Farmall H 12 volt battery in 6 volt system

Email me, email is open. Have a friend in Benton City that might have a generator if you need one.

BTW, switch colors?? lol

Keith & Shawn

I think the reason 6V systems get such a bad rap is it is not taken into account alot of these charging systems are original and have not been gone through (wiring or genny). Show me an alternator set up that wouldn't need some attention after 50+ years. I had my genny rebuilt for $28, invested another $30 in #1 gauge cable, and it's been a charmer ever since.

It truly does boil down to preference since there are some strong arguments for a 12V system, but done correctly, a 6V system is no more maintenance than a 12V.

Good luck!

Billy

A 2-brush genny with a regulator won't be a good candidate to charge a higher voltage battery. A 3-brush genny with 3rd brush adjustment, can charge 8v, and will be hit or miss as to weather it could charge 12v really well.

Soundguy

It's not just "switch some wires around" to make a 6 Volt generator into a 12 Volt. Some 6 Volt generators will ALMOST charge a 12 Volt battery without major modification, but it's dumb luck finding one like that. It's a manufacturing defect, not a feature. You probably don't have one.

You need to answer a question for yourself: Do you want original, or modern? If you want the tractor to be original, go with a 6 Volt generator, regulator, battery on positive ground. Otherwise, go 12 Volt, buy an ALTERNATOR (around $50) and hook things up negative ground. The modern 12V system will be more reliable and will require less maintenance.

If you have to buy the generator and regulator, then there's no sense in wasting your money. An alternator will be cheaper, and then you don't have to buy a new battery.

What a lot of folks don't realize here is there are two issues 6 volt versus 12 volt and if each are wired properly, either will start anyone of these gas Farmalls perfectly. The 2nd issue is charging and on that the alternator is far superior to the generator as it puts out more amps, and doesn't matter whether it be 6 volt or 12 volt. Also replacing an alternator is about 50% of the cost of a generator.

I know folks will tell you 6 volt just requires too much maintainence. It just takes O gauge cables and once you have those, I see very little difference in the two. I have 3 offset Farmalls; one 6 volt and the other two are 12 volt. If three guys went into my unheated shop at -25F, I will almost guarentee the guy who picks the 6 volt Super A will be the first guy out the door, with a running tractor.

By the way, I just this spring replaced the 13 year old 6 volt battery in my Super A. Even up until last summer that 6 volt SA would out start my 12 volt 130 and 140 and they both have batteries less than 3 years old. That is the longest life I ever got from a battery. Over the years I farmed with 20 tractors, had a dozen trucks and cars. I'd have to give the edge to 6 volt batteries on life span.