just need to get correctly reinstalled .. but so far I
haven't been able to get to it.

Desperate now .. and thanks for any help ....

Mike

On Thu, 1 Jul 2010 16:17:07 -0700, "L.W.\(Bill\) Hughes III"
> wrote:

> Are you sure it's not just the solenoid you're jumpin'
> God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
>
> http://www.billhughes.com/jeep_bookmark.htm
>
>"none" > wrote in message
.. .
>> Thanks for the suggestion but no joy yet.
>>
>> Already had a replacement lock cylinder so I replaced the original
>> with the new. No good results.
>>
>> Looked at the gears that are worked with the lock cylinder installed
>> .. they all appeared good. (
>> http://www.murklagoon.com/cj8/IMG_8701crop.jpg )
>>
>> But even without the ignition cylinder in place, and moving these
>> gears by moving the rod to the ignition switch .. there is NOT enough
>> movement to work the ignition switch.
>>
>> And at some point I've now managed to get the gears I can see (ones in
>> the image referenced above) off the other gears .. so I can move the
>> rod and the gears shown above don't move. I can get these gears back
>> on, but of course then they appear to be not correctly adjusted and
>> still the rod won't move far enough.
>>
>> I'm losing ground here, and now the CJ is not drivablle.
>>
>> Another wasted afternoon. Owned this cj8 since new in 82; but at the
>> moment am sick of it and thinking it might make a great hunk of melted
>> metal?!
>>
>> Any suggestions please ....
>>
>> Mike
>>
>> On Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:45:19 -0600, Will Honea >
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Pull the lock cylinder (watch the little plastic piece) and check the end
>of
>> >the assembly. There is a lug on the end that pushes the rod and best I
>> >remember, it is in constant contact with the rod. I do remember noticing
>> >that the one I took out was pretty well worn (it's just pot metal). A
>> >quick check is whether the rod moves continuously throughout the rotation
>> >of the key.
>> >
>> >After market ignition locks are cheap, but you lose the pretty Jeep
>key...
>> >
>> >none wrote:
>> >
>> >> Revising and continuing to try and solve this old problem .. have been
>> >> starting the CJ with a screwdriver and I'm getting tired of that.
>> >>
>> >> Now I know the problem is NOT with the ignition switch low on the
>> >> column, but with getting that rod to move far enough to work.
>> >>
>> >> Took the dash apart enough to see that the rod from the top of the
>> >> column does not travel far enough to work the ignition switch ..
>> >> whether pushed by hand or by turning the keytumbler it only has a
>> >> travel of about 1/2 what it needs to in order to work the ignition
>> >> switch. (I can grab the rod and watch the key appear to go through
>> >> all its positions .. but the rod itself has moved only a little bit.
>> >> Or I can move the rod using the key .. same results.) The key/key
>> >> tumbler 'seems' to turn freely and the rod does not appear to bind.
>> >> Just does not have enough travel.
>> >>
>> >> So should I assume the problem is with what the Jeep Manual calls the
>> >> "LOCK BOLT" and/or "LOCK RACK"?
>> >>
>> >> I pulled the steering wheel and got down to what the Jeep Manual calls
>> >> the "housing and shroud to column jacket" -- thats how she sits right
>> >> now. I loosened the 4 bolts that seem to hold this part, but it
>> >> doesn't seem to want to come loose and I'm afraid to force it.
>> >>
>> >> And once I do .. what will I see?
>> >>
>> >> I have not tried to remove the lock cylinder .. would that be helpful
>> >> and should I remove it??
>> >>
>> >> Any help will be very much appreciated .....
>> >>
>> >> Mike
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:34:31 -0400, wrote:
>> >>
>> >>>1982 unmodified CJ8 6 cylinder.
>> >>>
>> >>>Vehicle would not start with key .. turned out to be the relay.
>> >>>
>> >>>However before I realized that the relay was the problem I tried to
>> >>>replace the ignition switch (located on the top of the steering column
>> >>>-- not the key cylinder), which was actually OK.
>> >>>
>> >>>Still is OK .. I can connect the original or replacement switch into
>> >>>the wiring with the two plugs and work them with a screwdriver. Both
>> >>>switches work this way just as they should in every position.
>> >>>
>> >>>However when I try to mount either of the switches (the original or
>> >>>replacement) back into place on the steering column I cannot get the
>> >>>rod to work the switch down to where it initiates the starter.
>> >>>
>> >>>I have the original shop manual and have read several consistent posts
>> >>>about how to correctly mount this switch .. tried everything to no
>> >>>avail.
>> >>>
>> >>>The rod from the key cylinder will never push far enough on the switch
>> >>>to initiate the starter.
>> >>>
>> >>>Turning the key all the way seems to push the switch into the run
>> >>>position -- never the start position.
>> >>>
>> >>>I've tried repositioning the switch in every way possible, including
>> >>>of course all the way towards the steering wheel. I've even bored
>> >>>out the mounting holes on one of the switches so I could move it even
>> >>>closer. No joy.
>> >>>
>> >>>There does not appear to be anything wrong with the rod movement or
>> >>>cylinder -- and it was working prior to me removing the switch..
>> >>>
>> >>>I do not know what else to do, or what else to try.
>> >>>
>> >>>This means the CJ8 is dead in the water .. so please help, and thanks
>> >>>.....
>> >>>
>> >>>Mike
>