Case 430/12 volt conversion

I have recently obtained a 1964 Case 430 which has been converted to a 12 volt system (generator to alternator). As a result of this conversion, the tractor no longer has a working tachometer.

Is there any way of installing/wiring a tach to this converted system?

Thanks for your help......

No, the tack drive is off the back of the 12V generator. This tractor is normally 12V, just get a 12V genereator from nnalert, remove the alternator mount braket from the generator mount (assuming just an extra tab was welded on) and get a repro tach drive from John Saeli. The drive is still available from Case for about $250 but John's price is much less and quality just as good.

vmwhitaker

First, all of the 30's series were born with 12-volt systems, so you won't have to worry about a 12 to 6 volt conversion if you take the tractor back to it's stock configuration.

You have a couple of choices if the tractor is a gas burner. If it's a diesel, you really only have one option that I know of.

These tractors (1960-1969) all came from the factory with either Prestolite (Gas) or Delco (Diesel) generators with a tach drive attachment.

I've had two of my restoration projects start without the tach drive installed. One was an alternator conversion like yours. The other was a generator without a tach drive. In both cases, I took them back to their original condition. The generator setup on these old tractors worked very well so going back to a generator is a viable option.

If you have a gas 430 there may be a second option if you can find the parts. The 470-570s went to an alternator system with the tach being driven off of the distributor which is driven off of the camshaft. If you can find that setup at a salvage yard, or even through Case, you could buy the tach cable from Case for a 470....and you're in business. The 470-570 diesels had a tach drive that mounted in about the same spot as the distributor on a gas engine (left center of the block) and drove off of the camshaft. Unfortunately the early 188 diesels didn't have that port/drive.

The first picture below is of my 570 gas. The rectangle shows the tach drive at the distributor, with the arrows pointing at the drive (hard to see) and the cable.



The next picture shows the generator, tach drive and tach cable on a 1964 430 Gas.


The last picture shows the generator, tach drive and tach cable on a 1962 630 Diesel.



I've found a couple of different part numbers for each of the generators throughout the production of the 30 series:

Prestolite: GJT7403A and GTJ7104A

Delco: 1100385 and 1100443

You will also need the tach drive unless you find a generator with one already attached. I believe John Salei had has them or you can find them on ebay. Finding a used generator that will accept the tach drive is not real easy, but they do come up on ebay from time to time. You can also buy one from your case dealer. Case still has a re-building department where you can buy re-built starters, generators, etc. I couldn't find a good used generator during on of the restorations, and was complaining about that fact at my local dealer one day. The stellar parts lady said she could get me one. Darned if she didn't! Be sitting down when they quote the price though.....

A quick look over at eBay netted a guy parting out a 430.... He has a <A Href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330357197345&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT">generator for sale</A>. It looks a little rough, but a trip to your local armature re-build shop would likely have it good as new....

Joe, I got my rebuilt Delco generator from nnalert to take my 1960 630 back to original from the Delco alternator hack job that was on it when I got it. The rebuilt generator was about $130 without core (which I didn't have) as I seem to recall. This generator had the mounting points for the tach drive which I found on ebay. It didn't have the drive gear but Case still sells the drive and all parts. I paid about $25 complete with shipping from ebay and about $30 for the new gear from Case, so I have about $60 in it. About 3 years ago Case wanted over $230 for the complete unit. John has one for far less, which it looks like you have on your 630. The repro unit looks a little different than the Case unit but unless you are really up on your tractors know one would know.

JGarner

Jim

I should have been a little more patient. It looks like you found a better deal. The reman from Case without the tach drive was $160. I had planned to order the tach drive from John Saeli, but my local armature shop had a NOS unit that he sold me for $40

nnalert looks like a great resource. Thanks for the heads-up. I was not aware of them until your post!!

Hope you're having a great labor day weekend.

Found out about nnalert from the guys in my local antique tractor club. Networking a a GOOD thing. Glad to share the info.

Jim

Thanks for the info, pictures, etc....