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Can I jump a 6v with a 12v?

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Mike CA

11-23-2007 17:38:08

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My '44 H is a 6v system (for now) Could I hook jumper cables from my car's 12v to try to crank it, or will I damage the tractor somehow?

I'm ready to crank it. I just need to put water in the radiator and gas in the tank. I can't get the steering shaft to engage, so I can't drive it till that is done, but I'd like to try to start it.

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wuteverwerks

11-24-2007 16:32:52

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to Mike CA, 11-23-2007 17:38:08

If after all this advice your planning to buy a 6 volt battery ,dont waste your money ,buy an eight volt and save yourself a head ache,or switch over to 12 volt and be happy ever after.

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mkirsch

11-24-2007 06:58:19

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to John M, 11-23-2007 17:38:08

Mike, if there is no battery in it, there is NO danger at all.
If the tractor has a 6V battery in it, you can still jump it with 12V, but you don't want to leave it hooked up for long. Hook up, start it, get unhooked.

Connecting a 12V to a 6V is no different than what happens when you hook up one of these BOOST chargers. It's not good for the battery, but it does get the engine running.

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Janicholson

11-24-2007 06:48:29

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to Mike CA, 11-23-2007 17:38:08

Mike you have info all over the map. But what is the best.
Wait for next week and buy the 6volt battery. There is no rush except in your heart. Just put in a nice fresh 6v and be done with it not worrying about interpreting the good ideas below. They have experience you might not. As a result they might do, or not do things you would do or not do. is it safe? It is for me. Is it for you? without insult I say no, gain experience on the correct side first. Jim

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Hugh MacKay

11-24-2007 14:54:14

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to Janicholson, 11-24-2007 06:48:29

Jim: Given the situation, good advice. I can't argue with it.

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Hugh MacKay

11-24-2007 02:58:01

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to Mike CA, 11-23-2007 17:38:08

Mike: There is no problem jumping a 6 volt system with 12 volts. I always go directly to starter with the jump cables, and don't activate your starter switch. Just hook positive terminal of car to the tractor frame, then boost by touching car negative cable to input of starter bypassing the solenoid. The big concern here, you are bosting a positive ground system on tractor with a negative ground system in your car. Basically you hooking the positive side of your cars system to the frame of your tractor, thus you can not let any part of the car touch any part of the tractor.

I've boosted 6 volt tractors many times over the years, had one mishap. One end of a steel cable on the tractor accidently dropped on bumper of car as I was boosting. Belive me it was quite an explosion, there was nothing left of cars battery but the base.

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John T

11-23-2007 19:58:47

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to Mike CA, 11-23-2007 17:38:08

IT DEPENDS Its muchhhhh hhhhh h safer if you simply jump the STARTER ONLY (if switch and wiring type permits the same) without backfeeding 12 volts back into a 6 volt electrical system.

I WOULD NOT JUMP A 6 VOLT BATTERY WITH A 12 VOLT it could blow up..... .

Keep polaritys matched..... ..... ..

If theres no tractor battery at all and its a battery/coil ignition if you run it at straight 12 volts for too long the coil will overheat unless you add some external series ballast but if its a mag its not wired to any battery power.

John T

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AlexLV

11-23-2007 19:17:00

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to Mike CA, 11-23-2007 17:38:08

FWIW I have run my Cub on a 12v battery the whole time I've had it. It has the original 6v starter/generator on it.

Alex

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Andy Martin

11-23-2007 18:33:46

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to Mike CA, 11-23-2007 17:38:08

I've probably jumped a 6v battery with a 12v vehicle 30 times or more with no problems.

1 Hook up the good battery last.
2 Pay attention to polarity.
3 Don't leave a 12v hooked to a 6v, just while you are cranking.

