8 volt batteries work OK when generators had cutout relays instead of regulators. In that case, the output voltage of the generator was limited by the battery, not by the generator. The generator wouldn't charge an 8 volt battery as fast, but it would charge it. With a voltage regulator, the output voltage of the generator is limited by the regulator, and it'll never fully charge an 8 volt battery.
It is possible to adjust a 6 volt regulator to properly charge an 8 volt battery, but you need to know what you're doing and have some basic electrical test equipment to succeed.
As others have noted, the best bet is a properly set up 6 volt system. One of the biggest problems is people using battery cables that are too small. Six volt starters draw twice the current of an equivalent sized 12 volt starter, and the battery cables need to be correspondingly bigger. 2/0 is a good size if you can find them, or buy some welding cable & lugs and make your own. The typical #4 or #6 cables sold in auto parts houses are way too small.
In general, using an 8 volt battery is a patch for a problem that should never have existed in the first place.
Keith
PS...it is possible to charge an 8 volt battery from a 12 volt charger by using a series resistance to limit the charge current. A 12 volt tail light bulb is a good place to start for a reasonable sized charger. Just be really careful to watch the state of charge of the battery. As the battery approaches full charge and the current decreases, the voltage drop across the resistor also decreases, resulting in progressively higher voltage applied to the battery. You'll eventually destroy the battery by boiling it dry if you let it continue charging.
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