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CJ-3A

 

 

Civilian Jeep Engine Speed Governors

 

 

 
A governor operates like a cruise control; the engine speed is maintained at a preset value regardless of the load applied. They are commonly utilized while running PTO driven equipment. The controlled engine speed is set with the hand control mounted on the dash. With this control at the first notch the controlled engine speed is 1000 rpm.  The speed is increased 200 rpm per notch, as the hand control is pulled out. The top speed is 2600 rpm at the 9th notch. The hand control is released by turning the handle ¼ turn in either direction. Three different governors are used as standard in production: the Novi, the King Seeley and the Monarch. Other types of governors were used on stationary equipment, such as generators and compressors. See the photos below to help identify each governor type.


Novi Governor on a 1948 CJ-2A
Art Contoni photo


King Seeley Governor (linkages are missing in photo)





Monarch Governor on a CJ-2A
Matt Reed photo

The three governors are similar in design, being of the centrifugal type which gives precise control of engine speeds. Installation is similar as they are designed to mount on the same bracket and utilize the same dash control parts.

The first Governor Kits for early CJ-2As used a King Seeley (Handy) governor. Radiator fan shrouds have a notch in the upper left side to clear the pulley clutch on a King Seeley governor. Shortly after, the Monarch governor also became available. These two governor types were interchangeable and shared the same part number. Willys - Overland Motors General Letter No. 800, dated November 24, 1946, announced another new governor type released for production. The new Novi governor did not have a pulley clutch and therefore didn't require going under the hood to engage or disengage the governor. A new carburetor also went into production at this time since the existing linkage was not compatible with the Novi (See the Carburetor Throttle Bell Crank section below for more information). By the time the 1947 Parts List was published, the Novi Governor Kit was the only type listed. Service parts continued to be available for the King Seeley and Monarch governors. At CJ-3A 21656 a change was made to side mounted radiators. The new radiator fan shroud did not have any provision for King Seeley pulley clutch clearance so the Handy governor would no longer fit without modifications. According to the 1949 Flat Rate Manual it should only take 2.0 hours to install a Governor Assembly and Controls Kit, including adjustment, on a CJ-3A. Several different types of governor control handles have been observed. The differences are likely due to different manufacturers of governor kits and all handles should interchange.

CARBURETOR THROTTLE BELL CRANK
The carburetor throttle bell crank at the end of the throttle shaft contains 3 holes as shown in Fig. 1. The screw attaching the bell crank to the throttle shaft must be installed in the correct hole for the governor being used. Early carburetors (up to serial number CJ-2A 69588) may have a 1 hole type bellcrank. Novi governors can not be used with the early bellcrank. Carburetors equipped with the early type bell crank may be changed over to the later type (Fig. 1) by installing Part No. 116847 Throttle Shaft and No. 116849 Throttle Lever. When no governor is installed on the vehicle the screw is placed in the center hole and through the throttle lever locking the two parts as a unit. When the Novi governor is used, the screw is placed in the lower hole and the inner end extends below the throttle control lever. When either King Seeley or Monarch governor is used, the screw is placed in the top hole and the inner end extends above the throttle lever.


FIG.1  THROTTLE BELL CRANK
Hole #1 is for King Seeley and Monarch governors
Hole #2 is vehicles without governors
Hole #3 is for Novi governors

NOVI GOVERNOR ADJUSTMENT
First tune the engine to obtain smooth operation. Check the carburetor bell crank to be sure that the screw indicated in Fig. 1 is correctly installed. Also check the carburetor throttle to make certain that it opens and closes fully. Disconnect the carburetor spring to eliminate any bind or stiffness in the carburetor control linkage. Free operation of the throttle control linkage is essential to avoid surging of the governor in operation. After checking, reconnect the accelerator spring. The carburetor throttle is connected to the governor operating arm with an adjustable link, No. 9, Fig. 2. The link used on the Novi governor is not spring loaded and is slightly longer than that used on the other type governors. Adjust the length of the connecting link to accurately assemble over the two ball studs when the hand governor control is PULLED OUT to the last or ninth notch and the carburetor throttle is WIDE OPEN. The adjusted length will be approximately 6-3/4” (.17 m.) between the ball stud centers. Start the engine and allow it to run until operating temperature is reached. Set the throttle idle adjusting screw to provide an idle speed of 600 to 650 rpm. The governed engine speed is controlled by the position of the upper or long governor control arm which is correctly positioned with the adjustable clevis No. 3, Fig. 2. Pull the governor hand control out to the FIRST notch and position the upper arm with the clevis No. 3 to give an engine speed of from 900 to 1000 rpm. After making this adjustment push the governor hand control all the way in and check the engine idle speed which should be from 600 to 650 rpm as originally set. If the engine runs faster than this speed, loosen the lock nut which locks the governor hand control handle on the dash to the rod and back off the handle until the carburetor idle speed adjusting screw bears on the stop boss. Tighten the lock nut. In the absence of electrical tachometer equipment, engine speed may be determined by the speedometer. Safely jack up the rear wheels and be sure the front wheel drive is not engaged. When driving the rear wheels in high or direct transmission gear, the speedometer will read from 13-1/2 to 15 miles per hour (22 to 24 Km/h.) at an engine speed of from 900 to 1000 rpm.

