8 volt converions?

How common is this? The generator is still on there, the regulator is clearly marked 8 volts as is the battery.

Done, perhaps, to give the starter more ''oomph'' once the engine is warm?

(Sorry if this one has been addressed before. I tried a search but only turned up the usual info on 12 volt conversions and, interestingly, one thread about putting a V-8 in a Ford Tractor.)

As the others have already said, there is nothing wrong with a properly done 8V conversion, though most were not properly done.

Indeed, such conversions are much less damaging to the 6V starter, starter drive and ring gear than 12V conversions done without converting the starter to 12V or at least installing 12V field coils. (Nearly no one does either.)

The biggest problem that I have found with these is how to charge the battery other than with the charging system. Seen an 8V battery charger lately?

Dean

You're obviously having some type of a "fit" as 6-Volt starters function just fine on 12-volts.

Where in the world did you get the idea that 12-Volts is instant death to a 6-Volt starter???

I just re read my earlier post. Interestingly, I cannot find where I either said or implied that a 6V starter would not "function" on 12 volts.

Similarly, I find no mention of "instant death" or anything implying such anywhere in my earlier post.

How long have you been doing this, Bob? No disrespect intended but your ignorance is showing.

Dean

Call me ignorant, or what ever it takes to make you feel superior, however, there's more old 6-volt starters running on 12-Volts with no problems than you can "shake a stick at", ignorant one.

Why is it "Chicken Littles" like you continuously spew nonsense to give yourselves something to worry about???

I have neither need nor desire to defend myself from your personal attack.

Indeed, such whould obviously be futile as you have well demonstrated both superior intellect and character.

Dean

I'm new to these boards, so you couldn't know this, but I am a middle-aged man who grew up in a farm family, and in addition I like to collect and read books about old automobiles (can't afford the cars themselves) so I am familiar with the history of the Kettering ignition sytem (Henry Leland and the Dewar Cup and all that) and also with its care and feeding. I'd never seen an 8-volt conversion, though; just twelve.

I also run a Super C Farmall and a 1966 Volkswagen with the original 6-volt systems, and the neither has ever failed to start (although I confess to cranking the tractor and pushing the VW), so I don't buy into the idea of conversion for its own sake.

Don't forget, though, this is a neighbor's tractor. He killed the battery trying to start it, and I'm sure he's getting all kinds of simplistic advice like, ''If you convert it to twelve volts it will be easier to start.''

He's going to get a new battery; he says the tractor never hit ONCE while he tried to start it, so I believe it's probably an ignition problem. As soon as he gets the battery I'll go over there with an old plug I keep for such purposes and my volt-ohm-meter and see what's what. I'll report back if I find anything interesting.

Theres 'nuttin' inherently "wrong" with 8-volts, infact it is what ALL cars needed (including tractors) until the advent of high-compression engines and TRANSISTOR RADIOS in the 1950's.

Iff'n you really need more volts to spin yer starter motor faster to start yer tired engine, convert to more reliable and cheaper 12-volts.

Why 6-volt iff'n 8-volt better? 'Cuz it was the cheapest battery that General Motors "Boss Kettering" could use to reliably turn his electric starter motor to start his Cadillac motorcar engine for buyers of m'lady's expensive rich-mans toy..... ..Dell, the historian