Anyone ever had a generator converted to 12v?

Mike CA · Mar 11, 2009

Hello. I haven't been around in a long time. I just haven't had time or money for my '44 H. :?

I want to start doing a little here and a little there. The mass amount of things I have to do overwhelms me a little, so I am going to break it down in to little chunks and attack it bits at a time.

FYI, for anyone who may remember me... I got my orders for sea duty. I'm reporting to VFA-25 in November. Between June and October I have some schools to attend. So, I'm hoping to use that slow time to get a little done on my tractor.

Ok, on to my question: I don't know what the generator is capable of, or if it even works. I want to keep the look of the genny, but am switching to 12v. I already have the battery, but right now the battery is set to run the tractor without recharging. So, I want to get the electrical system set up.

How much will it cost me to have my 6v genny converted to 12v?

Mike Groom · Mar 11, 2009

I had mine converted last year,it cost about a hundred to do the gen,but you also need a ballast resistor and a gen cutout too.Total was closer to $150.00

georgeky · Mar 11, 2009

I remember you very well. Been wondering how the H was coming along.

Janicholson · Mar 11, 2009

Welcome Back.
Converting is OK, Why not get a Delco that is 12v to start with. They were used on many Farmalls and just bolt on. A new Voltage regulator, and there it is. JimN

Mike CA · Mar 11, 2009

(quoted from post at 17:10:56 03/11/09) Welcome Back.
Converting is OK, Why not get a Delco that is 12v to start with. They were used on many Farmalls and just bolt on. A new Voltage regulator, and there it is. JimN

Because I'm shooting for an original look. It will be a show and parade tractor. Not a worker.

Alaskapete · Mar 11, 2009

I converted a 6 volt generator to 12 on my SMTA. Like you, I wanted to keep the original look. The cost was minimal and the service has been great.

Janicholson · Mar 11, 2009

They are identical in looks. Same product, different voltage. You could even put your old Gen tag on it and only looking at the battery would betray the fact. JimN

Mike CA · Mar 11, 2009

(quoted from post at 17:53:22 03/11/09) They are identical in looks. Same product, different voltage. You could even put your old Gen tag on it and only looking at the battery would betray the fact. JimN

Maybe I am misunderstanding you. I'm assuming you were talking about a car alternator? I've seen those put on, and they cut the hoods to fit them in. :?

Are you talking about something different? If so, do you have a link?

TractormanNC · Mar 11, 2009

JimN is correct. 12 volt gen for an MD or others will look just like your 6 volt gen. NAPA has 12 v voltage regulators with a curved bracket that mount on top of the gen just like the old cutout relay. Keep a lid on your battery box and the "correct police" will never know. HTH

Janicholson · Mar 11, 2009

All 460 and above Farmalls and Utilities (and many older Farmalls (even letter series Diesels) had generators that were 12volt. Until IH started using alternators in the later years, they were 12v. they all look the same as the 6v generator. Identical in every detail. There were two different shaft lengths (if memory serves) and that can be made to work with the correct pulley. I would look to Ebay, or Some of the salvage yards, or put a want ad in the YT ads to the left. This is straight forward, and not a hard part to find. JimN

John T · Mar 11, 2009

Give Kenneth a call:

http://www.classicgenerator.com/

If you want an absolute prefect restoration or 6 to 12 conversion

I have used a 6 volt genny n just charged to a 12 volt genny n they worked okay. NOTE Im NOT saying thats engineering correct Im ONLY saying Ive done it and it worked. A genny dont necessarily know its voltage, thats increased by turning it faster and/or pumping more current through its Field windings. The trouble is if you increase the field current for more then it was designed for it could overheat etc

Kenneth has replacement red and black tags also

John T

glennster · Mar 11, 2009

hey mike.......whaaaaaaazzzuuupppppp!!!!!!!
how are, in order, the wife, the kids, you, and the h? havent heard from you in quite a while. there was a rumor floatin around you got captured by space aliens and they did some kind of mind control on you, and you were hanging out on the john deere board!!!!!
fill us in, lets see some pics!!!

Mike CA · Mar 11, 2009

hey mike.......whaaaaaaazzzuuupppppp!!!!!!!
how are, in order, the wife, the kids, you, and the h? havent heard from you in quite a while. there was a rumor floatin around you got captured by space aliens and they did some kind of mind control on you, and you were hanging out on the john deere board!!!!!
fill us in, lets see some pics!!!

:lol: No, I put Chief on, and they've been working me to death. The raise went to a new Honda for said Wife and kids. We had a baby in June, and I think her father was a space alien.

Wife is as good as can be expected. Her Father passed in Jan, and we've been trying to help her mom financially, so that has put a lot of stress on us.
Kids are good. Boys are healthy and active, and the baby won't stop growing.
Me... Busy, broke, fat, old (turned 37 last week), and broke. Oh, and I'm broke.
H... the poor H. Hasn't moved in I don't know how long. I'm worried about the oil in the tranny box. I think it all leaked out. I've had the same water in it with no anti-freeze since last April, so I'm worried it's rusting the hell out of the insides. And the list of things to do is mind-boggling. But, it's in a garage. So it's not complaining.

Correct me if I'm wrong... you made the grill piece for me, didn't you? If so, I still haven't had that put on. I imagine that I have to take it to a body shop, and that it won't be cheap. :?

Anyway, here's me and my horde on top of a mountain at Sequoia Nat'l park in the Fall.

