6 volt vs. 12 volt

Matt E. · Aug 21, 2015

Anyone know why the MDs were 6 volt and WD-9s were 12 volt? My Dad has a 48 WD-9 and it turns over and starts just fine with one 12 volt battery. I think that originally it came with two batteries correct?

Also, I've "acquired" a 12 volt generator from Dad's 52 parts WD-9 tractor. I'd like to use that in my H we are rebuilding. Any issues with this? Bulbs, coil?

gene bender · Aug 21, 2015

Just get 12v bulbs and a 12v coil

rustred · Aug 21, 2015

all the diesels were 12 volt.they had 2 6 volt batteries in series. even the 60 series tractors used 2 6 volt batteries.

Matt E. · Aug 21, 2015

So why were two 6 volt batteries used for the diesels? When in series the CCA isn't any better so what was the purpose? Why not just use a single 12 volt battery? Where they not as available back then?

jim warehime · Aug 21, 2015

Yep all diesels were 12 volt. Used 2 6 volts
in series until early 1953 when the stage 2
super m came into production and used 1 12
volt under seat.

pete 23 · Aug 21, 2015

All dealers carried about three sizes of 6 volt batteries. One for ABC, one for H and one for M. No 12 volt batteries were used in IH equipment or very little other equipment until mid 50's. Even cars were 6 volt on most until 55 and 56.

rustred · Aug 21, 2015

why would the super m use 1 12 volt batt.,while the super wd 6 uased 2 6volt batt's? i think there was 2 6 volts under that seat. it just dont make any sense, and then continue with 2 6 volts in the 560, 660's.

rustred · Aug 21, 2015

because they figured the 2 6 volts would crank longer than i 12 volt.

Janicholson · Aug 21, 2015

My MD was/is 12v as were all MDs and including 450s I really do not know why as the gas start was way low compression and they crank easily. Jim

notjustair · Aug 21, 2015

Our 856 and 966 used two six volt batteries. I can't remember how it works - it will have more reserve but the cranking amps aren't multiplied or something like that. I forget how that was. All I know is it was a pain. We never could figure out how to put a battery charger on it so it would charge both batteries. You should have seen us trying to jump the 856 with the 73 Chevy pickup each spring. We would have that pickup would up tight so it would put out lots of amps (never mind it had NO options and probably had an 18 amp alternator). Sometimes we got lucky. The rest of the time we were weaseling those batteries out from under that bad cab.

jim warehime · Aug 22, 2015

It dont, list 2 battery's in the parts books or manuals on the super mds, and I thought that 2 about it being 2 in there but they just won't fit. Who knows.

6 volt vs. 12 volt

Matt E.

Member

gene bender

Well-known Member

rustred

Well-known Member

Matt E.

Member

jim warehime

Member

pete 23

Well-known Member

rustred

Well-known Member

rustred

Well-known Member

Janicholson

Well-known Member

notjustair

Well-known Member

jim warehime

Member

Similar threads