2 Cylinder Farming

clayshootr · Sep 8, 2011

I just started farming again this year. Our place has about 160 ac of tillable ground. My primary tractor is a 720D with pony start, which is a 6 volt system. This year I only planted 45 ac of soybeans and did not use the monitor (JD 7000 series 4 row), but next year I am going to farm it all and plant part of it to corn and will need to put on liquid starter fertilizer and run the monitor. I am also fixing up a spryer and wanted to put a foam marker system on it. What would be the best way to run all these 12 volt accessories with this tractor short of trying to find a 3020 with a 12 volt system??
Thanks
TJ

Roger in Iowa · Sep 8, 2011

Run an alternator/generator off of the belt pulley and use it to charge a separate 12 volt battery for the 12 volt needs.

Longmeadow farm · Sep 8, 2011

You could get a step up transformer, ie 6V to 12V. Some are
made for positive ground systems. The trick is to find one that
has the capacity to handle the output amps you need... you'll have to figure this out..
total amp draw.. Cost for a low end unit is around 150 bucks. If
you are an electrical engineer or know something about solid
state circuits you can build one for much less... or if you don't
mind a visit from the "correct police" you could convert to a 12V
alternator and use a voltage divider circuit to take off 6V for the
pony coils..or you could go all the way and replace the internal
6V coils with external 12v jobs... which I've seen done. If the
pony is working fine the way it is, i'd go the step up transformer
route.

Sidekick · Sep 8, 2011

Could you just use a trolling motor battery? I don't know how much amp draw you have so maybe that isn't a good idea but if it isn't too much it might work.

Leroy · Sep 8, 2011

Doesn't sound right being a 6 volt system when all the 2 cylinders from the 60 and up were 12 volt. the ignition for the starting motor may be only the 6 volts but the rest oof the tractor I think should be 12 volts, if it was a gas it would be.

Mike M · Sep 8, 2011

I'm with the ones saying to try a deep cycle battery. Mount it on the planter and maybe even a solar powered charger too.

Matt_In · Sep 8, 2011

The diesels with pony engines were 6 volt.

teddy52food · Sep 8, 2011

BINGO!

wisbaker · Sep 8, 2011

Late A's and G's were 12 Volt too- 2 sixes under the seat. Our '49 A was that way. Used to be able to get a 12V battery that had an extra post in the middle so you could pull 6 Volts off the middle post-12 volts off the outers. Converting to 12V alternator isn't that hard and they charge better at low rpms. You could convert to 12V- use 2 six volt batterys and pull 6 volts for the pony off the middle

clayshootr · Sep 8, 2011

Mounting a 12 volt battery on the planter was the only thing i could think of. I may look into trying some of the other suggestions. I figured this would work for the monitor for sure but did not know how many amps the electric fert pump would draw. Thanks for all the suggestions!

4010 puller · Sep 8, 2011

either mount 12 volt battery to planter or convert tractor to 12 volt negative ground

David G · Sep 8, 2011

Convert it to 12V negative earth with an alternator. You can add
as many lights as you want for planting. The equipment will work
with that voltage and you will be glad you did.

NW MO Poppers · Sep 8, 2011

Remember, for the monitor and the electric fert pump, everything needs to be 12v neg ground. I think easiest, best solution would be to convert tractor to 12v neg ground, add alternator, and to put a resistor inline TO THE PONY COILS (don't forget this step!) Also, you'll need to change all the light bulbs to 12v from 6v, and change the fuel gauge. I think the fert pump will draw too much from the battery if you don't have a way to charge it directly on the planter. Monitor alone would probably work if you charged it every night.

NW MO Poppers · Sep 8, 2011

I wasn't thinking in earlier post. Must be too tired. The easiest thing would be to change generator to 12v neg ground, add another 6v battery, and just pull off ONE battery to power coils on pony motor. Still need to change the light bulbs/fuel gauge, but this would be the cheapest option that will actually work well for you.

buickanddeere · Sep 8, 2011

Add a 2nd totally independent 12V, neg chassis
system.

randy hall · Sep 9, 2011

when i planted with my 720 i bought a six to twelve volt converter from an antique car catalog. they have them to use a modern radio in your model a ford or whatever. then later i changed the system over to twelve volts so i could use 100 watt halogen lights so i could see to plant after dark, six volt lights are like candles compared to the halogens. i went to napa and bought a twelve to six volt resister to run the pony coils. you have lots of options but i wouldn't buy another battery just to run the monitor, it uses very little curent.

2 Cylinder Farming

clayshootr

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Roger in Iowa

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Longmeadow farm

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Sidekick

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Leroy

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Mike M

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Matt_In

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teddy52food

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wisbaker

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clayshootr

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4010 puller

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David G

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NW MO Poppers

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NW MO Poppers

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buickanddeere

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randy hall

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