(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

12v Battery, 6v System?

I

Irish_Jake

Member
I just bought an 8n, and for all the world it appears to have a 12v battery in an original 6v system. I've verified the battery is 12v, and the generator looks original. Any idea how that could be the case? Tractor starts and runs fine. Can a 12v battery run a 6v system, or is it possible the generator has been re-wound?
 
(quoted from post at 19:48:59 07/15/17) I just bought an 8n, and for all the world it appears to have a 12v battery in an original 6v system. I've verified the battery is 12v, and the generator looks original. Any idea how that could be the case? Tractor starts and runs fine. Can a 12v battery run a 6v system, or is it possible the generator has been re-wound?
Click to expand...
t is likely that seller just stuck that battery in there to sell it and it will run like that for many hours as starting is infrequent & ignition draws little current, but sooner or later it will be dead & need re-charging, as the generator is just keeping fan belt tight.
 
(quoted from post at 20:36:39 07/15/17)
Will it hurt anything like that, or can I just wait until the batter dies and replace it with a 6v?
Click to expand...
nless the coil has been changed, it is being "stressed", but may live, at least for awhile (same for points). Another possibility is that he has added a resistor in the coil primary wire, but I wouldn't bet on that.
 
(quoted from post at 17:56:58 07/15/17)
(quoted from post at 20:36:39 07/15/17)
Will it hurt anything like that, or can I just wait until the batter dies and replace it with a 6v?
Click to expand...
nless the coil has been changed, it is being "stressed", but may live, at least for awhile (same for points). Another possibility is that he has added a resistor in the coil primary wire, but I wouldn't bet on that.
Click to expand...

Seller actually mentioned finding a resistor, previous owner put the battery in. I'm not sure where to look for it here. What impact would that have?
 
(quoted from post at 21:09:09 07/15/17)
(quoted from post at 17:56:58 07/15/17)
(quoted from post at 20:36:39 07/15/17)
Will it hurt anything like that, or can I just wait until the batter dies and replace it with a 6v?
Click to expand...
nless the coil has been changed, it is being "stressed", but may live, at least for awhile (same for points). Another possibility is that he has added a resistor in the coil primary wire, but I wouldn't bet on that.
Click to expand...

Seller actually mentioned finding a resistor, previous owner put the battery in. I'm not sure where to look for it here. What impact would that have?
Click to expand...
f resistance selection is done correctly, then it reduces coil & point current back to 6v levels and all is well. Who knows, on a r-e-a-l-l-y l-o-n-g shot you might have a 12v generator and regulator!
 
[i:654c4848f0]"Who knows, on a r-e-a-l-l-y l-o-n-g
shot you might have a 12v generator and
regulator!"[/i:654c4848f0]

That was my thought:
New user so we dont know how much he knows
about visually IDing N generators.
Maybe a 12v generator/VR off an 801D or
somesuch. If he could post a photo there's
guys here who could ID it from looks.
I would take the generator in and have it
tested btw. They could tell you if it is 6
or 12v and if it works. Go from there
whether he's going to go the rest of the
way with one voltage or the orher.
 
Here we call that a 'farmer conversion' very common to find a 12
volt battery in a six volt system. Farmers use a battery charger
once a month to charge battery. A six volt generator won't charge
a 12 volt battery.

It will be very hard on the six volt regulator. Odds are the
regulator will need replaced to make a six volt battery charge
again. I'll also bet the battery cables will need replaced. Not
because of the 12 volts. Just because they are 60 years old and
wore out.
 
(quoted from post at 20:08:00 07/15/17) [i:a48e65ba82]"Who knows, on a r-e-a-l-l-y l-o-n-g
shot you might have a 12v generator and
regulator!"[/i:a48e65ba82]

That was my thought:
New user so we dont know how much he knows
about visually IDing N generators.
Maybe a 12v generator/VR off an 801D or
somesuch. If he could post a photo there's
guys here who could ID it from looks.
I would take the generator in and have it
tested btw. They could tell you if it is 6
or 12v and if it works. Go from there
whether he's going to go the rest of the
way with one voltage or the orher.
Click to expand...

New and ignorant, but learning and generally quick with engines.

