To30 another 12 volt conversion thread.

Timberlake

New User
Hey y'all. Just got my to30 running. Did a valve job and solved some overheating issues. Now I want to convert to 12 volt. I have read a lot of forums and need a few things clarified. I want to buy a kit. Are they complete. Any suggestions. Also do I need a new starter? Do I need a new ignition coil? What size battery would y'all suggest. Will the new alternator use the belt I already have. Should I use the 1 or 2 wire alternator? Thanks folks.
 
You don"t need a new starter. You just don"t want to run it for long periods of time trying to start the tractor. You"ll either need a real 12V coil (~3.2 ohms primary resistance)or you need to add a ballast resistor in series with the coil in the primary circuit with the existing6V coil(~1.6 ohms primary resistance).

Your call. Personally, I"d recommend getting the real 12V coil (NAPA Part # IC-14SB).
 
Get a proper tractor battery, they are more expensive but they last longer and the vibration will cause a standard battery to break up inside. You can use the 6 volt coil if you wish but a new 12 volt coil is better. You can use the original 6 volt Starter just make sure that the Engine starts easily or you could burn it out if you need to keep turning the engine to get it to start, so the Points and the Carb need to be set correctly. The pulley on the Alternator needs to be smaller than the one that was on the Generator so it turns faster, if you don't use a larger pulley it won't start charging unless you "blip" the throttle each time you start. either 1 or 2 wire is OK, possibly 2 wire is better. The belt MAY be OK it just depends if the one you have is the right size now. The belt should be running level with the top of the pulleys, not part way down the Vee or it will be driving on the bottom of the belt rather than the sides. An Alternator takes more driving than a Generator so the belt needs to be right first time. If you want the information about timing the ignition and setting the Carb. OR anything else, just email me at the address below and I will send it...John(UK)[email protected]
 
Not sure why anyone would want to convert to 12v. If generator is bad then easier and cheaper to rebuild generator. 6v batteries are still available at discout auto parts stores. If starter is bad then it has to be rebuilt anyway whether 6v or 12v.

Just not clear to me why anyone would want to convert to 12v unless they plan to add air conditioning, GPS, cell phone chargers, DVD's, stereo equipmetnt, ear-tooth and blue butt cell phone accessorie,s etc.
 
Several years ago I converted my TO30 to 12v with a kit sold on this site. It contained everything I needed--except the battery, of course. It came with a resister to use the 6v coil. Eventually I needed a new coil and then bought a 12v one. As others have said, I'm using the same starter. For the battery I went to NAPA and said, "I need a 12v one about this same physical size for my tractor." Why I converted? My generator died. I couldn't find anyone local to work on it so it was either convert or find someone to ship it to. 12v is not "original" but it is nice because so much other stuff is based on it (electric sprayer pumps, power inverters, etc and I can jump my car with my tractor when someone leaves the lights on).
 
i've never converted any of my tractors to 12V but i bought one once that was converted. i never worried about that tractor possibly not starting. 12V just makes up for stuff that 6V won't.
and yeah i know about "clean, bright and shiny"
 
Ive had her running good for a week or so now and here is the story. After the valve job she was hard to turn over and the battery had to be very strong. I had a used battery that I got from friend that was cranking it while it was working on it with the use of a battery charger on start mode. After that I went to get a new 6volt battery and it did not crank the tractor any better or faster than the old half dead? battery. So I took the new battery back and put the old one back in. Thats when I got 12 volt conversion on the brain. Now after a few days when I go to crank the tractor the old battery does a great job of turning it over. The tractor seems to be freeing up. Keep it mind it sat in the woods for 17 years. So I will see if it continues to turn over well I will hold off on the conversion. I have bigger fish to fry. Like axle seals hahahaha.
 

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