12 volt conversion??

Should i convert my 9N to 12volt? Everything runs fine as 6 volt now. just looking to find benefits and any downfalls before i do it.

If you want lights and have trouble starting at way below zero temperatures (or starting in general) then go for it. Otherwise leave it alone and stick with the 6v setup. Let sleeping dogs sleep.

This debate comes up here w/ such frequency that you would benefit from doing an archives search on the topic. Generally speaking, you will find a few facts, a lot of opinion, & unfortunately, a little BS. And sometimes you will find factual information that isn’t the least bit relevant to a 12v conversion on a 23 hp, 60 year old tractor. ("the auto industry did it 40 years ago")

Generally speaking, the opinions can be grouped in three broad categories:

1. 12v conversions are the greatest invention since sliced bread.

2. If it's not broke, don't fix it.

3. Spend whatever it takes to keep it 6v.

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 your N has poor compression (like less than 90 lbs) and you do not want to rebuild it, then a 12v conversion makes sense. If an 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. If you have a basic understanding of tractor mechanics, you can buy a quality kit & do it correctly. Or, you can buy an alternator & fabricate brackets if you are skilled at that sort of stuff. Of course, if you have a basic understanding of tractor mechanics, you could just as easily fix the problem that you are trying to cure with the 12v conversion. Most problems we read about w/ 12v conversions are as a result of folks getting in over their heads trying to fabricate a conversion, using inferior kits or using kits w/ directions written in Chinese, or buying tractors w/ "Bubba" conversions and now the new owner is stuck with trying to figure it out. I can tell you that a wage earning mechanic known to many of us on this board summed up every conversion kit he was familiar with by saying that all are bad & some are worse. He makes his own for that very reason.

Now before the 12v advocates give me a spanking, let me add that lots of folks around here have 12v conversions & are perfectly happy w/ them because the conversions were done correctly. 12v is also more forgiving of poor grounds/weak cables, etc than 6v, so keeping everything "clean, bright & tight" in the system is not as critical. 12v gives you twice as much current & a faster spinning starter. And, because 6v headlights are 35w & 12v are 55w, the headlights are brighter.

You will spend probably $160 for a kit. If you install it correctly you will have an easy starting tractor for a long time. And, the 12 conversion will have just about nothing to do w/ the good performance. What will make the real difference is the new wiring, cables, clean grounds & new battery.

All four of my N's are 6v & they all four 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. Plenty of 6v tractors start just fine in MI, NY, WI.....and have been doing so for years. Because they have the correct size cables, good batteries, & clean, bright & tight grounds & connections. And, the correct gaskets in the distributor.

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!
50 Tips

If everything is running fine on 6 volt, leave it be. AS they say, "If it isn't broke, don't fix it".

WELL TO START WITH that was so you will listen LOL
If IT Is Not Broken DO NOT FIX IT.
If it runs fine that way leave it alone because the moment you mess with it that will be last time it will work well for a long time.
12 volt systems are really not that good on the front mount distributor systems and cause many many many problems because of the weak coils and unless you like to buy new coils just let it be. Now if you want to say use a 12 volt sprayer pump etc just make a mount for a 12 volt battery on the sprayer and use it that way and charge it up when you need to but LEAVE the tractor alone if it works like it should

My 9N with 6V starts right up every time. My uncle converted his to 12v just so he could jump it with a car or truck if need be. To each his own. Good luck.

There is nothing wrong with a 6 vlt system. keep it.. Why ask for trouble? If these tractors worked fine all these years there is no reason why they can't work now on 6 Volt.

[i:654c4848f0] If these tractors worked fine all these years there is no reason why they can't work now on 6 Volt.
[/i:654c4848f0]

Yep. And tube type radios, propellers on our fighter planes, bias ply tires, non syncro mesh trannies in our cars, baking bread in a wood fired oven, hand saws and wind up watches worked fine then too.
But solid state radios, jets, radials, syncro mesh, gas or electric ovens, skill saws, electronic watches and 12 volts work better.
That's why the various industries have gone to the modern equivilent.
If your 6V tractor starts and runs fine now and does the job you need it to do then should leave it well enough alone.
But if you need to fix the genny or rewire the tractor or otherwise spend any money on it then spend your money Wisely and convert it.

Just read about all the problems the 12 volt turkeys have on any tractor forum.Keep a good battery in your tractor and be smart enough to read your ammeter.

Go over to the Ford forum and read about the fun the 12 convertors are having.My tractor is a worker, it runs when I need it.

All 11 pages on the Ford forum have 12 volt conversion problems.Worse yet no one seems to know what they are doing.Just put a new 6v battery in my tractor.It was cranking slow last December when I was hauling fire wood.My dollar hydrometer told me that the center cell read 1/4 charge while the end cells read full charge.Cranking speed is normal again.Note that I did not go nuts and blow a pile of money on a 12v conversion.Batteries have taken a big jump in price ,scrappers are going for 3 bucks here.My tractor is on its 3rd battery in 23 years.Not bad for an out moded antique system.

I use tube type radios,tractor has bias ply tires.Ill cook my breakfast on a wood burning kitchen stove.I use hand saws often and have a 17 jewel wind up pocket watch.I still use muzzle loading rifles and shot guns.I have a cap and ball revolver.My tractor has run fine for 23 years on 6 volts,I see no need to change.

A 6volt tractor can be jump started with a 12 volt battery, just apply 12 volts direct to the starter.12 volts stays at the starter.Uncle blew a lot of money for nothing.

I use a 12v battery on my sprayer.A full charge will spray more material than you can afford to use.

Yep just like I said. Up till this summer my 841 didn't have a working alternator on it and has not for years and as long as I charged the battery 3 or 4 times a year it ran and started just fine. I fixed that this year because the bears went out on the alternator that was hanging there and broke the fan belt So I replaced the belt and install a new alternator at the same time