8 VOLT Battery swap - Ford 850

TERRA TIGER II · Dec 7, 2013

Hi
I have read, on what I remember to be this site, years ago a posting about replacing a six volt battery with an eight volt one in a tractor. My recollection is that it could be done with out any modifications and would give you slightly faster cranking speed.
I have a 56 Ford 850 I would like to try it on and see how it worked. Has anyone done this swap, how does it work and is it recommended. And further, would you charge the 8 volt with a 6 volt charger?
Thanks in advance for your insight.
a

Janicholson · Dec 7, 2013

The 8volt battery method is a bandaid for a weak system. Proper 0gauge cables, a good cold crank rated battery, and 10-30 oil are way better than the 8 volt routine. They are not easily charged unless a special charger is used, or extreme vigilance using a 12v charger (not advised). The 8volt may charge, but lights and ignition will deteriorate at a much faster rate, and point life will be compromised. Jim

60 acre hillside · Dec 7, 2013

A total waste of money. They cost more than a 5 or a 12 and usually do not charge right. Convert to 12 and never look back. Buy a Delco alternator from a salvage yard. Make the brackets. I have converted all to 12 and switch batteries if needed

55 50 Ron · Dec 7, 2013

I have a 1949 Chev truck with an 8 volt battery. Dad set it up that way a LONG time ago. It isn"t used in winter and I take the battery out and connect it to my home made (I"m a retired electrical engineer) trickle charger. The vehicle voltage regulator was "adjusted" slightly to provide charging voltage.

To charge a battery, the charger"s output voltage needs to be a little higher than the battery"s voltage. Measure your 6 volt charger to see what its output voltage is while it"s connected to the battery. Open circuit (not connected to a battery) voltage from a charger will usually always be greater than when it"s connected to a battery. It may be enough to charge your 8 volt battery.

gene bender · Dec 7, 2013

I have did some other work not related to the charge system that had 8v batts they did nothing to the system and it worked for them. Your starter probably needs refreshing but i wouldnt be afraid to put an 8v batt in the system it sure wont hurt anything.

DaveK(IN) · Dec 7, 2013

Been running my Farmall C with one for 20 plus years and charging with an ancient 6 volt charger (just diodes and a transformer, no fancy control circuits). Rural King has them and they seem to last as long as the warrenty like most batteries. I also adjusted the third brush for max output and the amp meter shows a charge when running.

It does start more easily with the 8 volt batt. What all the purists say about clean connections and adequately sized wires is totally the right way to do it. This is an easy fix for a lightly used tractor that doesn"t get started often and still wears it "s work clothes and doesn"t worry too mich about appearance. Like me. LOL

souNdguy · Dec 7, 2013

waste of time and money.

yuor 6v genny and reg won't correctly charge that 8v battery up.. thus you will be running around with a discharged 8v battery.

sounds good huh?

if your 6v system needs help.. help it.. forgett eh bandaids and voodoo bs.

if the 6v stuff is shot.. no shame in going to 12v correctly...

8v is a bad bandaid fix in MOST cases.

there are a few applications it can work good.

1 wire adjustable vregs with a charge screa and a magneto iggnition.

set to charge and go.. no bulbs and pionts to burn out.. etc..

yuo can also still find a few guys to tweak vregs.. then you have to deal with reduced lamp and point life.. or arcanely find some series resistance happiness.. or find a coil and lamp elements more correctly suited.

better to just fix 6 or go 12 imho

Wesley Stephens · Dec 7, 2013

My grandfather has run 8 volt batteries in a 140 farmall for years without problems, whether it was being used heavily for tobacco production or occasionally for lighter work.

buickanddeere · Dec 7, 2013

If you don't mind dialing the charge voltage up to 9.2V from 6.9V to properly charge the battery.
The coil will run hot and points life will be shortened. Head lights will be too white, bright and burn out early.

Dean · Dec 7, 2013

Not a good idea unless you know the almost extinct art of voltage regulator adjustment.

Very few of us do.

Dean

David G · Dec 7, 2013

Leave it at 6V, or convert to 12V.

TERRA TIGER II · Dec 7, 2013

THANK YOU all for your insight.
This is one of four of these old fords I have gotten to play with. None of them get much running time and it seems the batteries fade after a couple of years. This tractor starts well (usually a couple of rotations if I choke right) has a fresh carb kit and I think in good mechanical condition. Since the battery was several years old and weak I decided to experiment and purchased a new 8 volt from TSC last week (got a deal- less then a 6volt). As I went to install I thought I should ' check with the experts here for some guidance on charging. I am not really worried about the battery not charging IF I HAD A GOOD way to charge it when it was out of the tractor. Hence my question now is how do I charge it when it is out of the tractor. Will a regular 6 volt charge it? ONCE more thank you all for your responses.
a

Royse · Dec 7, 2013

(quoted from post at 00:41:11 12/08/13) THANK YOU all for your insight.
This is one of four of these old fords I have gotten to play with. None of them get much running time and it seems the batteries fade after a couple of years. This tractor starts well (usually a couple of rotations if I choke right) has a fresh carb kit and I think in good mechanical condition. Since the battery was several years old and weak I decided to experiment and purchased a new 8 volt from TSC last week (got a deal- less then a 6volt). As I went to install I thought I should ' check with the experts here for some guidance on charging. I am not really worried about the battery not charging IF I HAD A GOOD way to charge it when it was out of the tractor. Hence my question now is how do I charge it when it is out of the tractor. Will a regular 6 volt charge it? ONCE more thank you all for your responses.
a

Since you've already bought the battery, check on eBay, yard
sales, pawn shops, etc to find an 8V battery charger.
I have an ancient Montgomery Wards battery charger that does
6V/8V/12V so they were made. You just need to find one that works.

55 50 Ron · Dec 7, 2013

If you are comfortable building an adjustable electronic voltage regulator, send me your email address and I"ll send you a schematic and a photo of how to build one that will provide the voltage and current that you need for this task. It will properly charge your battery when it"s out of the tractor.

Another option would be to buy a professionally built adjustable DC power supply. There are places to buy used power supplies but probably rather costly for what you need.

36 Coupe · Dec 8, 2013

My 640 starts easy and I wonder why you bought an 8 volt battery.If you have lights the bulbs will have a short life.14 bucks each for the small sealed beams years ago.It takes 9 volts to charge an volt battery.You can adjust the regulator but the shunt coil in the cutout wont last long.The generator will be stressed with the increased voltage.Ignition current will increase and be hard on the coil and points.

mattwillson · Dec 8, 2013

Hi, an 8 volt battery will work fine. You need not change anything else for it to work.

TERRA TIGER II · Dec 9, 2013

Hi Ron,
Thanks, yes! I would like to take you up on your kind offer -

"If you are comfortable building an adjustable electronic voltage regulator, send me your email address and I"ll send you a schematic and a photo of how to build one that will provide the voltage and current that you need for this task. It will properly charge your battery when it"s out of the tractor."

I have a neighbor who is a retired electrician who would help me build a regulator that would do the job with your schematics etc.
Could you send to my email ?

And , do you think I could revise a standard 9 volt charger to charge my 8 volt?

Thanks once more.
a

8 VOLT Battery swap - Ford 850

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