Use of 8 Volt battery on old Farmall S-H

Paul 193 · Oct 2, 2009

Anyone with in-put to the merit of using an 8 volt battery on a Farmall S-H. I understand it will spin the starter better than the standard 6 volt, but, is there a problem with lights, gen, etc.

will Tx.Mn · Oct 2, 2009

nope

~Will

Doug in Illinois · Oct 2, 2009

12 volt will even work, meaning the alternator conversions if you kick the 12 down to 6 with a resistor or a 12 to 6 converter. Ford Mustang II's 1978 and before used 6 volt gauges, and used a true converter as opposed to a ballast resistor from what I have read.

But, back to 8 volt, no problem at all with everything else left the same. DOUG

old · Oct 2, 2009

8 volt battery is a band aid fix for other problems. Either keep it 6 volts or up grade to 12 volts. Yes you can have your genny adjusted to charge 8 volts, really the V.R. but it still does not work all that well plus you have any idea where you can buy an 8 volt battery charger so you can keep it charged

John T · Oct 2, 2009

Sure, 8 volts will spin the starter faster then if only 6 volts is applied butttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt so will 00 gauge battery n starter n ground cables plus a big heavy duty 6 volt battery.....

BUTTTTTT with that freaky irregular Rube Goldberg 8 volts you have charging issues,,,,,,,and points burn sooner (unless properly ballasted),,,,,,,and coil runs hotter (unless properly ballasted),,,,,and lights burn up sooner,,,,,,,etc etc

Id fix the 6 or if you gotta convert go to 12 n be done with it

I AGREE WITH OLD

John T

buickanddeere · Oct 2, 2009

8V in a six is a "farmer fix" to compensate for a worn engine, ignition, carb & electrical system.
A 1000 CCA 6V battery & HD cables with swagged ends.The chassis return cable bolted directly to the starter body. That engine will turn with the electrical system having enough voltage to also fire the plugs.
Many starting problems are due to somebody installing the coil with the polarity swapped.
A 6V battery requires 6.9V to 7.2V to charge. To many times somebody sets the regulator while looking at the ammeter instead of using a hand held voltmeter???
An 8V battery requires 9.2 to 9.6V to charge. What is that going to do to a 6.5V lamp?The lights will be real bright for a few hours at most.

flying belgian · Oct 2, 2009

I'm going to stray from the herd on this one. I put an 8 volt in the 49 GMC and had the regulator tweeked to charge it(your generator is already putting out about 9 volts) and it worked great for years and years. Starter never failed and no bulbs ever burnt out. The lights were very bright and the starter really spun that thing over. No problem at all over the years and I highly recamend doing it.

bodid1998 · Oct 2, 2009

I got to agree with belgian also never had any problems with an 8volt battery I even have an 8volt charger John Deere made several of them !!

Dustin IL

Anonymous-0 · Oct 3, 2009

My uncle did it in a super M for 20 years and never had a bit of trouble

ken in texas · Oct 3, 2009

Changed several of them,and if the rsgulator is set right,they work great,and solve the cold weather starting problem.Always some one trying to talk you out of it.I spent many winter mornings trying to start one with orginal 6 volt battery.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 4, 2009

They work fine, as far as band aid fixes, we've done all the stuff listed in this thread and more, The 6 volt batteries still don't have enough. Altough I will say that sometime we don't start the tractors for a long time. If we started them more regularly I think the 6 volt batteries would be fine.

MeanGene1 · Oct 4, 2009

We ran them in a couple rigs that worked all winter in NY, and had been "problem" starters- a '53 Chebbie 1-1/2 ton dump, and an 8N with a Wagner loader. The 8N had bucket extensions and plowed snow, and also loaded coal into the Chebbie for delivery. Both had the 8V's in them for over 15 years, started excellent, bright lights but no burnouts, no point or coil problems, no need for trickle chargers- really trouble-free. We used those regulators with the adjustment handles on the outside, maybe Prestolite?

Use of 8 Volt battery on old Farmall S-H

Paul 193

New User

will Tx.Mn

New User

Doug in Illinois

Member

old

Well-known Member

John T

Well-known Member

buickanddeere

Well-known Member

flying belgian

Well-known Member

bodid1998

Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

ken in texas

Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

MeanGene1

Member

Similar threads