1944 Kubelwagen wiring diagram

[DLarsen]

I'm starting the process of sorting out the electrical system on my newly acquired 1944 Kubelwagen. I cannot find a clear useable schematic anywhere. I need to figure out, among other things, what each position of the light knob activates on the notek lights and headlights. Does anyone have a clear PDF they could share?

Thanks!

_________________
1944 Kubelwagen, Restored
1953 Black Zwitter, Restored
1956 Polar Silver Oval, Restored
1956 Panel, currently being restored
1958 Beetle survivor, patina road-warrior
1961 Microbus, companion of 30-years

Follow me on Instagram @larsenvintagevw

[finster]

according to the notek handbook the switch has 5 positions
O - front blackout lamp and rear convoy lamp off
H - (hinten?) front blackout lamp off, only rear convoy lamp on
V1 - front blackout lamp on dimmest setting, rear convoy lamp on
V2 - front blackout lamp on middle brightness, rear convoy lamp on
V3 - front blackout lamp on brightest setting, rear convoy lamp on

pdf of booklet can be found here https://www.olgiati-in-paraguay.org/kubel/Notek.pdf
includes generic wiring diagram

the best wiring diagram I can find for a late kubel with multi-position ignition switch is this

_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[DLarsen]

Thanks Finster, that will be soooooo helpful!

North o' the border, eh!
_________________
1944 Kubelwagen, Restored
1953 Black Zwitter, Restored
1956 Polar Silver Oval, Restored
1956 Panel, currently being restored
1958 Beetle survivor, patina road-warrior
1961 Microbus, companion of 30-years

Follow me on Instagram @larsenvintagevw

[Martin Southwell]

What's the history of this Kubel, and how did it end up in Canada?

[DLarsen]

It was brought back to Canada after the war by the Canadian army as war booty. It was sent to the Valcartier, Quebec base where it stayed until being sold at a surplus auction in the 60's. I recently bought it from the collector who completed the restoration, only leaving me a few tidbits to take care of. It has not been out of Quebec since the 40's.

This is perhaps the first Volkswagen to be on canadian soil!!
_________________
1944 Kubelwagen, Restored
1953 Black Zwitter, Restored
1956 Polar Silver Oval, Restored
1956 Panel, currently being restored
1958 Beetle survivor, patina road-warrior
1961 Microbus, companion of 30-years

Follow me on Instagram @larsenvintagevw

[T2_681]

[hopkin]

[finster]

[T2_681]

Really? Always something new!

[DLarsen]

The good news is that I have most of the wiring sorted out and almost everything works, except the brake light. There is no brake light switch to be found. Where was it mounted, in the front of the tunnel behind the brake cable adjustment cover? I don't see any mounting holes for a switch anywhere. Does anyone have pictures of their kubel brake switch setup? I see that a Porsche 911-914 switch can be used if an original cannot be found. I might go that route in the meantime, but would love to see how the original was mounted. Thanks!
_________________
1944 Kubelwagen, Restored
1953 Black Zwitter, Restored
1956 Polar Silver Oval, Restored
1956 Panel, currently being restored
1958 Beetle survivor, patina road-warrior
1961 Microbus, companion of 30-years

Follow me on Instagram @larsenvintagevw

[T2_681]

This is, of course, the early type of switch on a 1943 Kübel. The 1944 design was pretty much different.

[finster]

pretty sure I've read somewhere that the brake light was not fitted in later (1944 -) years. looking at parts lists, the brake switch is shown early on but disappears from later editions which seems to support this...

and not on later wiring diagram (bulb missing from rear notek too)

the porsche 911 switch looks just like the vw cable brake part but with spade connectors!

standard beetle set-up

_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[T2_681]

The brake light circuit was absent as early as in June 1943 manual.

[DLarsen]

Thanks guys, this is very helpful. My wiring is exactly like the first schematic shared by Finster, which shows a brake light and switch. I have a fuse for the brake light, just like the schematic. I will need the brake light to get the car safetied. I think the simplest and most discreet way is to go with the 911 switch, even if it's not correct. At least nobody will be able to see it.

I have an original Marz (march) 1943 parts manual which does not show the brake switch, but the brake light circuit is still seen in the schematic.
_________________
1944 Kubelwagen, Restored
1953 Black Zwitter, Restored
1956 Polar Silver Oval, Restored
1956 Panel, currently being restored
1958 Beetle survivor, patina road-warrior
1961 Microbus, companion of 30-years

Follow me on Instagram @larsenvintagevw

[Fly-wheel]

[quote="finster"]according to the notek handbook the switch has 5 positions
O - front blackout lamp and rear convoy lamp off
H - (hinten?) front blackout lamp off, only rear convoy lamp on
V1 - front blackout lamp on dimmest setting, rear convoy lamp on
V2 - front blackout lamp on middle brightness, rear convoy lamp on
V3 - front blackout lamp on brightest setting, rear convoy lamp on

pdf of booklet can be found here https://www.olgiati-in-paraguay.org/kubel/Notek.pdf
includes generic wiring diagram

the best wiring diagram I can find for a late kubel with multi-position ignition switch is this

[/quoteis

Thanks for sharing this. it okay to try to copy the colour diagram so i can print a copy. I dont know who owns the copyright or if there is a high grade copy as cant see it on the website.

[mikeandkirsti]