860 Battery Polarity - will it run w/battery neg grnd?

New to me Ford 860. It starts and runs OK. Battery cable to starter solenoid is damaged, so about to replace. Noticed battery was hooked up negative ground. Wiring appears to be stock setup, which I think is Positive ground. So, would it run with reversed polarity? Can't tell if it's charging, ammeter not hooked up. Tractor had been sitting for several years. Previous owner installed new battery just prior to my pick up. Leave it alone or put it back in correct?? thanks!
 
(quoted from post at 13:27:19 09/29/21) New to me Ford 860. It starts and runs OK. Battery cable to starter solenoid is damaged, so about to replace. Noticed battery was hooked up negative ground. Wiring appears to be stock setup, which I think is Positive ground. So, would it run with reversed polarity? Can't tell if it's charging, ammeter not hooked up. Tractor had been sitting for several years. Previous owner installed new battery just prior to my pick up. Leave it alone or put it back in correct?? thanks!
t will function either way. As for charging, if a generator, it will be polarized to match battery polarity and if an alternator (only you know what is on such an old tractor after all these years in hands of whoever) it will most likely only function with NEG ground. There are alternators configured for POS ground, but rare.
 
(quoted from post at 13:46:23 09/29/21) Thanks Dean and JMOR - It's a generator for sure. I will go out and hook it up correctly and see what happens!
f it has been run as neg ground, you should polarize the generator before starting it with pos ground or risk ruining the voltage regulator, if VR is currently fine.

This post was edited by JMOR on 09/29/2021 at 11:15 am.
 
Oops .... put together w/positive ground. Started fine but not charging. Came inside to read up on polarizing the generator and saw your note. Fingers crossed.
 
(quoted from post at 16:14:21 09/29/21) .... put together w/positive ground. Started fine .....
s has been said, and as you just found out, tractor will start and run with either negative or positive ground.

I'll add that the coil polarity should match the battery polarity. ie: If the battery is set up as negative ground, the coils negative primary terminal should be wired to the points. If the battery is set up as positive ground, the coils positive primary terminal should be wired to the points. The remaining primary terminal receives voltage when the ignition is turned on.
 
As a newbie to FORD TRACTORS, have you purchased all the essential manuals required to read before operating your machine? The manuals are the best tool investment you can make. Know the how's and why's and understand the fundamentals of each system. This will help prevent you from doing damage to your new tractor or worse, yourself. So, is your battery a 6V or a 12V unit, you don't say? Tractor will run on either when powered correctly but the OEM FORD Electrical System was the 6V/POS GRN system and is the #1 most misunderstood faction of these old FORDS. You say you have a GEN but do you also have the square Voltage Regulator is the circuit too? Having the correct battery cables is important too. With 6V, cables must be a HD, thick as your thumb gauge. With 12V the battery cables are smaller diameter gauge like on your car or truck. OEM FORD used the flat-braided strap for the GRN cable. Keep connections clean and tight. Use a float charger when not in use. AMMETER may be operational, just may be all the wiring is incorrect. Don't guess! Don't start yanking off parts without first performing a true root cause problem solving method. Get the manuals. Remove battery, take to a local starter shop to get tested. Battery must meet specific gravity levels and sustain a full charge under load to be effective. They have a special test machine and there usually is no charge -pun intended. While battery is disconnected or off the tractor, go thru the entire wiring system using drawings and schematics as a guide. Original manuals will list the OEM wire colors but don't go by colors, chances are the original wiring harness is long gone anyway and most new aftermarket ones aren't color coordinated. Trace wiring with continuity on your VOM. Get the manuals and read religiously.

FORD TRACTOR 600 & 800 ESSENTIAL OWNER/OPERATOR/PARTS/SERVICE MANUALS:
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DONT GUESS! GET THE ESSENTIAL MANUALS AND READ BEFORE OPERATING:
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Tim Daley(MI)
 

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