2-12 volt Conversions done

WarrenBult · Jan 28, 2012

With working 60+ hours each week and keeping the girlfriend happy, haven't had my time to get my conversion from (2) 6 series to (2) 12 parallel done. Got it done between a meeting for work this morning, going to visit the parents and having to work at 6 tonight. Sure is nice to jump in the cab and have it crank right off. Only a few smashed and pinched fingers. Those long thin ET batteries are fun to get into their place through the floor of the cab, but worth it.

NEsota · Jan 28, 2012

Folks could find some good reasons to replace a six cylinder tractor engine with two three cylinder units in parallel. With some background in battery manufacturing, unless there are special considerations, my preference would be to use two six volt batteries rather than twelves. With the sixes you are using fewer parts and they (the parts) should be more rugged individually, than those used in the twelves. The grids, separators, jumper links and the cell moldings should all be heavier, and for sure there will be fewer parts in the sixes.

I am not here just to rain on your parade, and there has been a lot of discussion on this in the past, and a lot of reasons given for doing what you did. And I do not expect to have a lot of agreement in doing it my way. Seldom have I been ashamed of being a contrarian.

VicS · Jan 28, 2012

In theory you are right. But when you have to charge the batteries or jump them, 12 volt batteries are a lot safer for us dummies. We just have one tractor that has 2 - 6 volt batteries. And we have hooked 12 volt to one of the batteries. Vic

WarrenBult · Jan 29, 2012

being in the norther climate, when it gets down below zero, I want as much cranking as I can get to start the diesel and since mine doesn't use the glow plug but uses ether instead, and not wanting to depend on the ether, because if used incorrectly, can damage the engine.

El Toro · Jan 29, 2012

I would go with the (2) twelve batteries too. They're a lot easier to find. We used (8) twelve
12 volt batteries that were connected in Series/Parallel used on the M60 Tank to get 24 volts. This vehicle has a 1790 cid diesel engine with a manifold heater. Had a lot of problems starting it at -25°F. We had to remove those batteries after each attempt to start the engine and install a fresh set to cold soak. We would let the batteries that we removed to warm up. Then we would charge them connected in series/parallel overnight until they were fully charged. We even had the engine pulled what we called the power pack that also has the Allison converter transmission. Still had problems starting. We never tried ether, but I think the soldiers in the field probably did. Some said if they could start one tank they would blow the warm exhaust into the rear of the tank that wouldn't start. We didn't have this problem wth the Soviet vehicles. Hal

2-12 volt Conversions done

WarrenBult

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NEsota

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VicS

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WarrenBult

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El Toro

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