1952 8n charging issues

'528N · Aug 17, 2017

Hello everyone new to the forum and am enjoying the information I have found so far. I recently purchased a 1952 Ford 8n and it seems to have a charging problem. The tractor still has the original ( I believe) generator on it , but it has a 12 volt battery and the polarity has been changed to negative ground. the generator is putting out 14 volts at idle and that increases as the RPMs are increased. I get the same voltage reading at the ARM connection on the regulator but only 8 volts at the BATT connection and nothing at the FLD connection. I assume the regulator is bad but am unable to find a 12 volt regulator with the 3 posts. Any help would be greatly appreciated !

R Geiger · Aug 17, 2017

(quoted from post at 16:56:45 08/17/17) Hello everyone new to the forum and am enjoying the information I have found so far. I recently purchased a 1952 Ford 8n and it seems to have a charging problem. The tractor still has the original ( I believe) generator on it , but it has a 12 volt battery and the polarity has been changed to negative ground. the generator is putting out 14 volts at idle and that increases as the RPMs are increased. I get the same voltage reading at the ARM connection on the regulator but only 8 volts at the BATT connection and nothing at the FLD connection. I assume the regulator is bad but am unable to find a 12 volt regulator with the 3 posts. Any help would be greatly appreciated !

Put an alternator on it and your charging problems will be over.

grayrider · Aug 17, 2017

I'll second what R Geiger stated, put an alternator
on it, (if it belonged to me it would already have one
on it)

Dell (WA) · Aug 17, 2017

528N........nice looking redbelly. While yer 4-speed 8N came from the factory 6-volts positive (+) ground; many have been converted to 12-volts negative (-) ground. Usually using a Delco DS-12 alternator. 12-volt gennys are rare and expensive compared to alternators which have built-in voltage regulator. 12-volts at the ARM should transfer thru to 12-volts at the BATT connect. (BATT is to re-charge the 12-volt battery) Based upon yer reported readings, yer 3-terminal square can voltage regulator is BAD. Me? Byte the bullet, and mount a 3-terminal 12-volt alternator. ($60, cheap) .........HTH, Dell, a 12-volt advocate fer the right reasons

'528N · Aug 17, 2017

Thanks for the replies guys I do appreciate you taking the time to help a new guy! I was at tractor supply this evening an looked at regulators and for the money they want for one an alternator might just be the way I go with this. I will see what I have laying around to fab up a bracket with. Any GM alternator with a built in regulator is ok to use ?

R Geiger · Aug 17, 2017

(quoted from post at 20:32:59 08/17/17) Thanks for the replies guys I do appreciate you taking the time to help a new guy! I was at tractor supply this evening an looked at regulators and for the money they want for one an alternator might just be the way I go with this. I will see what I have laying around to fab up a bracket with. Any GM alternator with a built in regulator is ok to use ?

I bought 2 kits from our hosts, no messing with trying to fab a mount and having alignment problems. Everything i needed was with the kit. Some will say making a mount bracket is easy and it probably is if one has made a lot of them. For my time and money the ones I purchased worked great. And i do not have any issues with the 1 wire alternators.

'528N · Aug 17, 2017

Thanks R Geiger I just looked at the kit and it seems to have everything ! I am still wondering how the generator can be making that much voltage, I just started the tractor up and hooked my meter to it - at half throttle it is putting out 23.67 volts! No wonder the regulator looks like it caught fire inside.

HFJ · Aug 17, 2017

is your meter analog or digital? a while back, i was trying to troubleshoot some uncooperative trailer lights and was too lazy to get a better meter than the 5 dollar harbor freight digital that lives in the pole barn. in spite of being a good fifty yards

removed from the engine's electrical noise, it told me i had minus 29 volts. the best part was when i swapped the leads and [i:0cb5a89a34]still[/i:0cb5a89a34] had minus 29 volts.

'528N · Aug 18, 2017

I tried both digital and analog and get the same readingsand they are Fluke meters so I tend to trust them.

BigDanT · Aug 18, 2017

I always go to the discount auto store and ask for a alternator for a 75' chevy PU with no a/c. Saves the hassle of them trying to figure out what your talking about.

'528N · Aug 18, 2017

Thanks for the info BigDan, I went ahead and ordered the conversion kit from this website, hope they ship fast I still have brush hogging to finish!

Tim PloughNman Daley RIP · Aug 18, 2017

It always baffle me when someone puts a 12 volt battery on and doesn't add an alternator. What's the point? Two options here. First, get the correct 12-volt alternator as suggested and do the conversion right. Second option is to get a good brand 6-VOLT GP1 AG battery and put it back to original positive ground. Either way, google or bing JMOR's Wiring Pictograms and download a copy to see every possible correct method of wiring these old N's. Starters don't care if 6 or 12 volts. Be sure you have a good battery -one that will sustain a charge under load -You can take your battery, generator, voltage regulator, ammeter, key switch, starter, and coil to your local trusty starter/alternator shop guy and have them all bench tested -usually for free.

