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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

6 volt systems

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abane

12-11-2003 10:26:17




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I am thinking about buying a 350 Farmall that is a 6 volt system.I've been told that you can use an 8 volt battery to replace the 6 volt without doing any damage to the 6 volt system.When I bought my first c , it was a 6 volt and had an 8 volt battery in it but burned the coil up so I switched it over to a 12 v system If I buy this tractor I do not want to switch it over--any comments--




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Gus

12-12-2003 16:23:17




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 Re: 6 volt systems in reply to abane, 12-11-2003 10:26:17  
I just replaced the 6 volt in my 300U. I had heard that an 8 volt would be better. I priced it at NAPA. $404.00 Counter guy couldn't believe it either. So I got the biggest 6 they had. $90.00.



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name withheld

12-12-2003 10:50:44




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 Re: 6 volt systems in reply to abane, 12-11-2003 10:26:17  
I'm probably in a religous war but anyway

Unless you want to keep it as show tractor in orignial condition I'd change it to 12V.

If you want to be cheep all you need is a 12V battery and 12V coil. The battery will last almost an entire season on one or two charges.



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Fred OH

12-12-2003 09:33:21




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 Re: 6 volt systems in reply to abane, 12-11-2003 10:26:17  
Why do most novice tractor buffs want to change over theirs to 12 volts when the 6 isn't working properly? I think mainly their elders tell them that it is better...or they go to where they sell them at and find that a rebuilt 6 volt generator costs $125 and they can get a newly rebuilt alternator at the local auto parts store for $39.95, Cheaper, huh? But...then theres the new fanbelt, bracket(s), a new battery, 3 new sealed beam lights, coil and condensor(or resistors), and dash light bulbs to replace (if equipped), and the risk of burning the starter out if it doesn't start quick enough for your son or brother in law that don't know it's a six volt starter. I've never changed over a one of mine...besides...theres a certain satisfaction to the old sound of a sixer turning over. Back years ago...they kept the engines in better tune than we do today...especially the ones that had to be hand cranked cause it had to start on one cylinder firing as you didn't turn the crank around and around...you brought it up on one cylinder compressing and gave it a push. If it got cantankerous about starting...you could park it on a hill and coast it to start it...but you got it fixed quickly. Sorry about jumping back there for so long...Fred OH

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jdemaris

12-11-2003 19:22:45




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 Re: 6 volt systems in reply to abane, 12-11-2003 10:26:17  
I read the other posts but can't say I totally agree. I like 6 volt systems and I kind of like to keep my old stuff original when I can. I like the slow but steady cranking, and the look of the old 6 volt generators. Convertering 6 volt to 12 however, will make a night and day difference in cranking speed and cold weather starting. I don't care how big a battery you use, or how large a gauge battery cables. A 6 volt battery is capable of a hair over 6 volts with no load. When cranking the voltage will drop depending on the size of a battery. Average 6 volt tractor will crank at 4 to 4.5 volts. Try it a -30 degrees F, and maybe 3 volts if you're lucky. If you put an oversize battery in, you might up the cranking voltage to over 5. But that's it. Put a 12 volt battery in, and use it on a 6 volt starter, and you'll be cranking at over 9 volts. Oversize the 12 volt battery and you might be cranking at over 10 volts. Same starter will crank faster on 9 volts than on 4.5, and there's no way around it. I've got over 20 tractors, crawlers, diesel and gas. I've tried to keep many of them 6 volt. But . . . take a day that's well below zero, and it's a crap shoot if the 6 volt tractors will start (unless I plug in the block heaters).

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Delbert

12-11-2003 13:16:58




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 Re: 6 volt systems in reply to abane, 12-11-2003 10:26:17  
Get as big a 6 volt as you can it will work as good as 12 volt. I have a 8 volt battery in my M but will go back to 6 volt when the (8) goes bad i will get a group 2. Used to have a M that would start no matter how cold if it would turn over with6 volt. As the others have said the 6 should do just fine with less expense.



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RAB

12-11-2003 12:47:59




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 Re: 6 volt systems in reply to abane, 12-11-2003 10:26:17  
Like said below, nothing wrong with a 6 volt system - except they were superceded many years ago by 12 volt ones. That said, the 6V systems worked OK for years before that. So why do so many people have trouble these days? I think it is because the modern supplies are computer designed for minimum manufacturing cost (and often maximum replacement cost!) or at least maximum profit. Battery leads - buy, or make, thicker ones with high quality connectors as the 6V system cannot 'lose' as many volts through high resistance joints without noticing slow cranking.
The battery - the old ones, as fitted originally, were lower-tech than the modern equivalent. They had heavier plates and were less efficient, but would stand deep discharge and over-charge with much more tolerance than a modern battery. So your charging system has to be spot on, to avoid battery problems. Under-voltage charging will lead to sulphated plates in next to no time and over charging is likely to distort the plates easier in the modern compact battery.
I remember the days when battery top-up was a regular maintenance job, batteries could run park lights on cars all night long and still crank on a frosty morning (and there was a starting handle if it didn't!).
Regards, RAB

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Polish Mike

12-11-2003 11:50:00




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 Re: 6 volt systems in reply to abane, 12-11-2003 10:26:17  
Lots of guys will install an 8 volt battery, instead of doing a little minor maintenance on their 6 volt system.

Shine up all your connections, replace any old and/or undersized cables, replace your spark plug wires, plugs, points, etc., and you might be real surprised at how well your 6 volt system runs.



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rustyfarmall

12-11-2003 11:00:14




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 Re: 6 volt systems in reply to abane, 12-11-2003 10:26:17  
I doubt very much that the 8 volt battery had anything to do with your coil burning up. But why go to 8 volt? If the 6 volt system is in good condition, it should work fine.



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