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1949 Ford 8N - 6 volt negative ground?

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Lance Kuecker

10-04-2004 13:44:51




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My 1949 8N, serial *175616*, which I just recently purchased, has a 6 volt battery with negative ground system. Is this original? I am seeing mixed information. I have ordered a service manual. Also, I would like to convert to electronic ignition, but from what i've seen I will have to change to a 12 volt system or 6 volt positive ground system. Help! Lance in Brenham, TX.




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Doug MO

10-04-2004 18:49:58




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 Re: 1949 Ford 8N - 6 volt negative ground? in reply to Lance Kuecker, 10-04-2004 13:44:51  
Dell speaks the truth. Once you get your 6V straightened out with new points and SHINY CONNECTIONS, then it will hit every time you push the starter. Also, I took all my electrical connections apart and sanded them all down by hand till they were shiny, and put the bigger connectors on the smooth stone on my grinder, and now the tractor will start in 0 degree weather. Make sure you shine up the tractor frame where the positive ground is attached. AND like Dell says, don't forget to arc the genny after you re-connect the wires (like I did not do at first) - otherwise the generator won't charge right. If you have any more electrical questions in the future, just address them to Dell and he'll take care of you like he kindly did for me. Doug.

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Dell (WA)

10-04-2004 18:37:42




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 Re: 1949 Ford 8N - 6 volt negative ground? in reply to Lance Kuecker, 10-04-2004 13:44:51  
Lance..... ...your 1949 FRONTMOUNT 8N came from the factory with a positive ground battery system, for a reason. Unfortunately, modern ill-informed shadetree mechanics are so used to 12 volt negative ground modern cars that they just assume the positive ground is wrong. And 6 volts is a mindbender.

May I recommend you consider fact that improper grounding of your 1-terminal squarecan 4-nipple frontmount ignition coil can COST you upto -40% of your sparkie volts. The consequences of inproper grounding of your battery can be eazily corrected by changine the battery around and grounding the positive terminal and connecting the negative terminal to the 3-terminal starter solenoid. ...THEN... re-POLARIZE your voltage regulator/generator.

To re-polarize your electrical system to POSITIVE GROUND, simply "arc-spark" your voltage regulator BATT & ARM terminals on your squarecan voltage regulator under your oilpressuer gauge. The BATT & ARM terminals are side-by-side and connected to BIG heavy yellow wire. Ignore the other 2-skinny black wires. Simple, eh?

As for your enquiry about electronic ignition, despite the glowing endorsements of pleasure of electronic ignition users, please NOTICE that they are ALL running the 5-nipple sidemount distributor which has room for the drop-in module installation. Please notice you have a 4-nipple frontmount distributor which DOES NOT HAVE room for a module without major modification. Also notice they also admit to running a 12 volt conversion, which has to be negative ground because of the built-in solidstate voltage regulator inside the alternator.

So iff'n ya gotts yer little heart sett on electronic ignition then open your wallet for $150 for new distributor + $200 for 12 volt conversion + $200 for electronic module conversion.

Bottom line, you can change alotta $3 ignition points on your kitchen table for the braggin' rights of having electronic ignition..... ....respectfully, Dell a 12 volt advocate for the right reason and runs an electronic ignition on his 1969 BMW 2002 that he installed

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lennich

12-26-2004 07:38:17




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 Re: 1949 Ford 8N - 6 volt negative ground? in reply to Dell (WA), 10-04-2004 18:37:42  
Yes the 6 volt Neg. Ground requires CLEAN connections everywhere. genesee tells me that they have a 6 VOLT front mount unit for the 8n for electronic ignition. Does anyone have any experience with this ?



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hvw

10-04-2004 15:48:21




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 Re: 1949 Ford 8N - 6 volt negative ground? in reply to Lance Kuecker, 10-04-2004 13:44:51  
Since I had no wires, generator or anything else to begin with I put an electronic ignition on a 52 sidemount. Couldn't be more satisfied. On the other hand I expect that a well set up and maintained 6V system would work just as well. I think the front mount distributor is more involved to convert.



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STUMP PULLER (TX)

10-04-2004 15:19:42




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 Re: 1949 Ford 8N - 6 volt negative ground? in reply to Lance Kuecker, 10-04-2004 13:44:51  
THE ORIGINAL IS POS GND. YOU NEED NEG GND FOR 12V CONVERSION AND ELECTRONIC IGNITION.

THERE IS SOME QUESTION ABOUT RUNNING 6V E IGNITION IN COLD WEATHER WHICH WE DONT HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT. I WOULD TALK TO DENNYS CARB ABOUT A E IGNTION FOR A FRONT MOUNT DIST. I AM RUNNING A 50 8N WITH SIDEMOUNT DIST. ELECTRONIC IGN AND 12V. ITS THE BEST EASY THING YOU CAN DO FOR AN OLD N. YOU CAN THEN CONCENTRATE ON ALL OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS OF AN OLD N. OF COURSE THE WHOLE WORLD SWITCHED TO 12V AND E IGNITION A LONG TIME AGO FOR GOOD REASONS. YOU WILL GET ALOT OF ADVICE. GOOD LUCK

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Pitch

10-04-2004 16:49:13




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 Re: 1949 Ford 8N - 6 volt negative ground? in reply to STUMP PULLER (TX), 10-04-2004 15:19:42  
If your generator is working well,just switch it back to positive ground,repolarize and go from there. In my opinion the expense of converting a front mount to electronic ignition would never give enough benefit to pay off. My '49 does'nt give me many problems( a week ago I would have said any) and it sits outside 24/7/365 and starts even in sub zero temps. Keep your 6v system "clean bright and tight" and it will be ok.
All that being said it's your tractor and your wallet do what you feel is right.

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