4 Since you don't have a battery in it anyway, by all means stick a 12v battery in and start with it. I have run 6v starters on 12v for many years, they will not burn up as is commonly assumed. The 12v actually is easier on the starter. The starter is not a light bulb, it is a motor, and even though you double the voltage, you don't double the load and amperage goes way down so the 6v windings are pleanty big enough. I ran a 6v 54 Chev on 12v for 10 yr and 150,000 miles with no problems, and all my Farmalls have 6v starters. Lot's of folks just run their tractors with no generators and recharge the battery after 8 or 10 starts. Our rake tractor is that way, too much work, not enough time.

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Al L. in Wisc.

11-23-2007 18:25:28

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to Mike CA, 11-23-2007 17:38:08

Mike, you stated no battery in tractor so, yup, you can do it. Don't have anything on and you can jump directly to the starter. Tractor out of gear and even blocked in case the clutch would stick. Keep polarity the same, make the connection on the starter terminal and finally to the vehicles frame. This will cause less arching damage to the starter terminal and you won't have sparkies flyin' next to the battery. Best to have someone out there w/ya if ya can.

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gene bender

11-23-2007 18:20:52

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to Mike CA, 11-23-2007 17:38:08

Only if you want to blow your 6v batt up and you included. Just dont do it.

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Karl Hamson

11-23-2007 18:10:07

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to Mike CA, 11-23-2007 17:38:08

Mike, jumping 12 volts into 6 can be very dangerous. Last time I tried it there was an almighty explosion when I touched the jumpers to the 6volt battery. All that was left of it was the base and the terminals on the ends of the cables. Fortunately I was not hurt. When the higher voltage goes into the lower voltage battery, it rapidly generates lots of hydrogen gas. Any spark from the cables and you have yourself a hydrogen bomb with sulfhuric acid as a bonus. Same basic rules apply when jumping anything: always hook up the dead battery first and ground to the frame or the block, not the battery. I would do as the others suggest and simply stick in a 12 v battery to get it to go. The 6 volt systems are fine if everything is in good shape. I started my Super A today after sitting since June. It was 2 degrees out and it started on the third compression.
Just my 2 cents
Karl

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Mike CA

11-23-2007 17:55:08

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to Mike CA, 11-23-2007 17:38:08

Hoss in Maine said: Mike,I wouldnt you could blow the 6volt bat all over you and everything else.

I don't have any battery at all in it. That's why I want to try this.

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old

11-23-2007 18:20:05

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to Mike CA, 11-23-2007 17:55:08

Mike, you can put a 12 volt battery in your H and run it just fine for a short time. I say put it in because jumpers will not be likely to hold up well other wise. I would not run it very long that way or you might burn out the coil but your safe to do so for say 30 minutes or so. I have done it for longer amounts of time and been ok but when I forgot to shut one off it blew the coil up and boy what a mess. And no it will not hurt the genny because the VR will see an over charged battery and cut the genny out because of that

Hobby farm

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Hoss in Maine

11-23-2007 17:55:43

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to Mike CA, 11-23-2007 17:38:08

Mike,I wouldnt you could blow the 6volt bat all over you and everything else.Put a 12 volt bat in it and fire it up.Dont churn it too long or starter will get too hot,you can tell.If youve got a mag youre all set but with a dist dont run it long or youll burn up coil and or points.If you want you could put a ballast resistor between coil and ign switch and run her forever that way.Later Hoss

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Zach Bouchard

11-23-2007 17:50:53

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to Mike CA, 11-23-2007 17:38:08

My '46 M uses a 12V battery to start but the charging system is not hooked up. It starts perfect every time.

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Yellott canby

11-23-2007 17:47:04

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Re: Can I jump a 6v with a 12v? in reply to Mike CA, 11-23-2007 17:38:08

Hello,
You can turn a 6 volt starter with a 12 volt battery, my '41 H is that way. If you are just cranking the engine, I would unhook the 6v charging system, from the start system. In other words don't let the 12 volts into the generator and regulator.
Good Luck, YC

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