Hello guys, I am from Virginia. I own an 8N and now a recently aquired TO30 Ferguson. The 30 is pretty rough, and may have a cracked block, but I am going to try to get her going again. The generator/ alternator is missing on this tractor, and I am wondering how to tell if it has been converted to 12 volts, or is still 6 volts. There is a threaded rod contraption that looks like a conversion bracket I think I have seen before. Electical systems are a weak spot in my mechanical aptitude. So any pointers on how to distinguish 12 from 6 volt??
- Thread starter jl1966
- Start date
steve19438
Well-known Member
are the battery cables there? thick ones may indicate 6V, thin ones 12V but no guarantee. post some pics when you can.
if this site won't let post pics email them to me and I will post them for you.
[email protected]
if this site won't let post pics email them to me and I will post them for you.
[email protected]
jl1966, The Ferguson Expo will be held in Cedar Falls, Iowa August 18, 19, & 20. We would like to see what you have then, if you can't bring the TO 30, bring your self & see what the other Ferguson's look like. Don't say it is to far as I am certain there will be at least one Ferguson from Texas there.
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
If there is no alternator or generator, you can go back with whatever voltage/polarity you want.
The most common, trouble free, economical is a Delco alternator. You can buy the conversion kit from this site, comes with an alternator, mount brackets, wire harness, and ignition resistor. Very simple installation.
With this conversion, you will use a 12v battery, negative ground, reverse the coil polarity, change any accessories to 12v. The 6v starter stays the same, it will work on 12v.
Or you can go back with 6v if you want to keep it original. You'll need to find a generator, regulator, heavy duty battery cables...
Keeping it 6v is easier on the starter, and keeps it original. That's about the only advantage to it. For a 6v system to work, everything has to be right. Looking at more maintenance, more cost to get the components, but you will hone your electrical skills!
12v Conversion
The most common, trouble free, economical is a Delco alternator. You can buy the conversion kit from this site, comes with an alternator, mount brackets, wire harness, and ignition resistor. Very simple installation.
With this conversion, you will use a 12v battery, negative ground, reverse the coil polarity, change any accessories to 12v. The 6v starter stays the same, it will work on 12v.
Or you can go back with 6v if you want to keep it original. You'll need to find a generator, regulator, heavy duty battery cables...
Keeping it 6v is easier on the starter, and keeps it original. That's about the only advantage to it. For a 6v system to work, everything has to be right. Looking at more maintenance, more cost to get the components, but you will hone your electrical skills!
12v Conversion
With the genny missing, this could be a great time to do a 12V conversion. That alone is worth the price of
admission. Some people like the conversion, others might not. I did one on the wife's TO-20 and it starts a lot
faster. No, you don't need a 12V starter for it. Just keep the engine tuned up and if it doesn't kick in about
30 seconds, stop cranking and find out why. TO-20 and 30 are the same animal. That 30 has a bit more grunt
power. As for hydraulics, your in the same parts group as the 9N and 2N. If you really, really like the position
control of the 8N and want to play with peoples minds, you can swap over the top cover and pump from the 8N.
admission. Some people like the conversion, others might not. I did one on the wife's TO-20 and it starts a lot
faster. No, you don't need a 12V starter for it. Just keep the engine tuned up and if it doesn't kick in about
30 seconds, stop cranking and find out why. TO-20 and 30 are the same animal. That 30 has a bit more grunt
power. As for hydraulics, your in the same parts group as the 9N and 2N. If you really, really like the position
control of the 8N and want to play with peoples minds, you can swap over the top cover and pump from the 8N.
Haha, well thanks for the invite! I just purchased this tractor for $200 from a coworker, mostly as a parts donor for my 8N. However, seeeing as it is a fairly complete tractor, I am going to try to get it going before I start pulling parts off of it. I don't think I will be loading it up and heading off to Iowa with it though!!
wildcat445
Member
By the looks of the kluge for a slack adjuster and the bracket, I'd guess that at one time there was an alternator on this engine.
I do not see the oil filter on the right side, can't read the numbers on the left side and can't see the oil pan. I believe I see
the air intake on the dash ala a 30. Did the 30 have the "Ferguson" script on the rear edge of the hood like a 20? Maybe this
tractor is a "25", a mixture of a 20 and a 30? The engine looks like a Z120 to me.
My 20 is still 6 volt and starts just fine in the winter. I keep it in the garage and use 15w40 Rotella in it.
I do not see the oil filter on the right side, can't read the numbers on the left side and can't see the oil pan. I believe I see
the air intake on the dash ala a 30. Did the 30 have the "Ferguson" script on the rear edge of the hood like a 20? Maybe this
tractor is a "25", a mixture of a 20 and a 30? The engine looks like a Z120 to me.
My 20 is still 6 volt and starts just fine in the winter. I keep it in the garage and use 15w40 Rotella in it.
You can email me at [email protected]. I've converted a 30 to 12 volts using the kit from this site. Works great. I lived in Vinton 23 yrs. Email me if you wish.
So, I fiddled with the tractor for a little while today. It seems the engine is "stuck". This tractor sat for several years, so I am not too
concerned about that yet. I squirted a little oil in the cylinders, and I will let that work for awhile. I tried rocking it in gear to
unstick it, but I believe the rear brakes are also "stuck" on at least one side, because it would barely roll off the trailer, and I couldn't
get much movement rocking it by hand. As for the 6 or 12 volt thing, as others have pointed out, the main difference between the two systems
is the alternator/generator. So, if I find that this tractor is worth resurrecting, I will see about getting my hands on an appropriate
alternator. Thanks for all your responses and please keep the good advice coming!
concerned about that yet. I squirted a little oil in the cylinders, and I will let that work for awhile. I tried rocking it in gear to
unstick it, but I believe the rear brakes are also "stuck" on at least one side, because it would barely roll off the trailer, and I couldn't
get much movement rocking it by hand. As for the 6 or 12 volt thing, as others have pointed out, the main difference between the two systems
is the alternator/generator. So, if I find that this tractor is worth resurrecting, I will see about getting my hands on an appropriate
alternator. Thanks for all your responses and please keep the good advice coming!
Well, a little update. I have been fooling around with the old Ferguson the last few weeks, and it turns out the engine is not stuck, the starter is bad. When I hit the starter button it just makes a humming noise, but doesn't turn. So, I will have to decide if I want to rebuild or replace the starter. Backed the adjusters off on the brakes and it rolls fine now, someone had just adjusted the brakes too tight. I still have not investigated the block to see if it is actually cracked. As you all probably are well aware, when you begin to investigate a problem with these old tractors, you often uncover a couple more. I just have to decide if I want to invest any significant amount of money in this tractor.
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