- Thread starter JSullivan
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formerly ny bill
Well-known Member
both my 200s have 12v batteries and alternators, with the original 6v starter. the tractor really spins over to start and it hasn't hurt the starters in 6-8 years. just don't stay on the starter for a prolonged time.
Unless it's one of those roll-around floor chargers, it won't even come close to starting that 200 by itself. Maybe not even then.
Those chargers have a 6V mode, so I sincerely doubt he has one of those.
Odds are if you plugged a basic 12V charger onto a 6V battery, you would pop the internal breaker on the charger. The 6V battery would draw too many Amps, and overload the charger.
Next time you're at Walmart, pick up a Shumacher 1.5A charger and battery maintainer. Leave it plugged in on the 200 all the time, and the tractor will be ready to start on a moment's notice all winter long.
Those chargers have a 6V mode, so I sincerely doubt he has one of those.
Odds are if you plugged a basic 12V charger onto a 6V battery, you would pop the internal breaker on the charger. The 6V battery would draw too many Amps, and overload the charger.
Next time you're at Walmart, pick up a Shumacher 1.5A charger and battery maintainer. Leave it plugged in on the 200 all the time, and the tractor will be ready to start on a moment's notice all winter long.
Okay, heres the deal: A light wimpy charger used briefly isnt gonna help much in starting, although it can help if used long enough to bring the battery up to a good state of charge and warmed up and then you start the tractor. However one of those big honkin 100 or 200 amp boost chargers may be able to spin a relatively small tractor starter motor for a while if it cranks easy n its not too cold.
I dont normally recomend using a 12 volt charger on a 6 volt battery for a rookie but I have done it with care for short times if on a low charge setting and watched so she dont overcharge and do NOT be making or removing conenctions near the battery top where explosive gasses are present........ No matter if a 6 or 12 volt charger once the battery really gets cooking and/or youre using the starter there are explosive gasses near the battery so avoid connection or removal sparks there by attaching the charger (last connection) to a good clean case/frame ground AWAY from the battery. The batterys hot ungrounded voltage is present/available places like the starter switch (where big battery cable attaches) so you avoid sparks near the battery.
John T
I dont normally recomend using a 12 volt charger on a 6 volt battery for a rookie but I have done it with care for short times if on a low charge setting and watched so she dont overcharge and do NOT be making or removing conenctions near the battery top where explosive gasses are present........ No matter if a 6 or 12 volt charger once the battery really gets cooking and/or youre using the starter there are explosive gasses near the battery so avoid connection or removal sparks there by attaching the charger (last connection) to a good clean case/frame ground AWAY from the battery. The batterys hot ungrounded voltage is present/available places like the starter switch (where big battery cable attaches) so you avoid sparks near the battery.
John T
12 volt will not hurt the starter as long as you don't run it too long. 12 volt to the ignition system can fry the points and burn up the coil unless it has the resistor in line to reduce the voltage to 6 volt.
1 make sure the battery is fully charge.
2 make sure all the electrical connections are clean and tight. That includes the starter mounting.
3 if the starter still runs to slow make sure you have winter weight oil and if that is good it may be time to rebuild the starter.
Rick
1 make sure the battery is fully charge.
2 make sure all the electrical connections are clean and tight. That includes the starter mounting.
3 if the starter still runs to slow make sure you have winter weight oil and if that is good it may be time to rebuild the starter.
Rick
You should be able to find a 6 volt charger. The best thing I ever did for my SuperC was to convert it to 12 volt years ago. I haven't had a problem with starting since. Others on here will disagree but it sure worked for me as I still use mine around the farm and I want it to start when I need it.
teddy52food
Well-known Member
How cold is cold? If you keep it in shape it will start below zero with a 6 volt battery. At -25 to -30 you can still start them with the crank & leave the full battery voltage to fire the coil. You may need new heavy battery cables & bolt it to a good ground to the starter bolt & not to the battery box. Is the battery good? Fix what is not right first.
I think that is the biggest pro for converting to 12v. I want to have one battery charger, one battery, and one system on the whole farm. One would assume that 12v neg ground would be that system since it is the only thing in play today. With that said, I still want the tractor to look original on the outside.
Take a look at your starting technique also.
You're not working with electronic fuel injection here. This is old school manual choke carburetor.
You need to figure out what the tractor needs to start. It's a little different from tractor to tractor.
I personally have one that'll start with no choke in any weather. Another requires you set the choke before cranking, and leave it there until the engine starts stumbling. Yet another needs a blip of choke at just the right time... you've only got one chance with that old girl in cold weather... miss the sweet spot, and you can grind on the starter until the battery's dead...
Odds are the tractor will need some choke to start in cold weather. If you're just turning the key and praying for rain, that's your problem.
You're not working with electronic fuel injection here. This is old school manual choke carburetor.
You need to figure out what the tractor needs to start. It's a little different from tractor to tractor.
I personally have one that'll start with no choke in any weather. Another requires you set the choke before cranking, and leave it there until the engine starts stumbling. Yet another needs a blip of choke at just the right time... you've only got one chance with that old girl in cold weather... miss the sweet spot, and you can grind on the starter until the battery's dead...
Odds are the tractor will need some choke to start in cold weather. If you're just turning the key and praying for rain, that's your problem.
Larry B 1486
Member
Yes you can put a 12V charger on a 6V battery. Just give yourself enough time and a good path out of the building when you do it because it will start to cook and then BLOW if you don't have a charger with a circuit breaker.
Tune the engine so that it will start. 6-volt is fine if the engine is tuned up and I do not like the 12 volt systems I have used. A properly tuned motor shoud start under any conditions even using 6-volts. As others have said, every tractor has a different combination so you need to learn how much choke and when. The 200 my father had required one turn of the engine under choke then no choke to start then maybe a flash choke if it started to stumble when cold. The 200 I have now requires choke to start then it will run fine with no choke.
We only had 12 volt units to jump the battery for SC's, 200, SA, and 240 and never had a problem. Still use caution. Quit if it does not start right away and properly charge the battery.
We only had 12 volt units to jump the battery for SC's, 200, SA, and 240 and never had a problem. Still use caution. Quit if it does not start right away and properly charge the battery.
I found that a 6v automatic charger will turn off before the 6v battery is fully charged so it will turn over the tractor. In cold weather, I use a 6v manual charger and simply charge for 20 minutes or so before going out and starting my old H. Also, I've found like the others, you have to find the trick to an easy start and all tractors are different. Mine wants full choke twice then no choke. Once it starts, pop the choke a couple of times within 10 secs or so until engine idles properly.
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