12 volt conversion question

HHHans

New User
For those who have converted an 8n to 12 volt, does the starter spin significantly faster and start quicker?
 
If the starter is 6v, it will spin.....get ready for it.....twice as fast.

Generally speaking.....it will probably not start any quicker. A fast spinning starter will create more dynamic compression which will allow it to start quicker......but if you don't have a compression problem, then 12v isn't going to help.

If you have dirty grounds/loose connections & they get fixed while you're doing the conversion......then it will start quicker.

From my experience, I've only found three reasons to convert an N to 12v:

1. You need to run 12v equipment (sprayers, pumps, lights, etc)

2. You have a simultaneous failure of the v/r & generator or battery & the cost to replace those parts is close to or exceeds the cost of a conversion

3. Your N has poor compression (like less than 90 lbs) and you do not want to rebuild it


What's the problem you're having that's got you interested in a 12v conversion?
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On this board you will get a lot of advice to keep it 6 Volt.
Aside from "keeping it original" I do not know why.
Here is a list of good reasons to convert.
*12V spins your engine faster and starts it better in all conditions. Especially if it is very cold or if the engine has marginal compression.
*A 12 alternator is more reliable. It uses a solid state voltage regulator instead of an old fashioned system of points, coils and electromagnets to regulate the charging voltage.
*An alternator lasts longer than a generator. That's why many places offer lifetime guarantees on them. Not so with a generator.
*An alternator will put out more amperage than a generator.
*An alternator will charge at idle. A generator will not.
* An alternator requires zero maintenance.
* An alternator requires fewer wires than a generator + voltage regulator and it is easier to rewire your tractor with one.
*12V is more forgiving of dirty contacts on/in the entire wiring harness.
*12v is the industry standard and has been for 50 years.
*12v allows you to run sprayer pumps, flashing lights, winches, even your old 8 track tapes on your tractor.
*12V lights are brighter and you can run more of them without running your battery down.
*A 12v system is safer. For example, Most people know how to jump a 12v negative ground car, truck or tractor. Not many people know how to safely jump a 6v positive ground tractor with a 12V battery without something exploding in their faces or getting themselves run over.
*6v requires bigger, harder to find wires and cables throughout the system.
*12v batteries are to be found just about anywhere, are cheaper than 6v batteries and are usually maintenance free.
* Lastly, is this your only 6V machine?
What kind of battery is in your daily driver? Or in your boat, RV, classic car, 4 wheeler, snowmobile, motorcycle, or lawn tractor if you have them? Why have an odd ball 6V battery that can't jump or be jumped by anything else?
 
Yes that is what my experience has been. I converted my 2N recently using the kit sold here on YT. My 6V generator quit working and my battery was dead. I couldn't justify spending the $ to replace both of those items and not upgrade to 12V at the same time.
 
Don't do it-leave it 6 volts----I did the 12v
thing because when I got mine in 04, it had
nothing--no generator or alternator..PO was just
charging a 12 volt battery with a charger,and had
a 12 v to 6 volt resistor in the wire going to the
coil-and obviously still had a 6 volt coil...Doing
this, he could easily bushhog or whatever he
wanted to do for a couple or three days before he
had to charge the battery again.....Bottom
line/rest of the story is, I wish I had hunted and
found a 6v genarator and left it 6 volts--
alternator sticking out the side is plain ugly and
just aint like it is suppose to be..If it don't
crank on 6v you have other problems u need to fix-
not patch, not spin faster to try to act like
there is no problem...now my friend that is the
rest of the story...
 
(quoted from post at 10:50:07 12/08/14) For those who have converted an 8n to 12 volt, does the starter spin significantly faster and start quicker?

yes
and
yes
 
I have to agree with Ultradog I did my on 12v conversion for less money than the 3 bad regulators I bought. I think that alternator sticking out looks real good when it starts every time and battery stays charged.
 
We have been falsely taught that the magnetic field comes from the current. It comes from the atoms of the conductor excited by the voltage. So when you go from 6 to 12 volts the starter spins faster on less current.
 
It's not really that easy. For a good understanding, read up on electromotive force, electromagnetic field, (back emf too for specific motor stuff). Electron current and hole current theory, maxwells equations, and quite importantly, lorentz force law.

Lots of other stuff but that is a start
 
(quoted from post at 14:51:41 12/09/14)
(back emf too for specific motor stuff).

SG is this also known as the Hysteresis effect??
Holy Cow I'm actually remembering something from my electronic courses.
 
I've owned this machine for 10 years. Mostly use it to plow snow on 2000' driveway. Starter has always been sluggish, even when replaced a year ago. Tractor runs great once started.

Recently the wires near the regulator have started to smoke during the 15 to 20 seconds of crank time to start.
 
Kinda. In general, hysteresis output is dependent on input history. In the case of magnetic material, past history of current will align the domains and create a permanent magnet.

In a Genny for instance, this will be the low level field that bootstraps field current, till the armature is making enough to power up the field coils, etc
 
When you replaced the starter, did you also replace both cables w/ the proper size & clean all the grounds? (see tip # 41 at the link)

US made starter or import?

Front or side distributor?

When is the last time you replaced the points, plugs, condenser & cap & set the timing?

Simply put....a fully charged 6v battery w/ new cables & clean grounds on a well tuned engine should not take 20-30 seconds to start.

And you should never see smoke from the v/r.

Post back w/ more info & plenty of folks around here can help you out.
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