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Author Topic: 61 CJ3B Stalling and now Dead  (Read 1970 times)

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Offline Mike T

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61 CJ3B Stalling and now Dead
« on: August 18, 2021, 11:49:15 AM »
I recently inherited a 1961 CJ3B. I am a novice and have a lot to learn. Engine only has 325 miles on it since my Dad re-built it. Overall it is good condition...but.
After a few minutes of driving it, it would stall out. It would re-start, stall, die etc. and I'd limp it home. It stalled the other day and now it is dead. Turn the key and nothing happens, no noise of any kind.
I know it has a new fuel filter, new gas line and the tank was cleaned. The battery is charged. I have no idea where to begin...or what to test first.

Thanks in advance!
Mike T.

Offline scoutpilot

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Re: 61 CJ3B Stalling and now Dead
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2021, 12:23:56 PM »
Recharge the battery.
How much fuel is in the tank?
How old is the fuel in the tank?
Is it Ethanol Gas?
Is the gas cap vented? You can check this by starting the motor and let it run till it dies. Listening closely to the cap, open it. Do you hear a whooshing sound?
Fuel lines:
All Steel to the rubber crossover tube?
All Rubber? If so, are the connections just trimmed rubber slipped over straight-cut steel? How many clamps at each connection?
Are all of the fuel connections at the pump and carb properly tight?

Let's start there.
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Offline OnlyOneDR

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Re: 61 CJ3B Stalling and now Dead
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2021, 04:17:51 PM »
If it has say for a while check the heat riser on the exhaust manifold.  If it is such it will quickly boil out the carburetor as the engine comes up to temp and then will not restart until it cools down.  Also check all the battery connections to the block, starter, etc.
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Offline Rus Curtis

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Re: 61 CJ3B Stalling and now Dead
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2021, 05:44:33 PM »
After a few minutes of driving.... Turn the key and nothing happens, no noise of any kind...

It once worked.  Okay.

This "no noise" sounds like an additional issue beyond the initial dying/stumbling.

Scoutpilot has listed a whole bunch of things to check that need attention.

If you turn the key (I assume no starter button) and you get no noise (clicking, etc), I suspect either a connection problem (concentrate on wiring from the battery to the starter and the ign switch only) or the starter itself.  If you have a multi-meter, you can check each wire (don't forget the ground wire connection or the engine ground strap either).  Also, measuring voltage during crank may help narrow the search.
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Offline Squishymonster

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Re: 61 CJ3B Stalling and now Dead
« Reply #4 on: August 20, 2021, 11:18:07 AM »
For my own experience "charged the battery" is almost always the failure point. Batteries go bad and won't take a charge. I'd use a multimeter to check that the battery voltage is actually there. If not, replace it. This is especially true for a battery that goes a full season or two without being used at all - especially if your Willys happens to have a small closed circuit somewhere. Otherwise you get to debug some wiring.  :D

One unfortunate thing I've experienced TWICE in the last couple of months with trailer wiring is that water and corrosion can be drawn WAY up inside of a wire from an exposed end, and rot it for several feet, making it unable to carry a current. So just because a wire is in place and "looks solid", doesn't mean much. If you don't find any obvious breaks in the circuit to the starter then you might need to use  your multimeter to do continuity and/or voltage testst across each length of wire - as others have suggested.

But, based on your description it sounds like you could have both an electric and fuel problem, though it is possible to get all of these symptoms just by electric.

Once electric is out of the way, drain the gas from the carb bowl into a clear jar and look for a layer of water on the bottom. The water will get pulled into the engine first, and depending on how much is there (hopefully none) will cause run / stall / run / stall situations. If there is water in the bowl, there is water in the tank, lines, filter, and pump, so the whole thing needs to be well drained. Water sinks in fuel so it will go to the lowest possible spot, and wait for you to add fuel on top of it. It's "neat"

Offline Mike T

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Re: 61 CJ3B Stalling and now Dead
« Reply #5 on: August 20, 2021, 01:44:20 PM »
Thanks for the good suggestions. Supposed to rain all weekend which provides me the time to dig into this...I'll keep everyone posted.