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'528N · Aug 18, 2017

Thanks Tim I ordered the kit to do the conversion correctly. I should have realized there was an issue when the previous owner said " I cant figure out why the light bulbs keep blowing". Oh well I love repairing older machines so no issues there and I actually learned to drive on my grandfathers 1948 8N 40 years ago.
I have had to relearn a few things about the 8n so far-
1- A PTO overrun adapter is a must for a brushhog
2- They love to lift there front wheels off the ground every chance you give them
3- The oil catch pan you use for your car will not drain fast enough when used on an 8N overflow was unavoidable.
4 - When the tractor stalls because the brush hog hit a stump make sure to shut the key off before running from the horde of angry bees that are chasing you, or you will be replacing points in the dark after said bees have retired for the evening.

HFJ · Aug 18, 2017

(quoted from post at 07:23:43 08/18/17) I tried both digital and analog and get the same readingsand they are Fluke meters so I tend to trust them.

i've got a fluke 30 that i cherish. i have [i:d85ffcd2a7]a bit[/i:d85ffcd2a7] more faith in it than my 'free with purchase' harbor freight job. but, sadly, it's AC only

'528N · Aug 18, 2017

I wouldnt use any other meters for serious electrical stuff, but I do keep them hidden from my sons !

'528N · Aug 25, 2017

Received my 12 volt conversion kit from This site today but the instructions look like the were copied by an old school printing press :roll: The wiring portion of the kit wont be an issue but the bracket instal is another story the side of the page with those instructions only half printed. Anyone have a picture of this kit installed they would be willing to share ??

R Geiger · Aug 25, 2017

(quoted from post at 15:32:44 08/25/17) Received my 12 volt conversion kit from This site today but the instructions look like the were copied by an old school printing press :roll: The wiring portion of the kit wont be an issue but the bracket instal is another story the side of the page with those instructions only half printed. Anyone have a picture of this kit installed they would be willing to share ??

Here is one of mine that I did not too long ago. works great.

'528N · Aug 25, 2017

Thanks just what i was looking for !

'528N · Aug 25, 2017

I have everything installed and only ran into a few minor issues. The hardware kit was short 1 bolt. I have a few laying around so that was taken care of. Tractor would not start after install so i took a few voltage readings and ended up removing the resistor from the circuit hit the key runs like a champ! only issue left is the ammeter is pegged to the positive side just above idle. thinknig might need changed to a voltmeter.

R Geiger · Aug 25, 2017

(quoted from post at 19:35:42 08/25/17) I have everything installed and only ran into a few minor issues. The hardware kit was short 1 bolt. I have a few laying around so that was taken care of. Tractor would not start after install so i took a few voltage readings and ended up removing the resistor from the circuit hit the key runs like a champ! only issue left is the ammeter is pegged to the positive side just above idle. thinknig might need changed to a voltmeter.

Mine both charge high just for a few seconds and then drop back. Both of mine are ammeters. What is the condition of your battery?
do you have a 6 or 12 volt coil? 12 volt coil does not need the resistor. If you have a 6 volt coil, I would not run very long without a resistor or you may be buying a new coil.
You might want to call YT about the full scale charging, don't sound right.

'528N · Aug 25, 2017

Im pretty sure it is a 12 volt coil after doing some meter testing , I also think from the condition of the ammeter that it is probably the original. battery is brand new and voltage output at the alternator is 13.6

Royse · Aug 25, 2017

"I am still wondering how the generator can be making that much voltage"

That is unloaded voltage. Normal for it to be higher than needed.
At least you know you have a working generator.

R Geiger · Aug 25, 2017

(quoted from post at 20:16:21 08/25/17) Im pretty sure it is a 12 volt coil after doing some meter testing , I also think from the condition of the ammeter that it is probably the original. battery is brand new and voltage output at the alternator is 13.6

What does the ammeter show when it is not running?I would be afraid of running it long with that high of a reading.

JMOR · Aug 25, 2017

(quoted from post at 22:32:32 08/25/17)

(quoted from post at 20:16:21 08/25/17) Im pretty sure it is a 12 volt coil after doing some meter testing , I also think from the condition of the ammeter that it is probably the original. battery is brand new and voltage output at the alternator is 13.6

Click to expand...

What does the ammeter show when it is not running?I would be afraid of running it long with that high of a reading.

ook again after running at work all day.

'528N · Aug 26, 2017

Ammeter is now reading 14 volts. I put a charger on the battery over night and tightened the battery cables down

Thanks to everyone who made suggestions ! iI am very happy with the conversion tractor seems to run so much smoother!

1952 8n charging issues

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