Will I need to change? Using an 8 volt batt on 6 volt system

Can I put an 8 volt battery in place of a 6 volt to get a little more spin? And not change anything on the tractor?
It was rebuilt and I think the new engine is too much for the 6 volt battery! One spin with hand crank and it starts!
Thanks in advance?

This guy can make you an 8 Volt generator regulator.

http://www.wiltonae.com/products/index.aspx

I know of two that have done that without changing anything and they are working just fine. Last one i replaced some tranny parts and checked the sp of the cells and they were up. Owner said it had been that way for a long time and worked just fine. Back in the 40s or so old cars went to them so they would start better in the winter. Go for it

8 volt batteries have been used on 6 volt systems for as long as I can remember. They are usually put on when the tractor became hard starting. But the lights and all work just fine. I would look into getting an 8 volt regulator because it just maintains the battery better. There is a way of you adjusting it your self on the old mechanical regulators and that is to bend hook up a VOM or DVM and hook it appropriately across the battery. Pull the cover off the regulator ans you will see two coils. One is the regulator come in relay and the other is the regulator. Start the engine and runt the rpm up till you see the voltage increase on your meter to show a voltage above the standard battery voltage. Increase the rpm a little more to make sure the voltage is stable and doesn't increase anymore. I have a tool I made for doing this by taking a screw driver and cutting the tip off and cutting a straight slot in the end so I can place it on the side of the spring tab. Place the tool in place on the tab and carefully by twisting the screw driver and bending the tab down tightening the spring tension. You should see an increase in voltage. Just adjust it until you have a voltage of about 8.25 to 8.5 volts. You don't want to go much over that or you will start burning bulbs. When you get it whee you want it, shut everything off and screw the cover back on the regulator. If it's a solid state regulator I got no idea. lol He** what do you expect form an old man. I guess old info. LarryT

The answer is IT DEPENDS... If you have a Cutout Relay system it should work as is,,,,,,,,,If you have a Voltage Regulator with only a Current regulation relay it ought to work okay,,,,,,,,,However if you have a VR that has a Voltage control relay (or combo voltaGE AND CURRENT) it should really be tweaked up a bit for better charging.

The lights will burn brightly but could burn out a bit sooner due to increased current. If its a battery powered coil distributor ignition the spark will be good n hot although the points will burn out a bit sooner. Ideally one should add ballast resistance but I dont think anyone ever foolswith that. If its a Mag no difference no problems,

Cranking can be imporved if you use good quality 00 Gauge battery n starter n ground cables

John T

Even though BigRedEd didn't bother to mention what tractor he has, I must assume it's pre-1958 due to it being a 6V.

John T, what type of voltage regulation does an IH tractor built between 1939 and 1958 have?

I think I can speak for most of us here, we have no idea how to tell if it's voltage or current regulated.

I can't say about all systems, but I had a S-55 Oliver for several years and used 8v. batteries most of the time without changing the regulator. My experience was a [u:9e4eba84d9]good[/u:9e4eba84d9] 6v. would start it just as good, but I got 2 years of life out of a 6v. and 4-5 years out of the 8v. batteries.
My 240U was changed to 12v before I bought it, so no problems yet. If it were still a 6v. system, I would find an 8v. battery for it.

An 8 volt battery is 8.6 volts when fully charged. Your system must be capable of making over 9 volts to keep it charged. Some 6 volt systems can be adjusted to do it, and some cannot.

Sorry, I just dont have much IHC data/specs to draw on buttttttttt I think they had 2 coil relays (cutout and regulator) and I think that 2nd relay was a combination VOLTAGE AND CURRENT controller and if so IT NEEDS ADJUISTED FOR BEST CHARGING.

Bob M may have that info, I have more for Deere stuff.

John T

i have an 8 volt on my farmall 300. lights are no problem, all i did was bend one of the tabs on the voltage regulator so it charges at 9 volts instead of 6 or 7. never had anny problems and its been 4 or 5 years.

My opinion is that if you can crank it by hand, 6 volts is all you need. Correct the problems that are causing the 6 volt issues first, then re-evaluate. no sense buying a battery if the problems will still be there--an 8 volt will help mask some of those issues, but will not solve any charging problems. Should test your current battery, maybe you will need to replace it anyway.
In the mean time,
large cables, clean-brite-tite connections & redundant grounds...
-karl f

in my experience, 2 coil regulators are square box and 3 coil are rectangular. (forgetting about cut out systems in this instance, as they can fit those basic descriptions in appearance so you must know how to tell them from a regulator).


karl f

Put an 8V in a 1955 Ferguson TO-35 years ago (like 10-15 years), and changed nothing.

Works fine, and helped starting a lot, like won't start to will start when it's cold.

............Mark