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Harry Ferguson Tractors Discussion Forum
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6 or 12 on my to-20

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xwing77

02-26-2008 18:06:36




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Heres my problem: I just got my 6 volt generator rebuilt and need to know my best (cheapest) route. I currently have a 12volt coil and battery on it now. But everything else is 6 volt.

So at this point im wanting to use the generator (6volt) and change the regulator to a 12 volt one so i can use the almost new 12 volt battery.

1) Can i do this without damaging anything? if so, what do i need such as part# for regulator and ive heard i need a resistor for swicth/lights?

2) If i decide to go with a pure 6 volt system, how could i jump/boost if needed safe?

Also to be noted, the wires are in bad shape so while im doing this i am going to re-wire the entire tractor.

This tractor isnt going to shows but is a working tractor so i may need to add other lights/acc in the future

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xwing77

02-27-2008 15:40:10




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 Re: 6 or 12 on my to-20 in reply to xwing77, 02-26-2008 18:06:36  
Ok looks like i will be getting a 6 volt battery/coil then.

Whats the norm most are using to energise generator, postive ground or negative ground?

Also whats the safe way to jump/boost a 6 volt system with 12 volts either method above?



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xwing77

02-27-2008 15:40:10




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 Re: 6 or 12 on my to-20 in reply to xwing77, 02-26-2008 18:06:36  
Ok looks like i will be getting a 6 volt battery/coil then.

Whats the norm most are using to energise generator, postive ground or negative ground?

Also whats the safe way to jump/boost a 6 volt system with 12 volts either method above?



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phil(va)

02-27-2008 16:15:36




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 Re: 6 or 12 on my to-20 in reply to xwing77, 02-27-2008 15:40:10  
If you go 6 volts, go positive ground. To jump 6 volts from 12, get good cables and hook both to the 12 volt battery (doesn't matter which cable goes to which post). Then hook one of them to the top post of the starter on the tractor. Make sure the tractor is out of gear!! Turn on the key. Touch the end of the other cable to a good ground on the tractor. Just touch it, don't hook it up. It should turn the starter over fast. If the key is on, it should start. If it is out of gear you are cool. If it was still in gear, the left rear wheel just ran over you. Hope that helps.

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Mark from the fort

02-27-2008 12:34:42




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 Re: 6 or 12 on my to-20 in reply to xwing77, 02-26-2008 18:06:36  
If you go the 6volt route, save yourself some major headaches by having new battery cables made for it. Ask for O or (better yet) OO guage cables (very thick) Remember, with 6 volts, you are now Positive ground. Instead of connecting the POS. post of battery to back of dash with short grounding strap--run your new positive cable from post on battery down to actual bolt that bolts starter to tractor. While your at it, loosen starter enough to clean between starter flange and actual engine block--then add pos. cable on top.
With 6volts, gotta have BIG cables and super clean connections. (all connections.)
Just some suggestions. Mark

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Jerry/MT

02-26-2008 21:04:53




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 Re: 6 or 12 on my to-20 in reply to xwing77, 02-26-2008 18:06:36  
If your going to use a 6 V generator, the rest of the sytem has to use 6V parts. You can use a 6v coil with a 12v system by adding a resistor but you can"t use a "true" 12 V coil on a 6V system. So you need a 6V coil. You will need a 6V regulator and remember to polarize the generator before you start it up the first time. Of course, you"ll need a 6V battery.



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phil(va)

02-26-2008 18:48:49




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 Re: 6 or 12 on my to-20 in reply to xwing77, 02-26-2008 18:06:36  
Let's see, you had the generator rebuilt as 6 volts. But you have a 12 volt coil, regulator, and battery. Right? I gotta ask, why did you have the genny rebuilt as 6 volts? I'm assuming the answer is you just wanted to stay with 6 volts for some reason, which is ok, but you will want to replace all three of the aforementioned 12 volt items. Actually there is a way you can use the 12 volt coil, but I recommend you go ahead and get a 6 volt one. The other option would be to take the genny back and have it modified to 12 volts, or get an alternator, which will be 12 volts. As for jump starting 6 volts, it's easy, but you have to bypass the ignition circuit and just hook the 12 volt battery directly to the starter and to a good ground on the tractor, but be sure the tractor is out of gear as the tranny safety switch will be bypassed. I fear there is much I don't know about your reasons for doing what you have done so far, so that's about all I can offer at this time.

