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Harry Ferguson Tractors Discussion Forum
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Positive or negative ground?

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Paul B in NY

12-01-2006 09:14:03




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I have a 1953 TO 30 just dragged it home out of the field. It"s in good overall shape but has not been started in a while. I have done all the usual things before trying to start it but have run into a bit of a problem. A battery came with it, a six volt that was no good. It was not installed just sitting on the seat. I bought a new battery and here is my question. My manual tells me that it should be posistive ground, but when I went to hook it up the cables appeared to be just the other way around. What will happen if I hook it up negative ground ?

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phil(va)

12-02-2006 09:01:25




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 Re: Positive or negative ground? in reply to Paul B in NY, 12-01-2006 09:14:03  
Jerry is 100% correct. Here's another reason to hook it up positive ground: when you go to your manual to check out an electrical question in the future, the wiring diagram will be the same as your tractor.



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Jerry/MT

12-01-2006 21:57:59




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 Re: Positive or negative ground? in reply to Paul B in NY, 12-01-2006 09:14:03  
The TO-30 was designed with a positive ground electrical system. IF you want to change it to a negative ground you have to repolarize the generator AND change the coil hook up to the distributor from positive to negative.You'll also have to reverse the wires on the ammeter.It will not affect your starter.
If you run the primary ignition circuit with the wrong ground you'll lose about half of your spark energy. And that's not good for a 6V ignition system which, at best, is marginal.
My advice to you would be to maintain the positive ground system, unless you go to a 12V system, which will have to be negative ground.

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gerard

12-01-2006 17:54:20




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 Re: Positive or negative ground? in reply to Paul B in NY, 12-01-2006 09:14:03  
What could go wrong? Possibly burn out voltage regulator if it has been neg earth previously. Remedy? Simple - as with any change of dynamo etc, re-polarise dynamo before starting her up and you"ll have no problems. Starter, lights etc are not polarity conscious.



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Irv ( Ia)

12-01-2006 10:50:02




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 Re: Positive or negative ground? in reply to Paul B in NY, 12-01-2006 09:14:03  
Every bad thing you can think of! Starter runs backward, generator won't charge, and light shoots back into your headlights instead of going out!!. Well, I might of got carried away there on that last on one. LOL Really, they were set up for positive ground and there's no reason to hook it up the other way that I can think of. Did you hook it up that way in the distant past on did someone else. I don't know the history of it so its hard to say what amiss.
Irv

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Gerald J.

12-01-2006 11:36:58




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 Re: Positive or negative ground? in reply to Irv ( Ia), 12-01-2006 10:50:02  
Way too wild!!!

The starter with wound field doesn't run backwards, though if the generator isn't polarized before running, it can discharge the battery, and the lights don't care. The indication on the ammeter may be backwards and if the ignition coil primary polarity doesn't match the battery polarity, ignition won't be as good.

Gerld aJ.



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