Charging/Battery system on H

1) Can you "recondition" a battery? I have a nice JD strongbox, about 4 yrs old....just doesnt" seem to want to hold a charge.

2) My generator not spinning fast enough I reckon. One reason is that the lower mount is busted. Should I rebuild the genny and fabricate a new lower mount, or just go with a GM alternator? I have a good rebuilt alternator (from a 95 Chevy truck) that seems like it would work well.

3) What is involved in switching to an alternator?
How do I mount it so that it is not going to stick out the side or require a hole cut in the hood (sorry, but I refuse to cut the old girl or have her look like a cobbled mess)?

4) If I gotta buy a new battery, what brand would you fellas recommend?

jwc1934@aol.com

If your H presently is converted to 12-volt negative ground, all you will need to do is find an alternator that will fit under the hood and wire it in.

If your H is still 6-volt positive ground, you will need to do the above plus add a resistor between the power switch and the coil or the points will burn out very quickly. You will need to reverse the wires on the ammeter (or just put up with it working backward) and change light bulbs to 12 volt ones. The 12 volt ones will light up your life better than the 6-volt ones. (You will obviously need a 12 volt battery too.)

My theory is that the points are designed to open a 6 volt circuit. When 12 volts are used, there is a hotter arc created when the points break which causes heat etc, leading to burning points. Maybe someone else here can give more info, but I’m thinking that that 12 volt coils and 12 volt internal resistor coils reduce the voltage enough to keep the points from burning up. Basically you haven’t had any problems because you have been using the proper coils.

1 – Forget about “reconditioning” a 4 year old battery! If it won’t take/hold a charge after charging overnight it should be replaced.

2 – The faster a generator spins the sooner it will “cut in”, and the greater will be it’s output. Suggest getting the correct generator bracket for your H from a boneyard. Or if you make your own, design the bracket then size the belt so the adjustable pulley on the generator can opened as far as possible yet still maintain adequate tension on the belt.

3 – If the rest of your electrical system (starter, battery cables, etc) are in good shape there’s no need to go to a 12 volt alternator. The 6 volt system will spin and start your tractor just fine. However if you do decide to switch to an alternator, use a Hitachi internally-regulated alternator. It’s considerably smaller than the GM and will tuck nicely under the hood on an H. (The Hitachi was commonly used on Nissan vehicles and probably many others in the 1980’s…)

4 – I’ve had good luck with “Champion” brand batteries purchased at Sam’s Club – both 6 volt tractor and 12 volt group 31 (diesel starting) batteries. They are priced right, and they seem to last just as long as the more expensive, name brand batteries.