converting my 51 ford 8N to 12 volts

Richard 8N · Feb 16, 2015

Hi everyone. I want to convert my 1951 ford 8N
side mount distributor tractor to 12 volt charging
system. I am interested in this conversion kit on
ebay. I will post link below. do I have to excite
that alternator or just the 1 wire red will
charge. meaning for the alternator hook up do i
have to do a keyed power source with a trouble
light then to the alternator and then on the other
side of that wire from the alternator install a
jumper wire to the thick red battery charging
terminal on the alternator that leads back to the
battery? is that how to hook up the alternator?
thank you.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-8N-FORD-TRACTOR-
ALTERNATOR-GENERATOR-CONVERSION-KIT-/360468427837?
hash=item53ed97b43d&vxp=mtr
Untitled URL Link

W_B · Feb 16, 2015

March yourself over to the 9N/2N/8N forum on this site, lots of experts there that have done this conversion many times. YT also sells the kit... did you look at it too?

Geo-TH,In · Feb 16, 2015

I have a Jubilee. Bought it about 5 years ago. It was converted to 12v before I got it. I had to correct the wiring mistakes, ammeter wasn't installed properly.

That said, do yourself a favor, go to YT and buy a 12v starter too. After shearing off my starter drive for the second time in 5 years, I just purchased a 12v starter a few days ago. Should get it in a day or two. $147 shipping included.

Now some will tell you that a 6v starter will work on 12v. Yes it will and there are remains of about 10 starter drives in my bell housing to prove it.

If you double the voltage to the starter, you will double the amps, 4x the power. In the winter the oil is cold, engine cranks harder, and eats starter drives.

I've also lost the drive on my 12v converted Farmall C. Starter drives are about 1/2 the price of a 12v starter if you buy the drive from NAPA. Drives are cheaper on YT, but then you pay shipping.

Do yourself a favor, replace starter too.

Be careful not to buy a new 12v starter. Some are really 6 v starters. The seller, in fine print, says starter good on 6 and 12v.

Steve@Advance · Feb 16, 2015

The picture isn't clear enough to tell if that is a "one wire" alternator, or a standard 3 wire. If it's a one wire, only the "BAT" wire will need to be connected. If 3 wire, it will wire as you described.

The advantage of a one wire is simplicity to wire. The disadvantages are it will not start charging until the engine is reved considerably, they have a slight battery drain when not running, and cost more to replace.

As others have said, the 12v will slam the starter in harder. Something that might help would be to install a cheap, thin cable between the solenoid and starter, will act as a resistor. Just a thought...

teddy52food · Feb 16, 2015

How do you get double amps out of a battery with cells only half as big & put it through cables way smaller than used for 6 volts?

old · Feb 16, 2015

There is no need to buy a stupid kit it is easy to do with just a few wires and an alternator. I do the 12 volt thing all the time and have never payed for a kit. $50 alternator from O'Reilly's and a diode and a plug for the alternator and some wire and in 30 minutes it is 12 volts. Also need a ballast resister like the VR-1 for the coil wiring. Total cost if you do not include the $100 battery is around $75 or a bit less

Prawn Farmer · Feb 16, 2015

I bought a kit from Yesterdays Tractors about 3 years ago and works great with no problems. Very easy to do project.

On a side note: Personally, I feel that since this is their site, I wouldn't ask for advice here and then post a link to one of their competitors. It could be a sneaky way to disguise spam, too? Just my 2¢

Geo-TH,In · Feb 16, 2015

Ohm's law: double the volts, double the amps, 4 times the power. I'm tired of replacing starter drives.

Like everything on YT, you are getting what you pay for.

If you live in a warmer climate, you may very well get by with using 6v starter on 12v. I can't.

Perhaps JohnT or B&D has a a different opinion on ohm's law.

Geo-TH,In · Feb 16, 2015

Old, totally agree. The wiring on my Jubilee and neighbor's 63 massey35 was junk. I used 15 gauge extension cords for my source of free wire. Fused my 3 circuits, ignition, starter, and lights with 15a fuses. Installed a 30 amp circuit breaker, which some said on YT would cause me problems, NEVER DID.

I would also add buy a 12v coil instead of using a ballast.

Go to the ford site, ask JMOR or Soundguy for a diagram is you are a person who can't wire anything without a diagram.

I wouldn't spend extra money for a one wire alternator when 3 wire ones are about the third the price.

Something to consider too, alternators come with a narrow pulley. You will have to install the pulley off generator and put on alternator.

Someone made the mounting bracket for alternator. So if you can't fabricate a bracket, make sure you buy one with the kit.

sotxbill · Feb 16, 2015

(quoted from post at 12:02:30 02/16/15) Ohm's law: double the volts, double the amps, 4 times the power. I'm tired of replacing starter drives.

Like everything on YT, you are getting what you pay for.

If you live in a warmer climate, you may very well get by with using 6v starter on 12v. I can't.

Perhaps JohnT or B&D has a a different opinion on ohm's law.

Would not be double the power?? I dont see 4 times the power.

teddy52food · Feb 16, 2015

Amps from a battery is determined by the size and number of plates. 12 volt cells of the same size 6 volt battery are only half as big = half the amps. Also the faster turning starter produces a much greater back EMF which cuts the amps too. Magnetic field comes from the atoms of the windings excited by the VOLTAGE, not from the current. We have been falsely taught that the field comes from the current. Not so. By doubling the voltage , the field is stronger on less amps.

john in la · Feb 16, 2015

Dang Old if everyone was as smart as you we could put the kit fabricators out of business.

But then again I have to wonder if Richard (O/P) knows how to do things you have no knowledge about.

Geo-TH,In · Feb 16, 2015

Richard please google issues created by using 6v starters on 12v. This is what you will find others say:

I know most people don't change the starter when converting to 12 volt and most don't have any problems, but the 6 volt starter on 12 volts does engage fast and hard and it can eventually wreck the ring gear on the flywheel requiring a tractor split to fix it.

The racket my starter recently made when the drive self destructed may have damaged my starter ring on the Jubilee. Do you really want to take that chance?

Because you have a smaller engine, you may not have the priblems I've had. Of course my Farmall C is about the same size engine as your 8n and I lost the drive already.

Richard 8N · Feb 16, 2015

I am going to buy the alternator brackets online. please tell me should I fuse my ignition and starer. if so what fuse amp should I use for the ignition and starter. thanks.

W_B · Feb 17, 2015

(quoted from post at 14:12:53 02/16/15)

That said, do yourself a favor, go to YT and buy a 12v starter too. After shearing off my starter drive for the second time in 5 years, I just purchased a 12v starter a few days ago. Should get it in a day or two. $147 shipping included.

Is there such a thing as a 12V starter for a Ford N? Never heard of such.

converting my 51 ford 8N to 12 volts

Richard 8N

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W_B

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Geo-TH,In

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Steve@Advance

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teddy52food

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old

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Prawn Farmer

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