bentwrench54
Member
well, a couple weeks ago, the 6 volt battery finally bit the dust. a replacement is approaching $100 nowadays.
after some debate, i decided to go ahead and covert the tractor over to 12 volts. it's not a show tractor, it has dents and dings, we use it for the garden, pulling trees, etc.
i've had some parts stashed over the years. i had the alternator from my old camaro that got stolen, got a 48 series delco 12 volt battery (07+ tahoe) from work that i traded a core battery for, so i started reading up on the switchover.
i got a universal upper alternator bracket, i HATE chrome, but it works. i think it cost me $20 after tax. i modified the bracket following BeeMO's pdf over on another N tractor site.
i actually reused most of the wiring harness, as it had been replaced at some point. i did run new wires for my coil, and starter button as someone did a poor job of repairing them. i have marine heat shrink tubing that i used to seal all of my electrical connections.
a co-worker picked up a volt meter for me last week at the flea market, only cost me $6. works well enough for what it is.
i did replace the coil. i used a napa IC14SB coil. it cost me $20 after tax.
i made a shelf and bolted it to the side of the battery box, used a piece of upright from some shelving units that i got from work. this serves two purposes. one, it gives me a place to secure my wiring harness. two, it steadies the outside edge of the battery (48 series battery is pretty big)
so, all things considered, i'm into this changeover for less than $100.
after some debate, i decided to go ahead and covert the tractor over to 12 volts. it's not a show tractor, it has dents and dings, we use it for the garden, pulling trees, etc.
i've had some parts stashed over the years. i had the alternator from my old camaro that got stolen, got a 48 series delco 12 volt battery (07+ tahoe) from work that i traded a core battery for, so i started reading up on the switchover.
i got a universal upper alternator bracket, i HATE chrome, but it works. i think it cost me $20 after tax. i modified the bracket following BeeMO's pdf over on another N tractor site.
i actually reused most of the wiring harness, as it had been replaced at some point. i did run new wires for my coil, and starter button as someone did a poor job of repairing them. i have marine heat shrink tubing that i used to seal all of my electrical connections.
a co-worker picked up a volt meter for me last week at the flea market, only cost me $6. works well enough for what it is.
i did replace the coil. i used a napa IC14SB coil. it cost me $20 after tax.
i made a shelf and bolted it to the side of the battery box, used a piece of upright from some shelving units that i got from work. this serves two purposes. one, it gives me a place to secure my wiring harness. two, it steadies the outside edge of the battery (48 series battery is pretty big)
so, all things considered, i'm into this changeover for less than $100.