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John Deere Tractors Discussion Forum
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51 A Battery voltage

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Steve Abner

09-23-2006 20:56:05




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Wow, what great site! I recently bought a 51 "A" to use as yard art, but after looking closer this unit could run with little work. Question is, I know it's positve ground but is it 12 or 6vdc. I don't see anything on the coil or dist. It has no generator either. Thanks, Steve
S/N 681207




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Steve Abner

09-23-2006 21:57:06




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 Re: 51 A Battery voltage in reply to Steve Abner, 09-23-2006 20:56:05  
Frank, thanks for the P#'s on those books. I work next AZ Machinery in Goodyear. I'll go there Mon. I noticed what looks like it may have had a generator, but the gennie ,belt and mount brackets are gone. The wiring is tucked up under the cowl and isolated. Is a generator required if I'm going on just short trips?



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F-I-T

09-23-2006 22:01:25




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 Re: 51 A Battery voltage in reply to Steve Abner, 09-23-2006 21:57:06  
Well, you can run it on a charged battery alone, but those parts are pretty available on the used market. You can also install a single wire alternator if you want it to charge on the cheap.

Frank



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Steve Abner

09-23-2006 22:05:50




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 Re: 51 A Battery voltage in reply to F-I-T, 09-23-2006 22:01:25  
Cool, I'll start looking for those parts. I need to get a picture of her up, next to my 50' Ford Sedan. Thanks again. Steve



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Bob

09-23-2006 21:02:27




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 Re: 51 A Battery voltage in reply to Steve Abner, 09-23-2006 20:56:05  
Not knowing what coil someone MAY have installed in the past, if you have an ACCURATE way of measuring the coil's primary resistance, along with ANY resistor(s) that someone may have installed ahead of it, a 6-Volt coil will have a primary resistance of 2 Ohms, give or take, and a 12-Volt setup will have a primary resistance of about 4 Ohms, give or take.

Are there any numbers embossed in the metal can of the coil? Some of the original Delcos had a number that corresponded with the last 3 digits of the Delco part #, which could then lead us to the coil's "spec's".

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old

09-23-2006 20:59:53




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 Re: 51 A Battery voltage in reply to Steve Abner, 09-23-2006 20:56:05  
Well when new it would have been 6 volt + ground. But since it has no genny then you can either spend the money to put a geeny on it and have it 6 volts or spend less money on it and make it 12 volts



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Steve Abner

09-23-2006 21:27:16




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 Re: 51 A Battery voltage in reply to old, 09-23-2006 20:59:53  
Ok, I like the 12 volt idea. If it's not already been done, what other parts would need converting to 12 aside from the coil? Starter?

Also, boy this is silly but how do I start it? and where is the clutch? I see what looks like turning brakes, some sort of a brake on the right side but no clutch. I'll be ordering books tonight I'm sure.



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CLW

09-23-2006 21:52:26




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 Re: 51 A Battery voltage in reply to Steve Abner, 09-23-2006 21:27:16  
Steve, that tall lever at the right of the steering wheel is the clutch. Fwd. makes it go and back to stop, along with brakes if needed. (John Deere had hand clutch on most of there tractors until mid 1960.) You should get an owners manual before you start doing much with your tractor. You will need to check fluids and know what to do and not to do and a manual tells you most of that. You can get them from Deere at 800-522-7448. You may need to get a manual for a 60 as you may not be able to get one for the "A". The 60 is about the same.

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F-I-T

09-23-2006 21:47:48




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 Re: 51 A Battery voltage in reply to Steve Abner, 09-23-2006 21:27:16  
Steve:

As you know by now, it's already 12 volt. Next, you really need at a minimum, an Operator's Manual. Look for # OMR 2001 (about $30 through your dealer or call 800-522-7448). The parts catalog is PC 675 (about $40). Both will keep you safe and keep you from breaking something expensive.

Frank



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F-I-T

09-23-2006 21:21:32




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 Re: 51 A Battery voltage in reply to old, 09-23-2006 20:59:53  
12 volt positive ground for a '51 "A" from the factory. Two 6 volt batteries wired in series.



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old

09-23-2006 21:24:41




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 Re: 51 A Battery voltage in reply to F-I-T, 09-23-2006 21:21:32  
So then what year did JD go from 6 volt to 12 volt systems?? I know most other tractors where 6 volt till around 1960 or so. I never knew JD jumped the gun on the 12 volt systems.



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F-I-T

09-23-2006 21:35:00




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 Re: 51 A Battery voltage in reply to old, 09-23-2006 21:24:41  
They went to 12 volts on the "A" in '47 when they installed the square steel battery box. Would have been S/N 584,000 and up.



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Bob

09-23-2006 21:33:01




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 Re: 51 A Battery voltage in reply to old, 09-23-2006 21:24:41  
I don't know the exact answer to that, however, you have to realize cranking the big 2-cylinders reliably takes quite a bit of power, compared to competitors' 4-cyinders.



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