Changing from 6 to 12 volts

[tallyho8]

A friend bought a 1941 Model M Farmall 3 wheeler that a neighbor had and he is trying to fix it up. I have noticed some 12 volt changeover kits for sale and they come with an alternator but not a starter. Can you use 12 volts on a 6 volt starter without burning it up?

 

[RickB]

A reasonably healthy 6 volt starter will get by very well on a 12 volt diet. Convert if you want to, and leave the starter alone until it requires attention. It could last for years.

 

[ultrarunner]

A lot of the Ford guys leave the Starter as is... sometimes it's a little harder on the Bendix Drive... the armature and field coils don't seem to have a problem.

 

[Travelover]

Another option is to use two 6 volt batteries in series. Charge 12 v across both batteries, run 6 volt needs off "first" 6 v battery.

Used to use this set up for 12 volt Corvair engine in 6 volt VW bug back in the day.

 

[ToadHill]

If my old memory serves me right, DC motors don't care if it runs on 6,12,18,24 volts. If the insulation is good, they just spin faster with more volts.

 

[elad]

Better than 15 years ago, I up graded a 1953 Super C Farmall
to 12 volt. Used Chevy. alternator with internal regulator. Had to make
some brackets etc. and use a double V pulley to drive it. Never had a
single problem with the change over. The starter is still the original
6 volt unit. Only thing ever replaced was the battery 2 or 3 times.
elad

 

[Kaliburz]

There should be no issue.

At one time, JC Whitney actually sold a 6 Volt alternator. I used on an old Farmall that I didn't want to do a full change over (had to make it negative ground.)

Make sure you remember to check the ground of the battery. I think the older tractors were a six volt POSITIVE ground. So you'll have to swap the AMP guage connections, swap the coil and connections, etc, etc.....

 

[Soundguy]

I'd also leave the 6v starter as Rick and the others said. I've got plenty of fords with 6v starters and 12v 'kits'.

Big copper in a 6v starter.

soundguy

 

[thl]

I switched my 1943 2N from 6 to 12 volts many years ago. As Soundguy points out, the 6 volt starter will work just fine. I have had no problems.

Terry

 

[MikeD74T]

tallyho8, You don't mention whether the M has lights. If so the bulbs will need to be changed. Also my memory is a little vague but I recall that the 6 volt voltage regulator is in the pod that has the light & ignition switches ???? You may need to eliminate that circuit ?? MikeD74T