TRACTOR PARTS Allis Chalmers Case & David Brown Farmall & International Ferguson Ford & New Holland John Deere Massey Ferguson Massey Harris Minneapolis Moline Oliver & Cockshutt Kubota / Yanmar

TRACTOR MANUALS

Allis Chalmers	Case	Farmall IH	Ford 8N,9N,2N	Ford
Ferguson	John Deere	Massey Ferguson	Minn. Moline	Oliver

Fordson Tractors Discussion Forum

Positive ground or Negative ground on '56 FMD

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register

Author

Robert Starling

12-30-2004 20:55:07

Report to Moderator

Finally my rebuild is almost complete. I am at the point of getting ready to reinstall the starter, solenoid and all of the cables. I noticed in the manual that this tractor originally has a positive ground. If I remember correctly when I bought the tractor, the battery they used to crank it was hooked up like a car/truck with a negative ground. Afterwards, they removed their battery so that was the only time I had to see which post was hooked to ground.

The charging system has been converted from generator to an alternator. Would this force the change in the grounding from a positive ground to a negative ground??

I don't want to burn up a starter or alternator by hooking things up wrong. Thanks, Robert

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Jeff C

01-04-2005 12:07:50

Report to Moderator

Re: Positive ground or Negative ground on '56 FMD in reply to Robert Starling, 12-30-2004 20:55:07

I"ve got a related question. Last night I went to start my "57 Major and was getting nothing but the solnoid "clicking". So I hoisted that side of the hood and went to work to find a loose or dirty wire. When I tried to turn it over again, I got a LOT of arcing around the POSITIVE terminal, in fact it appears that this arcing has been going on a while as the terminal is burned away on the inside! Then it struck me, I saw it on this forumn.....this thing is supposed to be "+" grounded!!! And it"s been negative grounded since I got it. I checked my manual, sure enough. It still has a Lucas dynamo(generator) so I"m wondering if that is toast now? It"s been wired/running like this since I got it, a little over a year ago. Any thoughts??!!

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Majorman

12-31-2004 00:54:33

Report to Moderator

Re: Positive ground or Negative ground on '56 FMD in reply to Robert Starling, 12-30-2004 20:55:07

Robert,

If she is fitted with an alternator she will be positive ground. Someone has converted her as normally all these tractors were dynamos.

We did not get alternators on Fordson or Ford tractors over here until the mid 1970"s although after 1965 they had changed to negative ground.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

ron algiere

01-02-2005 18:10:57

Report to Moderator

Re: Positive ground or Negative ground on '56 FMD in reply to Majorman, 12-31-2004 00:54:33

guys I converted my power major over to neg. ground. As for the starter no cable changes were necess. I also use a n alternator with a built in regulator. No problems yet and very easy to wire!

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Robert Starling

01-02-2005 18:48:40

Report to Moderator

Re: Positive ground or Negative ground on '56 FMD in reply to ron algiere, 01-02-2005 18:10:57

This alternator has the internal regulator as well. So, what really determines whether a negative or positive ground is used?? The only other electrical parts are the ammeter and the lights. Thanks for the help so far. Robert

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

ron algiere

01-03-2005 16:48:43

Report to Moderator

Re: Positive ground or Negative ground on '56 FMD in reply to Robert Starling, 01-02-2005 18:48:40

yhe alternator should have one heavy post on the back, that goes direct to the + of the battery. That's it, the other leads on the alt. are for idiot lights and gauges. Bolting it on will take care of the = ground. the alt. is self excite it will start charging at approx. 1500 rpm and then continue to charge once it starts!

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Dell (WA)

01-02-2005 21:02:24

Report to Moderator

Re: Positive ground or Negative ground on '56 FMD in reply to Robert Starling, 01-02-2005 18:48:40

Robert..... ...the internal guttz of the ALTERNATOR determine wheather positive or negative ground. All common 12 volt alternators with built-in guttz are NEGATIVE GROUND.

Starter don't care, positive or negative ground. Lights don't care, positive or negative ground. Ammeter don't care, ...BUT... you care. Traditionally, charging the battery, ammeter should read (+). Don't matter positive or negative ground. Iff'n the ammeter don't read (+) when charging, just swap the meter leads and it will then read correctly. Simple, eh?..... ...Dell

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Robert Starling

01-04-2005 06:27:56

Report to Moderator

Re: Positive ground or Negative ground on '56 FMD in reply to Dell (WA), 01-02-2005 21:02:24

Thanks. That is what I thought, but wanted to make sure. I actually found a similar discussion on Oscar's website and it basically said the same thing. Brian actually gives a step by step explanation of how to get everything connected. Thanks Robert.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

[Options] [Printer Friendly] [Posting Help] [Return to Forum] [Log in to Reply]

TRACTOR PARTS	TRACTOR MANUALS

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home | Forums

Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy