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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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8 Volt battery on M

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Buzz

02-24-2005 16:25:04




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The post further down concerning the M conversion to 12 volts reminded me of something. Here's the question. I have a 6 volt M. Somebody told me to run with an 8 volt battery, so I did (they said it'll crank better). No problems so far, but don't have the lights hooked up yet. Just bought some from Tractor Supply. I wonder if those 6 volt lights will hack the 8 volt system, and what's the thoughts out there about this whole idea of the 8 volt battery.

Buzz

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farmalljim10

02-25-2005 03:58:27




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 Re: 8 Volt battery on M in reply to Buzz, 02-24-2005 16:25:04  
I have done this in the past and I have never had a problem with the lights Just make sure you set up the voltage regulator to about 9 to 9.4 volts.Other wise you still end up with 6 volts.



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john d

02-24-2005 20:08:47




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 Re: 8 Volt battery on M in reply to Buzz, 02-24-2005 16:25:04  
Curt(806) with an earlier reply has it right. The 6-volt MIGHT crank it longer, but the 8-volt WILL spin it faster. I ran an M and SM for over 20 years with 8-volt batteries, and the lights seemed to last nearly as long as before I changed the setup. The M is now on 12 volts, which SPINS the engine compared to what 6 would do. I know the purists absolutely cringe at discussions like this, but when the old beasts have been upgraded to high compression and overbore sleeves and pistons, 6 volts is over-matched.

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Farmallkid From Ont,

02-24-2005 19:05:08




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 Re: 8 Volt battery on M in reply to Buzz, 02-24-2005 16:25:04  
Your better off getting a big 6 volt. We had the case ih 6's, they were junk, we got a napa commercial 6 or idustrial i forget, But they work good.



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Josh in Indiana

02-24-2005 18:34:34




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 Re: 8 Volt battery on M in reply to Buzz, 02-24-2005 16:25:04  
hi Buzz,
Pop and I did a 6 to 8 conversion on his 1947 Hudson.(name from the past..lol). Anyways, it was done about 4 or 5 years ago and we havent had to replace a bulb yet. The guys at the parts store tell me that a 6 has more cold cranking amps than a 8, so if your concerned abotu that it might be worth looking into. All i can say is it has worked well for us. Im sure it would work just as good in your M.

Good luck
Josh in Indiana

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Curt (806 guy)

02-24-2005 18:49:06




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 Re: 8 Volt battery on M in reply to Josh in Indiana, 02-24-2005 18:34:34  
That is true, a 6 volt battery will have more CCA's than an 8 volt, but thats where the misnomer comes into play. Its hard to compare different voltages of battery's to their actual power output. Watts is the real number we are after. And volts times amps equals watts. If you take a 6 volt battery and set it next to an 8 volt battery of the same physical size, technically they should have the same available wattage. The advantage you get with an 8 volt battery turning a 6 volt starter is that you have more voltage which will spin the starter faster. The flipside to this is that you will have less available cranking time with the 8 volt versus the 6 volt. But the theory is that if the 8 volt cant start the tractor instantly, the 6 volt will not no matter how long you crank it slowly.

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Curt (806 guy)

02-24-2005 17:58:50




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 Re: 8 Volt battery on M in reply to Buzz, 02-24-2005 16:25:04  
I have a Farmall 350 which we did the 6 to 8 volt conversion many many years ago. In general I am satisfied with that setup. The 6 volt lights dont seem to be a problem, is their life shortened with the higher voltage?... possibly, but they still last a long time. One thing you have to do is tweak your current 6 volt voltage regulator to put out probably about 9 to 10 volts at the battery to keep it charged. I think 9.5 volts would be about right, but just watch your amp guage, make sure its on the + side of 0 if your battery is fully charged and more if its discharged some. One other thing you will notice when you have the lights on you will have to run the engine at least half throttle to keep the battery from discharging, the lights draw more amps and are brighter at the higher voltage.

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El Toro

02-24-2005 17:11:30




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 Re: 8 Volt battery on M in reply to Buzz, 02-24-2005 16:25:04  
I think your bulbs will be ok with 8 volts too.
Most cars today have 12 volt systems and the 12 volt bulbs seem to survive 14.5 to 15 volts. I had a 72 Ford that the voltage was 15.2 volts, it was a LTD with everything electric. I had the shop manual and it had the voltage listed in there. Never had a problem with bulbs. The only problem was keeping gas in it with the 429 engine.
Hal



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Doug in OR

02-24-2005 21:55:41




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 Re: 8 Volt battery on M in reply to El Toro, 02-24-2005 17:11:30  
I maintain the communications gear on our rather large fleet of law enforcement vehicles. When I get a car in (mostly Fords) that has an alternator output of 15 volts, I immediately send it to the shop for an alternator replacement. Not only does the 15 volt output cook the batteries, it tends to wreak havoc on the overvoltage protection zener diodes in my comm gear. Equipment designed for 12 volts is really engineered to run on 13.8 volts. The maximum voltage I will allow is 14.5 volts - and even there the batteries start using water.

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El Toro

02-25-2005 05:29:49




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 Re: 8 Volt battery on M in reply to Doug in OR, 02-24-2005 21:55:41  
Never had that problem with higher voltage on the Ford. It was the only vehicle that I ever had, that had that high voltage. Hal



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RustyFarmall

02-24-2005 16:55:31




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 Re: 8 Volt battery on M in reply to Buzz, 02-24-2005 16:25:04  
Switching from 6 volt to 8 was a very common thing way back when. It was done not only to tractors but also cars, trucks, just about anything that was originally 6 volts. As far as I know the light bulbs were never changed.



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