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12 volt conversion problems

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Cary Oserowsky

06-03-2001 19:45:03




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Considering the purchase of a '49 8n. Tractor has not had a hard life, but has sat for many of the last 15 years. Current owner had a 12v conversion installed several years ago but sounds like it's not right. He says that it ran for several 10-20 minute intervals but then would quit. Voltage from the on/off switch to a white resistor block is 12v. Voltage out of the resistor and to the coil is 12v. I'm guessing that the coil may take the 12 volts for a short while then overheat/open circuit. I was getting spark at the plugs for a while, but now nothing.

This will be my first tractor. I've got alot of car restoration background, and have experience pouring many times more than the "$50 fix" into an old car. I'd like to get this thing going to make sure hydraulic lift and pto work ok before I purchase to minimize the $ pouring.

I see there is a 12v coil in the parts section on this site. Can a person purhase a 12v coil and replace the old 6v coil and eliminate the resistor? It has the front mounted distributor. I'm guessing that the resistor is there to drop the voltage, any ideas as to what ohm it should be?

Any suggestion are greatly appreciated.

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Paul

06-05-2001 18:25:29




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 Re: 12 volt conversion problems in reply to Cary Oserowsky, 06-03-2001 19:45:03  
Sounds like my 2N. I have owned it for about three years. It was converted a long time ago to 12V, using a cobbled bracket (I've made a better one), a 12V battery and 12V coil. It would run and stop, run and stop, until I got tired of doing that (I use it about 20 hours a year to brushcut the 30 acres of pasture I have). Last year I finally traced the problem to the electrical system, and took the coil to a shop owned by a man who has been selling and working on tractors since about 1930, I think. He diagnosaed a bad coil, I replaced it (also the points, capacitor, rotor and cap), and it ran the whole season. It ran whenever I started it all winter, and even ran when I did the first little bit of field work this spring. Then it died. I removed the whole package (coil and distributor) and took it back to the same shop. Waiting now for his diagnosis. Why it was converted is beyond me, except here in the mountains where we live it can hit 30 below and maybe one owner wanted it to start then. I don't use it on the steep sections anytime, much less in winter.

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Lennick

06-04-2001 12:53:51




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 Re: 12 volt conversion problems in reply to Cary Oserowsky, 06-03-2001 19:45:03  
NO NO NO This tractor is screwed up but good .The front mount coil really operates on less than 6 volts.12 volts probably blew it but some conversions had a DROPPING resistor to bring the voltage down,the coil on top of the front mount Dist. is not 12 volts.So. that is your problem.Go back to 6( mine is great) or check the resistor AND the coil..



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bj/8N/mt

06-04-2001 07:59:36




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 Re: 12 volt conversion problems in reply to Cary Oserowsky, 06-03-2001 19:45:03  
Part of the joy of twelve volt conversions is that there are so many ways to do it. Some of them even work. As I understand it both six volt and twelve volt coils exist for front mount distributors. Also as I understand it there is no external way to tell them apart. Can you find the person who inflicted this conversion on the tractor and see which they used? Both coils want to use an external resistor but different ones. Sorry I can't be more help this might give you some direction.

Your mileage may vary

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Mountainman

06-04-2001 01:00:05




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 Re: 12 volt conversion problems in reply to Cary Oserowsky, 06-03-2001 19:45:03  
It sounds like you need a new coil or ignition switch. If you have a 6 volt coil you should have about 3.5 volts at the top of the coil with points closed, battery voltage with points open. If you have a 12 volt coil you should have 8 to 10 volts at top of coil with points closed and battery voltage with points open. Use the rear tires with tractor in high gear to turn the motor over enough to open and close the points.
The archives explain the various resistors that can be used. I eliminated the original resistor and used one for a '57 Chev with my 12 volt coil. I get about 7.5 volts at coil and it works fine. If you use a six volt coil you need to use the original resistor plus one that drops 12 volts to 6 volts.
Hope this helps.

Mountainman (CA)

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ED-illinois

06-03-2001 20:08:05




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 Re: 12 volt conversion problems in reply to Cary Oserowsky, 06-03-2001 19:45:03  
a symptom of a bad coil is what you described; the tractor quitting within a half hour of operation. It is also a symptom of a bad ignition switch. Next time it happens, try placing a jumper around the ign. switch and see if it will run again.

as far as the conversion question, I can't help there.

good luck



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Big Mike

06-03-2001 20:07:31




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 Re: 12 volt conversion problems in reply to Cary Oserowsky, 06-03-2001 19:45:03  
You are on the right track, 1/4 the problems that are posted here seem to related to 12V conversions and the many ways they can be wired. The only reason to switch to 12 volt is to be able to run things like a 12v pump for sprayer or a 12v winch. A 12v system will band-aid a hard starting motor by spinning it faster to get her going..compression test the motor with a good gauge all plugs out and throttle open if all are above 90 A new 6v system will work fine,,, type 12 volt into search at top of page and you will get alot of info there...I am no expert on 12 voltas all of ours still have the stock 6V POSITIVE GROUND system but yes you do need the resistor even with the 12v coil

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