12V Starter

brownchristian · Sep 6, 2009

Is there a problem with running the 6V Starter on a 12V system. Now that I am going to have my starter rebuilt will they need to do anything to convert it to 12V?

BillM (OH) · Sep 6, 2009

I have a 6V starter on one of my tractors being driven by 12V - has lasted about 15 years so far - still going strong. Expect it's fine as long as you don't stay on it too long.

Bruce (VA) · Sep 6, 2009

It's unlikely that the starter will give you any problems but the bendix will if it's OEM. You will be using twice as much power on it; make sure you just get a new bendix when you rebuild the starter.
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brownchristian · Sep 6, 2009

(quoted from post at 19:33:04 09/06/09) It's unlikely that the starter will give you any problems but the bendix will if it's OEM. You will be using twice as much power on it; make sure you just get a new bendix when you rebuild the starter.
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Sorry for the ignorance but why would the bendix care about voltage? My starter is OEM.

Dunk · Sep 6, 2009

(quoted from post at 21:34:29 09/06/09)

(quoted from post at 19:33:04 09/06/09) It's unlikely that the starter will give you any problems but the bendix will if it's OEM. You will be using twice as much power on it; make sure you just get a new bendix when you rebuild the starter.
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Click to expand...

Sorry for the ignorance but why would the bendix care about voltage? My starter is OEM.

Cause you are applying twice the power to it.

brownchristian · Sep 6, 2009

Sounds like I should just get a new one if I have to replace the bendix and pay for a rebuild. I could spend $100 pretty quick and a new one from DB is $120.

Bruce (VA) · Sep 6, 2009

Exactly as Dunk sez.....it was designed to bang against the flywheel w/ whatever force 6v created. W/ 12v, it gets twice as much.
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Dell (WA) · Sep 6, 2009

Chris........amazingly enuff, yer 6-volts starter motor turns TWICE as fast on 12-volts than iff'n you convert yer starter motor to 12-volts. Thats one of the ADVANTAGES of converting to 12-volts and leavin' yer starter motor at 6-volts. And NO, you will NOT hurt yer 6-volt starter motor with short time 12-volt starter duty. Now iff'n you crank-n-crank yer 6-volt starter motor with 12-volts, you will MELT the solder in the windings and guess what??? $150 starter rebuild. Understand???

There are unsubstantiated reports of starter Bendix abuse 'cuz the 12-volt starter motor SPEEDS the Bendix un-screw so fast it SLAMS into yer flywheel starter ring, BANG!!! This excess energy is claimed to kill starter Bendix's. I say the Bendix was about dead ennyways.

Recommend the modern "clutch" style Bendix ennyways. Besides you can NOT gitt an original OEM N-Bendix drive, they don't make'm ennymore. The current Bendix replacement drive requires a NEW starter shaft hole be drilled about 1/2" closer to the motor. Clutch style works well on the original starter Bendix roll-pin hole. .......Dell

12V Starter

brownchristian

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Bruce (VA)

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