Mike CA · Mar 11, 2009

All 460 and above Farmalls and Utilities (and many older Farmalls (even letter series Diesels) had generators that were 12volt.

Are you kidding me?? That answer has been there all this time, and I'm just now finding out about it??

CRAP!! Well, now I have an excuse to go back to the tractor junk yard! I haven't been since last Spring! I'll take my boys with me. Maybe this Saturday! 8)

snoop-nc · Mar 11, 2009

MIKE CA: Good luck with the "H".

Most importantly, THANK YOU for wearing military uniform.

May God Bless you and your family!!

Owen Aaland · Mar 11, 2009

(quoted from post at 18:10:36 03/11/09) All 460 and above Farmalls and Utilities (and many older Farmalls (even letter series Diesels) had generators that were 12volt. Until IH started using alternators in the later years, they were 12v. they all look the same as the 6v generator. Identical in every detail. There were two different shaft lengths (if memory serves) and that can be made to work with the correct pulley. I would look to Ebay, or Some of the salvage yards, or put a want ad in the YT ads to the left. This is straight forward, and not a hard part to find. JimN

You need the long shaft to be able to use the adjustable pulley. 12 volt generators with with the long shaft were used for the MD and the 400 or 450 when the change was made from six volt to 12. The 460/560 and newer all used the shorter shaft.

Mike CA · Mar 11, 2009

Will a junkyard test the genny, or will I have to get it tested?

What's the estimated cost of testing?

Janicholson · Mar 11, 2009

The Yard will probably say they will replace it if it won't work. Replacing the brushes, and cleaning the commutator and replacing bearings if needed is just a good idea. They can fail, but not often is the smoke let out of them. Some yards might have a tester, but not all. Look up john T charging system trouble shooting in the archives. It will give a "motering Test" for generators that can make sure you have a fighting chance of getting a good one. JimN

Anonymous-0 · Mar 12, 2009

You never seem to have money to do things rite so why spend more money to convert to 12v when in the warm sunny Calif weather 6v will start any day of the year. Just get a 12v generator they still have them A good shop if you can find one will convert yours to 12v but you wont like the price. Then you will need a regulator. Peobably going to cost 200 before you are done. Then you have a good chance of busting the starter end.

mkirsch · Mar 12, 2009

I'm assuming you were talking about a car alternator? I've seen those put on, and they cut the hoods to fit them in.

Mike, only lazy hacks cut the hood. It is possible to get a Delco 10si alternator under the hood of an H. Not easy, but it can be done. The Hitachi 14231 alternator is a much better fit.

But yes, he was talking about a "native" 12V generator. Your H's generator was made by Delco.

Why not keep it 6V? An H really doesn't need 12V if you maintain the system. It'll be cheaper to get a new 6V starter and heavy cables than to have the alternator converted, I would think.

Click to expand...

Dellbertt · Mar 12, 2009

Mike,
JimN and others have given you excellant advice and right on.
But Gene Bender has a point also.
I have two original IH300U with 6v systems and they start fine in 20F weather.
I had a 39H with 6v and a mag and it started everytime.
I am not a fan of converting if you don't have a problem. ESPECIALLY if you have a magneto system. Mags that are hot and in good condition are meant to turn over slow so the impulse coupler kicks in. Turning two fast will defeat the purpose of the coupler. I swore many times that my H was not going to turn fast enough too start but it always did. One time I did have problems starting it and I had the mag rebuilt and never had another problem.
My opinion,
Dell

glennster · Mar 12, 2009

great lookin bunch there mike, you should be proud!!! so sorry to hear about your father in law, give the missus my condolances.
yup, that was me that made the grille piece for ya, if you need it welded in, stop by the shop and i'll put er together for ya. maybe borrow on of then vertical take off airy-planes from work and fly er over, you can land in my tow lot!!!!

Spook · Mar 12, 2009

This is gonna sound goofy, I have a H with a magneto. I just changed the voltage regulator. I believe the generator just produces volts. The faster the engine runs, the more volts. Had it for 10 years, no problems. If I had a distributor, might be different?

Mike CA · Mar 12, 2009

You never seem to have money to do things rite so why spend more money to convert to 12v when in the warm sunny Calif weather 6v will start any day of the year.

Ouch! Not sure where that came from.

Anyway, the electrical system on this tractor was a pieced together hack job when I got it. So I have to start from scratch replacing everything. On lots of advice from this board and other places I was told that a 12v system would be easier on the tractor that doesn't see a lot of use, like mine. So that's why I'm going 12v. As far as the conversion... now that I know the later MD's had a 12v genny, I'm gonna get one. MD's are a dime a dozen in the junk yard near here.

CNKS · Mar 12, 2009

Where you live 12V is not needed. If you don't run it for a couple of months, simply get a battery charger, plan ahead a little bit and charge it for a couple of hours. It also starts easily with a hand crank, even with a distributer, unless the battery is completely dead. The 6V battery in my H has held a charge all winter, and has been started only once.

Mike CA · Mar 12, 2009

I hear you. I've already purchased a new 12v battery last year, so I'm going to push ahead with it.

TractormanNC · Mar 13, 2009

One last thing Mike,

As some others have said, you don't NEED a 12 volt system on your H. But if you ever have to jump start it,it is so much safer and simpler to have it 12V NEG. ground like almost every thing else today.

rustyfarmall · Mar 13, 2009

I "jump start" my Hs with a hand crank. It's really amazing just how easy it is.

Anyone ever had a generator converted to 12v?

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