Negative ground on 2n ford

FPace · Feb 9, 2017

I have had my 2n tractor for 6 years. I have changed batteries twice and not paid to much attention to the cables and their hook-up. But my tractor is grounded with negative cable and positive cable goes to switch of some sort. I had a 8n in Montana and it had a positive ground . My tractor starts and runs normally. Anyone have a comment on this situation? Thank you

JMOR · Feb 9, 2017

Either works equally well. If all is well, I would advise against changing it, because the change may introduce troubles, unless you go through the polarization procedure. In other words, "don't 'fix' a working system until it is broke".

FPace · Feb 9, 2017

(quoted from post at 13:59:45 02/09/17) I have had my 2n tractor for 6 years. I have changed batteries twice and not paid to much attention to the cables and their hook-up. But my tractor is grounded with negative cable and positive cable goes to switch of some sort. I had a 8n in Montana and it had a positive ground . My tractor starts and runs normally. Anyone have a comment on this situation? Thank you

Thank you for your speedy reply and thank you for your advice.

John T · Feb 10, 2017

Its best (even if it still works) if on a battery powered coil ignition the coil is wired to match the tractors polarity.

For POS Ground the coils + wires to distributor (- to ign switch) but for NEG Ground the coils - wires to distributor (+ to ign switch)

Of course the Generator should be polarized before start up if polarity gets reversed

JOhn T

rvirgil_KS · Feb 10, 2017

John, I agree on the polarity for coil. However, he says it's a 2N Ford which would have the "orphan" front mount distributor with coil attached to the distributor. With that one you can't change the coil polarity connections. It lives in a world of it's own. Same distributor operating theory but a unique configuration

I've seen a number of them converted to negative ground and they seem to run ok.

Bob

John T · Feb 10, 2017

Thanks Bob, I wasn't sure on them darn Fords lol the theory is still right but if it cant easily be swapped he has to live with it and as we know heck they still work.

John T

MN valley man · Feb 10, 2017

If I remember correctly the Ford 2N would have an ammeter on the right side of the dash. It would be interesting to know what it shows for a charge when running, and that would give us a clue to what has transpired in the polarity.

Ken Combs · Feb 10, 2017

Nobody mentioned: does it still have a generator? or has it been changed to alternator charging?

JMOR · Feb 10, 2017

(quoted from post at 13:00:50 02/10/17) If I remember correctly the Ford 2N would have an ammeter on the right side of the dash. It would be interesting to know what it shows for a charge when running, and that would give us a clue to what has transpired in the polarity.

t depends, of course, on whether the ammeter has been re-wired or not. If not he, like me, just remembers that negative is charging. So, what's the problem? Short memory? Not trainable? :wink:

Royse · Feb 10, 2017

Why have you had to change batteries twice in 6 years?
I have 6 volt batteries still working that are more than 6 years old.

Negative ground on 2n ford

FPace

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