Hey guys....I've got a John Deere 60 I'm getting running. I recently purchased a rebuilt starter. When I was inquiring about batteries someone mentioned the original was 6 volt (positive ground). I've got a 12 volt coil (it says 12V on the coil) so I'm wondering if it really matters if the tractor is 6V or 12V. Does it matter? Lemme know. Thanks.
- Thread starter UncleCarl
- Start date
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
It matters more to the ignition, charging system, and the accessories than the starter.
A 6v starter will work on 12 volts, just have to be careful not to over heat it. It can also be hard on the starter drive and flywheel gear.
If it has been converted to 12 volts, better to go with a 12v starter (if it will fit).
If the generator has been replaced with an alternator, the system will be 12v, negative ground.
A 6v starter will work on 12 volts, just have to be careful not to over heat it. It can also be hard on the starter drive and flywheel gear.
If it has been converted to 12 volts, better to go with a 12v starter (if it will fit).
If the generator has been replaced with an alternator, the system will be 12v, negative ground.
Many coils even though they say 12 volts are really 6 volt coils. Only way to be sure is if it says on it 12 volt no external resister needed or an ohm test.
Now the charging system does also matter since if it is a 6 volt system the charging system will only charge the battery to maybe 7 volts or so.
The starter does not care if it is 6 or 12 volts and also does not matter what ground you use be it + or - ground
Now the charging system does also matter since if it is a 6 volt system the charging system will only charge the battery to maybe 7 volts or so.
The starter does not care if it is 6 or 12 volts and also does not matter what ground you use be it + or - ground
All the 60's I owned (was a ton, I was a used tractor dealer and farmed with them) were 12 volt POSITIVE Ground from the factory.
A coil that's labeled "12 volts not for use with ballast" orrrrrrrrrr "12 volts no ballast required" or just "12 volts" is indeed a 12 volt coil and you don't use any ballast on a 12 volt system. HOWEVER a coil labeled "12 volts for use with ballast" orrrrrrrr "12 volts requires ballast" means just what it says. Its in reality a 6 volt coil so on a 12 volt system you need to use the series voltage dropping (12 down to 6) ballast.
YES it matters if its 6 or 12 because you need the correct coil to match. Sure a 6 volt starter will still work at 12 volts POS or NEG ground although it can be a bit hard on starter drives and gears.
Most all alternators are for NEG ground so if it got converted the ammeter leads and coil leads would need swapped.
John T
A coil that's labeled "12 volts not for use with ballast" orrrrrrrrrr "12 volts no ballast required" or just "12 volts" is indeed a 12 volt coil and you don't use any ballast on a 12 volt system. HOWEVER a coil labeled "12 volts for use with ballast" orrrrrrrr "12 volts requires ballast" means just what it says. Its in reality a 6 volt coil so on a 12 volt system you need to use the series voltage dropping (12 down to 6) ballast.
YES it matters if its 6 or 12 because you need the correct coil to match. Sure a 6 volt starter will still work at 12 volts POS or NEG ground although it can be a bit hard on starter drives and gears.
Most all alternators are for NEG ground so if it got converted the ammeter leads and coil leads would need swapped.
John T
Mike(NEOhio)
Well-known Member
- Location
- Newbury, Ohio
I'll bet the guy who told you that saw two 6-volts and didn't notice they were in series.
You check the ohm reading between the 2 small terminals but I do not remember what the reading should be and it also varies from brand to brand. But a 6 volt one will read a whole lot lower then a 12 volt one is if it read say 3 ohm likely to be 6 volts but if it reads say 5 ohm a 12 volt but so if your VOM is not accurate you may not know either since the two readings are very close to each other
The 60 is just an updated A and they started with the 12 volt by using 2 6 volt batteries in series in 1947 so no way could it be a 6 volt system and that coil reads as it should have been if that coil came from the factory on that tractor. The older A's used a 6 volt system but when they went from the low compression all fuel engine to the gas engine the single 6 volt did not have enough power to crank the tractor thuss the 12 volt with 2 6 volt batteries and at that time there were very few 12 volt batteries as most cars were still 6 volt systems with the 12 volt not being common untill 1955 and your tractor came out as a 53 model. And what few 12 volt batteries that were out there did not have the cranking amps needed, now you can get enough amps in one battery that more than equal the amps of those 2 6 volt batteries so 1 good battery will do as long as it fits in the box, some tractors like the 60 standard as they were made the batteries sat on opposite sides of the tractor and would not have room in either box for a required size 12 volt battery.
NEAFarmKid
Member
As for what I know, which isn't much (I'm only 17 and only know what my grandpa has told me and what I've researched on the Internet), all 60s were 12 volt. Yes the generator looks a lot like a starter. And, just to throw in something that probably doesn't matter much, yes a 6 volt starter will work ok in a 12 volt system, my H has a 6 volt starter running off of a 12 volt battery. You just have to be careful not to run it too long, but as the tractor starts on the first or second revolution every time, it doesn't hurt anything in my case. Just a little tidbit of info that doesn't really matter 
. Chris.
. Chris.Get both as the JD is probably better but it is slanted more toward the profesional than the IT that is more for the owner that at times would just like to know what the garage is talking about when it is taken in but it is good for the person that can do a lot of his own work as well. And one may have something worded a bit different so one way you will understand what is being said better and they might just have a different angle on a picture and show what you need to see. They complimate each other. And the IT are not that expencive that you cannot have them along with the factory units.
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