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xwing77

02-26-2008 20:28:23




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 Re: 6 or 12 on my to-20 in reply to phil(va), 02-26-2008 18:48:49  
Actually the regulator is 6 volt. When i got the tractor it had a 12 volt battery on it all ready so i assumed it had been converted to 12 volt.

So now the generator wasn't working and i took it to the shop to rebuild. Talking to them they said it was 6 volt. Then when i get back i closely look at the tractor i found:

battery= 12 volt
coil= 12 volt
lights= 6 volt
generator= 6 volt

Now i need the best/cheapest way to use what i have.

Do i just get a 6 volt battery and upgrade wiring as its in bad shape?
or
Use the 6 volt generator, change the regulator to 12 volt, add resistors to headlamps?

or is there another method keeping in mind what i all ready have?

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gshadel

02-27-2008 07:03:25




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 Re: 6 or 12 on my to-20 in reply to xwing77, 02-26-2008 20:28:23  
xwing, sounds like my tractor when I got it. You really only have 2 choices, finish the conversion to 12v by installing a alternator and the wiring that goes with it, or by finding/converting a generator to 12V and getting a 12V regulator, OR, finish the conversion back to 6V with a new 6V battery and 6V coil. The 6V option will cost you maybe $80-90, the 12V option will be about the same if you do all your own wiring and make your own alternator bracket. If you buy all new 12V components, that will surely be your most expensive option.
I bought a new 6V battery, sold my 12V battery to a guy to reduce my expenses, and had my tractor charging system fixed correctly pretty fast. That was ~8 years ago and have never regretted that choice... still using that same 6V battery too.

George

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phil(va)

02-27-2008 05:05:06




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 Re: 6 or 12 on my to-20 in reply to xwing77, 02-26-2008 20:28:23  
You're about half and half. I have both 6 volt and 12 volt Fergies. With good wiring and connections the 6 volt works just as well, but it isn't as tolerant of poor wiring, in cold weather especially, as 12 volt is. Jerry is right that I misspoke about the possibility of converting the coil back to 6 volts. If you go that way, you will have to get a 6 volt coil. Probably if it were mine, I'd stick with 6 volts and get a 6 volt coil and battery, just my 2 cents. The only REAL insurmountable disadvantage to 6 volts is if you want to run other 12 equipment off it, like a sprayer, etc.

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xwing77

02-28-2008 16:59:33




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 Re: 6 or 12 on my to-20 in reply to phil(va), 02-27-2008 05:05:06  
Well just got back from the local alt. shop. These guys have done rebuilds on generators/alternators/starters for over 30 years and are very reputable by anyone you talk to.

They told me to use the 6 volt generator, 12 volt regulator, 12 volt coil and 12 volt battery.

They said my generator could easily put 12 volts out without any issues. THey even said with right regulation it would peak around 50 volts!

Now i know several here said it would not work even some local tractor people said it wouldnt work.

Now im even more confused on which way i should go. If indeed it will work for 12 volt system, thats the cheapest/quickest way for me right now.

So i ask anyone who has actaully tried this if it worked or not. Also if it doesnt work, what exactly happens?

Again im not doubting anyone but im getting conflicting information and need to resolve my delima

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Jerry/MT

02-28-2008 18:42:58




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 Re: 6 or 12 on my to-20 in reply to xwing77, 02-28-2008 16:59:33  
If the guys at the alternator shop say that you can run that 6V generator as a 12V have them tell you how to do it. Most regulators control both current and voltage so I think they are correct.
I"m an engineer but not an electrical engineer so tracking electrons is not my strong suit. Going to 6V was the easiest way I could see for you to go.



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