12 Volt conversion

OK.......It has been some time since I have posted. Time for a new 6 Volt battery. My Tractor is a bit tired and could use a rebuild but I use it primarily for plowing snow and dragging a small disc to knock down weeds for my deer hunting area. Not a real workhorse but at least I can get some good seat time.

I am considering going to a 12 Volt system. What is the easiest way to convert cheaply. Right now, the 6 volt system will start easily if charged but I have run into some problems with a weaker battery and when it is -5 below outside.

I am only making the consideration of a conversion because it is TIME for a new battery.....should I put the extra love and time into a 12V conversion.

Oh, I forgot.......

1950 Front mount 8N

The easy answer is: IT DEPENDS. IF you have electrical savvy, and IF you can fab up the mount bracket and IF you get a good used Delco alternator, why yes, then you CAN convert for the price of a resistor and a diode. Plus a battery.

But if you lack any of the above, it gets unreasonably expensive to buy a kit and still struggle with the mysteries of wiring.

Since you have posed the question, I'm gonna guess you may be in the second category.

Your call...

duey, who loves his homegrown 12 volt conversion

duey

i see 2 choices.. since you say it starts easy on a charged battery.

1, buy a new 6v battery.

2, get a junkyard 25$ working 3 wire delco 10si alternator.. make your own brackets and install.. get a converting resistor to put inline with your balalst resistor so that primary circuit is about 3 to 3.5 ohms... wire the #2 terminal ont he alt tot he charge stud.. wire the charge stud on the alt to the bat wire that goes to the old genny-vreg ( remove old vreg and genny ).. install neg grnd 12v battery ).. run a line from #1 terminal on alt to the coil side of the ignition switch, thru a 194 lamp.. or a diode like a 1n5408.. .. and diode 1a/50piv will work.. but 3a/200piv is better.. strip on end of diode towards alternator...

may need to reverse connections on amp meter.

soundguy

As nearly all 12v advocates will tell you, don't try to fix electrical/performance problems w/ a 12v conversion. Other than brighter lights, a faster spinning starter & the ability to operate 12v auxiliary equipment, a 12v conversion isn't going to make a poorly running tractor run better. You might want to fix whatever problems you are having on your N before you spend $200 to find out it had a bad cable or connection or just needs a new battery. From my experience, I've only found two reasons to convert an N to 12v: If you need to run 12v equipment (sprayers, pumps, lights, etc) or you N has poor compression (like less than 90 lbs) and you do not want to rebuild it, then a 12v conversion makes sense. Otherwise, you will likely be trading one set of problems for another. If your N is hard to start in cold weather (or any weather) find out why & fix it! These tractors have low compression, low HP engines and will start just fine on 6v. There is nothing inherently 'wrong' w/ a 12v conversion. The problem is that there are about 6 different ways to convert the tractor to 12v, all of them work, and an infinite number of ways to do it wrong. Most problems we read about w/ 12v conversions are as a result of folks getting in over their heads or buying tractors w/ "Bubba" conversions, and now the new owner is stuck with trying to figure it out. BTW, all three of my N's are 6v & they all three start the first time, every time, no matter what the weather. You will find that to be the case with folks who live in a lot of places much colder than VA. And, if you do decide that a 12v conversion is the way to go, plenty of folks on this board have done them and they work well, so you have come to the right place for help!

Here is a post from this board regarding a 12v conversion:


Parke1

06-11-2008 04:57:25
216.153.169.120
666141



Re: 2 questions... in reply to Parke1, 06-09-2008 16:44:47



Bruce, you hit the nail on the head!

I started to follow your advice about cleaning all the contacts up. I had inspected the battery cables previously, and they looked to be 1/0 cables, but I checked 'em again, just to be sure. Sure enough, I had been fooled. They were actually some sort of chinsy little cables (I'd guess 4 gauge) with really really thick insulation! I yanked those puppies out and quickly made up some new cables out of welding ground cable. You won't find thicker cables than these anywhere! I hooked them up, finished cleaning all my grounds and contacts, and hit the starter button.

WHOA! This thing cranks about four times faster now, and fires right up! I kept shutting it off and restarting it just to check everything out, and she runs like a top!

