Incidental 12V conversion questions

Have questions regarding existing starter and 12V battery polarity.

1) Will existing starter tolerate a 12V battery installation?

2) Present battery uses standard positive ground. I was told by a local implement dealer that I needed to install the 12V battery with the NEGATIVE terminal connected to chassis ground. IS THIS TRUE?

3) Since the starter is a DC driven device, would converting to a Negative Ground installation cause the starter to turn backwards?

Thanks for any help provided.

Yep it will work just fine. (and spin faster..)
Your solenoid will work ok too.

" 2) Present battery uses standard positive ground. I was told by a local implement dealer that I needed to install the 12V battery with the NEGATIVE terminal connected to chassis ground. IS THIS TRUE?"

Yes. your 12 volt alternator NEEDS negative ground.
Iffn you happen to be installing a 12 volt GENERATOR then you can have positive ground.
Seems unlikely in a kit.

" 3) Since the starter is a DC driven device, would converting to a Negative Ground installation cause the starter to turn backwards?"

No. It is not a permanent magnet motor. Both the field and rotor windings change polarity
so it spins the same direction.

Roger in Michigan.

2.) Yes, you will need to connect the (-) terminal of the battery to chassis ground for use with a standard modern 12 Volt alternator.

3.) The starter has wound fields and a wound rotor, so when the input polarity is reversed, the current through BOTH windings is reversed, and the starter rotates the same direction as before. Sort of a double negative makes a positive.

The exception to this is starters or fan motors, etc. on MUCH MORE MODERN equipment that have permanent magnet fields. These motors will reverse when the input polarity switches.

Good Luck with your conversion.