NOVI GOVERNOR OPERATION
The Novi governor is directly belted to the engine—no clutch is provided to disconnect the drive. To operate the vehicle WITHOUT governor control, push the governor hand control all the way “IN” against the instrument panel. To operate the vehicle WITH governor control pull the governor hand control out. The hand control has nine notched positions. Pulling the control out to the first notch sets the controlled engine speed at approximately 1000 rpm and each successive notch increases the speed 200 rpm until 2600 rpm is set in the ninth notch. The hand control may be released by turning the handle one-quarter turn in either direction. When the engine is being operated under governor control (hand control out) the controlled engine speed may be exceeded at any time by depressing the foot accelerator in the conventional manner to secure a greater carburetor throttle opening than that determined by the governor hand control setting.

KING SEELEY GOVERNOR ADJUSTMENT
First tune the engine to obtain smooth operation. Mechanical adjustment of speed control is obtained by adjusting the length of the hand control cable with clevis No. 3, Fig. 2. First check the carburetor bell crank to be sure the screw as shown in Fig. 1 is correctly located. Check the carburetor throttle rod to make certain the throttle opens and closes fully. Disconnect the accelerator spring and eliminate any bind or stiffness in the throttle connections and carburetor linkage. Free operation of the throttle is necessary to avoid surging of the governor when the engine is placed under load. After checking, reconnect the accelerator spring. Set the dash hand throttle in the fully open position and leave it there. All the adjustments are made with the throttle in this position. Adjust the length of the spring loaded governor-to-throttle link No. 12 to allow exact assembly between the short or lower governor lever and the carburetor throttle lever without moving either lever and with the throttle fully open. The length of this link after adjustment should be approximately 6” (.13 m.) between centers of the ball sockets. Tighten the adjustment lock nut and install the link. Engage the governor clutch by turning the control on the pulley hub until the driving pins engage the deeper recesses. Place the governor hand control in the closed or “IN” position and check to be sure the hand throttle on the dash is fully out. Start the engine and allow it to run until operating temperature is reached. The governed engine speed is controlled by the position of the upper or long governor lever. Adjust the yoke No. 3 (Fig. 34) on the hand control cable and attach it to the governor arm when the arm is positioned to give an engine speed of 1000 rpm. In the absence of electrical tachometer equipment, the engine speed may be determined by the speedometer. Safely jack up the rear wheels and be sure the front wheel drive is not engaged. When driving the rear wheels in high or direct transmission gear, the speedometer will read 15 mph (24 Km/h.) at an engine speed of 1000 rpm. In some cases it may be necessary to adjust the surge screw at the rear of the governor to eliminate surge. Should this be necessary, loosen the lock nut and turn the slotted screw in until the engine stops surging when the governor hand control is suddenly operated from low to high speeds, then tighten the lock nut. Use care in making this adjustment not to turn the screw in too far or governor speed control will be lost.

KING SEELEY GOVERNOR OPERATION
When speed control is not desired the governor may be disengaged with the twin-pin type clutch mounted on the driven pulley hub. Never attempt to engage this clutch with the engine running. To operate it pull the cap out toward the radiator and rotate it 1/4 turn in either direction until you feel the two driving lugs drop into the recesses provided. The governor is engaged when the lugs are in the deeper recesses and locked in the disengaged position when in the shallow recesses. The controlled engine speed may be varied with the governor hand control. With this control in against the dash, the controlled engine speed is 1000 rpm. The speed is increased 200 rpm per notch, as the hand control is pulled out. The top speed is 2600 rpm in the ninth notch. The hand control is released by turning the handle 1/4 turn in either direction. When the governor is to be used, stop the engine, engage the governor clutch and pull the hand throttle control fully out to allow the governor to take over engine speed control. When the governor clutch is disengaged, release the hand throttle by turning the handle one-quarter turn in either direction.

MONARCH GOVERNOR ADJUSTMENT
The adjustment of the Monarch governor is the same as that listed above for the King Seeley with the exception of the adjustment of the spring loaded governor-to-throttle link No. 12. Adjust this link to have approximately l/16" (1.6 mm.) slack or lost motion. No surge adjustment is provided and this lost motion is allowed to cushion any slight irregularities in governor control.

MONARCH GOVERNOR OPERATION
The operation of the Monarch governor is the same as that of the King Seeley excepting the clutch control. Clutch control is through a spring loaded lever mounted on the top of the unit. To engage the drive unlatch the lever and allow the spring to carry the engaging assembly forward. Do not engage this clutch with the engine running.



FIG. 2


GOVERNOR MAINTENANCE (All Types)
The belt tension may be adjusted by raising or lowering the governor in the slotted holes in the mounting bracket. Keep the pulleys and belt free of dirt and oil. Belt slippage will affect governor operation and a tight belt may cause rapid wear of the governor shaft and bearings. Adjust it to allow 1” (25 mm.) depression midway between the pulleys with thumb pressure. There is little wear of the internal parts as they operate in oil. The governor housings are equipped with both fill and drain plugs and also (with the exception of some Novi type governors) with level indicating plugs. Check the oil level at each vehicle lubrication and change the oil each time the engine oil is changed using the same grade oil used in the engine. IMPORTANT—Do not fill the governor housing above the level plug. Over-filling will prevent governor control and possibly cause damage to governor internal parts. Guard against overfilling the Novi units, which are not equipped with level indicating plugs. The capacity of these governors is two fluid ounces. The Novi filler plug is also a vent which should be cleaned thoroughly at each oil change to be sure that the vent operates.


Special thanks to Sean Collins for researching numbers in the early Parts Catalogs.

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cj3a 10/06