Thanks again for the help guys! Now that I know the potential of this 6 volt system when it's running correctly, I'll be forgetting all thoughts of a 12 volt system!
50 Tips

Yes, I can build anything. I am more into real estate and mortgage business nowadays and I am short a welder....but I have a neighbor with one. Electrical is easy IMHO. I have never seen a good picture or diagram of somebodys conversion.

N has poor compression (like less than 90 lbs) and you do not want to rebuild it, then a 12v conversion makes sense.

the ^^^^^^comments in your post would apply to my
N.

All connections are clean bright and tight......good oil pressure.....I just dont want to take the time and expense of hoping I can "just put in some new rings" and it will run like new knowing the real solution is to pull the motor and do the right thing and make the motor "right" with a full rebuild. This may be a few years down the road......I am about 75-90 pounds on my cylinders and I have some issues with oil on the plugs from time to time if I let it sit for a month or two between starts. I believe I need a full valve job and rings and everything that goes with it.

Knowing this.....would you stick with a 6V or spend some time and a few beers to go with a 12 V battery and new alternator and wiring setup to help her start in the COLD coming to Michigan soon.

Salesman........theres been many 12-volt conversions used as a "band-aide" for low-compression (90psi min) worn engines. Yer call.

Me? I'd recommend REPLACING yer cruddy ol'battery cable. They gitt invisable corrosion inside the molded lead clamp. Make certain its heavy duty one-ought (1/0) thick as yer thumb cable. Then replace yer flatbraid ground cable with 11-in flatbraid cable bolted to one of yer steering gearbox attach bolts 'sedda' rusty sheetmetal battery tray bolt.

And finally, remove yer 8-in starter bolts and pull yer starter out about 1/4-1/2" and WIREBRUSH the H3ll outta the gap. And putter back together. It'll spin like a 12-volt booster.

You should also take yer 6-volt battery in for a "free" battery check.

A good fresh "tune-up" also improves starting.

Now then iff'n these quick-fixx tricks don't make yer worn engine start eazier ...then... consider yer 12-volt conversion. And even then, you'd still need to replace the BAD BATTERY CABLES........Dell, a 12-volt advocate for the right reasons. That said, I haven't found the right reason for my eazy starting 6-volt 52-8N, and I know 8-ways to convert and they all work.

I understand the dilemma; you do not want to spend money on something you do not need (a 12v conversion after a rebuild) and the need to have a working tractor that starts at -5* F.

Like Dell suggested (above) you can take one more step before you convert it. 75 - 90 on the compression is not good, but it should still start if everything else is in working order.

Clean everything & replace the battery cables. Get a new 6v battery. As added insurance, get a hand-held jumper battery. While they are all 12v, you can safely jump your 6v N w/ it (see tip # 43 below). And, it will come in handy for your 12v cars & trucks.

You need to have new cables & clean grounds even w/ a 12v conversion. If the clean grounds & new cables & battery do not get you to the time when you want to rebuild it, you spent $60 for a 6v battery you didn't need.
50 Tips

would you stick with a 6V or spend some time and a few beers to go with a 12 V battery and new alternator and wiring setup to help her start in the COLD coming to Michigan soon.

Click to expand...

As bad as I hate to vote against cold beer I'd try my de-darndest to keep it six volt. New batt about $40. If for no other reason just look at all the questions folks ask about their "upgraded" 12 volt problems!

Unlike some of the others I am not gonna spank ya,,,I would go 12v in a hart beat,,, 12V can not B beat done rite

Ho-made brackets for a GM 10SI are hard to git rite on a front mount,,, I buy'em,,, If it were me I would go wif a TISCO 12V (alt, brackets,belt,coil,wire'n) kit and b done wif it,,, check the coil resistance and report back what it is,,, mite as well order up a 8NE10306 resistor to go along wif the original resistor cuzz you are gonna need it,,,, thats zit plain and simple no spank'n needed

Salesman.......you write......"I have never seen a good picture or diagram of somebodys conversion".......ya ain't looked hard, the ARCHIVES at the top of the page are FULL of pictures and diagrams. GO LOOK......respectfully, Dell, a 12-volt advocate that doesn't need drawings for this simple tractor electrical system conversion