Here's what I've got - battery, generator, and what may be a resistor up near the battery, but looks nothing like the electronics resistors I'm used to. Multimeter is currently hiding from me somewhere so I haven't been able to poke around with that yet.

http://dropshare.artisandm.com/2017-07-15-23.59.06.jpg
http://dropshare.artisandm.com/2017-07-15-23.59.39.jpg
http://dropshare.artisandm.com/2017-07-16-00.00.06.jpg
 
OK, you have the resistor. Standard "looking" early 8N generator.
Generator could be converted to 12v? Place a voltmeter across battery terminals & measure voltage. Start & run at speed for 3 to 5 minutes while monitoring battery voltage & if it rises by a volt or more, then it is charging. Same or lower means it is not charging.
 
(quoted from post at 00:34:28 07/16/17) OK, you have the resistor. Standard "looking" early 8N generator.
Generator could be converted to 12v? Place a voltmeter across battery terminals & measure voltage. Start & run at speed for 3 to 5 minutes while monitoring battery voltage & if it rises by a volt or more, then it is charging. Same or lower means it is not charging.
Click to expand...

Also pretty clean looking work so it would appear previous owners were not a bunch of ham handed nabobs ;-) I was going to fix the image links but they are full resolution - one of those little techie things Photobucket took care of for you.....

TOH
 
I have a Farmall B with a 6 volt generator that I can use a 6 or 12 volt battery in. It has a magneto for ign. It has a belly mower (sickle) that I use a 12 volt winch to raise. If I don't need the mower I put a 6 volt battery in it. It charges 1/2 at 12 volts. Generator is a 3 brush with a diode instead of a regulator or cut out.
 
Original FORD's used a 6-volt/positive ground electrical system -has to do with hotter/better spark at plugs. A lot of fellas slap 12 volt batteries in them, negative grounded, and they work, spins the starter faster, brighter lights, and can run yer 8-track player now. If you wanna add a 12 v battery -go all the way and convert to an alternator too but do the hook-up correctly -see JMOR's Wiring Pictograms. Then contact me -email is open and I'll buy your old 6-volt generator too.

Tim *PloughNman* Daley(MI)
 
(quoted from post at 18:13:47 07/16/17) Can anyone point me toward a good discussion / guide to the benefits and downsides of 6v vs 12v?
Click to expand...
rying to create a sh..., I mean fire storm are ya? There are as many opinions on this as there are people, almost. Forget all the nits and if not interested in originality, it is much easier to keep modern alternators working than generator/electro-mechanical voltage regulators, most especially for the novice.
 
(quoted from post at 15:21:37 07/16/17)
(quoted from post at 18:13:47 07/16/17) Can anyone point me toward a good discussion / guide to the benefits and downsides of 6v vs 12v?
Click to expand...
rying to create a sh..., I mean fire storm are ya? There are as many opinions on this as there are people, almost. Forget all the nits and if not interested in originality, it is much easier to keep modern alternators working than generator/electro-mechanical voltage regulators, most especially for the novice.
Click to expand...

Sorry, didn't realize it was a touchy point around here. Once I find my multimeter and work out exactly what's happening as is, I'm leaning toward staying 6v for original. This is going to be a working tractor, but I'm also going to be restoring back toward factory stock for the most part. She's burning some oil right now so an engine rebuild is on tap for this fall.
 
(quoted from post at 18:23:40 07/16/17)
(quoted from post at 15:21:37 07/16/17)
(quoted from post at 18:13:47 07/16/17) Can anyone point me toward a good discussion / guide to the benefits and downsides of 6v vs 12v?
Click to expand...
rying to create a sh..., I mean fire storm are ya? There are as many opinions on this as there are people, almost. Forget all the nits and if not interested in originality, it is much easier to keep modern alternators working than generator/electro-mechanical voltage regulators, most especially for the novice.
Click to expand...

Sorry, didn't realize it was a touchy point around here. Once I find my multimeter and work out exactly what's happening as is, I'm leaning toward staying 6v for original. This is going to be a working tractor, but I'm also going to be restoring back toward factory stock for the most part. She's burning some oil right now so an engine rebuild is on tap for this fall.
Click to expand...
hat's fine too. Just learning & finding good parts.
 
