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12 volt conversion

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Author

09-15-2001 16:50:21

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I have a 1958 JD 420T and am considering a 12 volt conversion after determining my generator is faulty. Could someone tell me what is involved in a conversion.

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BMeyer

09-16-2001 17:59:37

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Re: 12 volt conversion in reply to jm, 09-15-2001 16:50:21

I had a generator off a 420W converted over to 12V. Just got it in last week and haven't got it installed yet, but it'll look like the tractor is still rigged for 6V and not to many people will know it's 12V.

Meyer Tractor Collection

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gary

09-16-2001 14:38:36

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Re: 12 volt conversion in reply to jm, 09-15-2001 16:50:21

Ed,Its people like you who take the easy way out.Sure technology is grand but so are the old things.Keep the 420 as is,if you want something to start in cold weather buy new.

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another gary

09-17-2001 05:57:53

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Re: Re: 12 volt conversion in reply to gary, 09-16-2001 14:38:36

What the heck, it doesn't seem to me too unreasonable for a guy to want his tractor to start in cold weather. For that matter, it's his tractor, and he should be able to put air horns, mud flaps, and mag wheels on it, if he so pleases.

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Magoo

09-17-2001 09:52:23

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Re: Re: Re: 12 volt conversion in reply to another gary, 09-17-2001 05:57:53

I have the air horns, but do know where I can get the mud flaps? Do they go on the front or back?

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burns

09-17-2001 15:54:22

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Re: Re: Re: Re: 12 volt conversion in reply to Magoo, 09-17-2001 09:52:23

I worked on a 420 that had the horn fluid leaking out of the exhaust manifold. Here it was a blown head gasket.

As far as the mud flaps, Deere made a bracket made out steel and bull$hit that was equipped on the 4x4 models.

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09-16-2001 14:58:56

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Re: Re: 12 volt conversion in reply to gary, 09-16-2001 14:38:36

That is exactly what people said when I traded my horses for my first tractor. I like old equiptment and like to use it so I will convert it to 12 volts if that is what it takes to use it in cold weather.

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Clooney

09-16-2001 06:13:25

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Re: 12 volt conversion in reply to jm, 09-15-2001 16:50:21

JM, this is a basic 12 volt/alternator conversion for a 420. One thing to consider before the conversion is the possibility of the starter drive & flywheel being damaged if the drive doesn't fully engage during cranking. As Ed said that is a weak point on the 40-420-430. If you have any questions on the conversion re-post or E-Mail.

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John T

09-15-2001 22:06:11

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Re: 12 volt conversion in reply to jm, 09-15-2001 16:50:21

Jm, change to a 12 volt battery, install a new 12 volt voltage regulator and polarize it,,,change any bulbs to 12 volts,,,,, install a voltage reducing ballast resisitor before the high side of the coil to reduce coil voltage to 6 volts,,,,, and it will work. Ol John T Engineer in Indiana

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Dan

09-15-2001 21:13:34

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Re: 12 volt conversion in reply to jm, 09-15-2001 16:50:21

I converted my 430 to and alternator and 12 volt several years ago. It was always a slow starter and the 12 volt helped a lot. Have heard numerous people here say to stay with 6 volts and how it worked for years. It did but for some readon wverybody went to 12 volts. On the 430 the generator was bad also. I got a used alternator from a wrecking yard, a delco s10 I believe it is, has the regulator inside. I used the stock braket and belt and it worked fine. If you do this let me know and I willsend you the wiring description, or go to the Farmall site, look in archives for an article on 6 to 12 volt conversion by Bob M, it is the same wiring for a JD. If you do convert I don't think you will ever want to change it back.

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The Stranger

09-15-2001 19:13:59

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Re: 12 volt conversion in reply to jm, 09-15-2001 16:50:21

Have your generator fixed. Don't screw up your tractor and make it worth less by converting it to 12 volts and putting on some damned alternator. I know this flies in the face of most of the advice you will get here, but generator technology worked very well, and still will. Don't let the people who think you can buy everything you need at NAPA talk you into an alternator and 12V conversion. A 420 in good tune will do just fine on 6 volts.

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09-15-2001 19:49:00

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Re: Re: 12 volt conversion in reply to The Stranger, 09-15-2001 19:13:59

Obviously the strange er has never lived with a 420 and new unleaded gas in a cold climate. I have never seen an alternator cause a loss in resale value. The generator concept workd so well all the tractor and auto companies left that in the dust in the 60's. If you want to put an alternator on do it don't let some opinionated nut tell you different. Make sure your flywheel and bendix are in top rate condition they aren't any too robust to start with.

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The Stranger

09-16-2001 16:57:33

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Re: Re: Re: 12 volt conversion in reply to Ed, 09-15-2001 19:49:00

Well, no, not a 420, but my "M" which I've owned for over 40 years is still 6-volt, still starts in cold weather, and the generator still works!! People who are too lazy or too dumb to keep a Dubuque 2-cylinder tractor in good tune and good shape are the only people who have to resort to 12-volt systems and alternators. I probably wouldn't have such a hard time with people doing such conversions if they did them right, but I've not seen one yet that looked good, or was even halfway engineered. I've seen people cut up sheetmetal and just plain butcher tractors to install alternators. Just plain stupid, in my view. And yes, I'm opinionated--so what?

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09-16-2001 17:22:11

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Re: Re: Re: Re: 12 volt conversion in reply to The Stranger, 09-16-2001 16:57:33

You would have a hard time with anything that was not done your way. What part of country do come from. I will bet what you call cold is 25 degrees. It does not bother me that you are an a$$hole it bothers me that you try to put people and their ideas down. If you don't want to put a alternator on your tractor don't. Not everybody does $hitty work like you do and their are some fine alternator installations around. You like 6 volts and generators so well why don't you convert your car to 6 volts with a generator. I know you couldnt do it yourself so maybe one of the local farmers could help you. You could ask a friend if you had any.

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The Stranger

09-16-2001 17:35:53

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: 12 volt conversion in reply to Ed, 09-16-2001 17:22:11

Well, Ed, the fact that you feel you have to call me names tells me everything I need to know about you. I offered an opinion, which you felt the need to attack. "Cold" here is 25 degrees BELOW zero. Enjoy your screwed up POS 420!!!!

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Wendell,MN

09-16-2001 21:21:14

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: 12 volt conversion in reply to The Stranger, 09-16-2001 17:35:53

I milk 25 cows and start my 39 B by hand, Oh Ya, I use an electric block heater. After all I'm 78 years old and Ma is 74. My uncle bought the tractor new

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