(quoted from post at 18:23:40 07/16/17)
(quoted from post at 15:21:37 07/16/17)
(quoted from post at 18:13:47 07/16/17) Can anyone point me toward a good discussion / guide to the benefits and downsides of 6v vs 12v?
Click to expand...
rying to create a sh..., I mean fire storm are ya? There are as many opinions on this as there are people, almost. Forget all the nits and if not interested in originality, it is much easier to keep modern alternators working than generator/electro-mechanical voltage regulators, most especially for the novice.
Click to expand...

Sorry, didn't realize it was a touchy point around here. Once I find my multimeter and work out exactly what's happening as is, I'm leaning toward staying 6v for original. This is going to be a working tractor, but I'm also going to be restoring back toward factory stock for the most part. She's burning some oil right now so an engine rebuild is on tap for this fall.
Click to expand...

Don't mind Jesse - he's a great source of real engineering knowledge but after a couple decades or so of the same 6V vs 12V stuff over and over here a little short on patience :roll:

Just pay attention and use your brain. The idea that you own a multi-meter and apparently know what it means is a massive step in the right direction ;-)

TOH
 
If you are Positive that an N is all the
tractor you will ever want or need then go
ahead and rebuild/restore it.
But know this before you start:
With an engine overhaul plus all the other
mission creep that goes into a
"restoration" you will quickly spend
yourself into the price range of a much
later tractor. Yes, you will have a pretty
tractor but it still won't have the
features and options that say a Hundred or
Thousand Series will likely have - more
gears, live hyds, live pto, power
steering, differential lock, much better
hudraulics, more hp from an OHV engine,
etc, etc. To each his own of course.
But I would much rather have more features
than more pretty.
 
What Ultradog said. I have a 9N and an 8N, but you won't see me putting much if any money into them, other than what it takes to keep them going. Any major (expensive) breakdowns or rebuilds needed and they are then parts tractors or will become someone else's problem. I bought a modern SCUT (sub-compact utility tractor) with a hydrostatic transmission and steering, live hydraulics, live PTO and a loader with the same h.p. as the Ns a few years back, and that convinced me the Ns are nice little workhorses that aren't all that nice to work with by comparison. Not that I won't continue to use them for chores they are suited for. If I replace them, the 1000 series (2000, 3000 or 4000) or next generation beyond those will get my money.
 
(quoted from post at 04:33:31 07/18/17) If you are Positive that an N is all the
tractor you will ever want or need then go
ahead and rebuild/restore it.
But know this before you start:
With an engine overhaul plus all the other
mission creep that goes into a
"restoration" you will quickly spend
yourself into the price range of a much
later tractor. Yes, you will have a pretty
tractor but it still won't have the
features and options that say a Hundred or
Thousand Series will likely have - more
gears, live hyds, live pto, power
steering, differential lock, much better
hudraulics, more hp from an OHV engine,
etc, etc. To each his own of course.
But I would much rather have more features
than more pretty.
Click to expand...

I hear ya, and I understand the hidden costs involved with restoring an old machine. That said, I thought about all that before I chose a tractor to get into. I value the simplicity of older tools and equipment, along with the robustness with which they're built. I have a wood shop as well, and my table saw, for instance, is actually a few years older than this tractor. From both a practical and nostalgic standpoint, I value what comes with these older items.

My goal is to do a quality, but not show-level restoration on the tractor. Get it running back at 90% of original and clean up the paint a bit. Then it will be used for snow plowing & maintenance on 60 acres of rolling Michigan forest & trails. Is it the best tractor in the sub $10,000 range for doing that? No, but it should be good enough for what I need and I'll enjoy working with it and on it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Factotum
6v headlight bulbs
Replies
17
Views
4K
Tim PloughNman Daley RIP
T
T
Re: 1953 Golden Jubilee 6v to 12v conversion
Replies
1
Views
419
Pete in Holland MI
P
K
Farmall 300 6v generator, with a 12v system and battery
2
Replies
29
Views
738
Kevinjd1981
K
W
Ferguson TE20 - converted to 12V with a generator?
Replies
9
Views
883
Jim.ME
J
J
1948 8N rebuild progress
2 3 4
Replies
76
Views
2K
Glenn Todd
G
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top