Farmall B battery cable question

[JonBB]

Hello,
First time on this forum. I just got a 1945 B Farmall. It is a 6 volt system. It turns over very slow and takes a long time to start. I noticed the battery cables and starter and switch get very warm/hot so I have to stop and let it cool down. In reading some other notes on the internet, I think I have determined that the battery cables are not heavy enough. It appears that I need to go with at least 00 cables. Anybody else gone through this or know if I am on the right path? When it starts it runs great! From what I have read, once you do this, the engine will turn over easily. Thanks in advance for any suggestions/comments.
JonBB

 

[boggen]

check spark plugs
check disturber cap (or what ever it is called mangento?) the points can get worn down and you get less spark
carb work might help.

stay away from any sort of "fuel boosters, or carb cleaners, etc.." the old engines were made to run gas from the old days, i have noticed some issues with the old 1954 allis chalmers CA tractor, if i add stabil or other gas preservative to the gas, it causes issues in also starting up. i don't remember the full explanation, but fuel boosters and preservative stuff causes fuel to require a little more compression / spark to get a combustion going. that extra compression / spark = more power. but harder starting... i took me 3 to 4 tank fulls of gas before i realized what was happening. once i put fresh gas in with nothing in it. bam bam ready to go!

TractorData.com Farmall B tractor information
it looks like engine might run on kerosine wow! might want to check of better folks in the know. to see if there is a needed adjustment to tractor.

on the old allis chalmers, i need to keep an eye on the "generator" aka not an alternator it is a generator. and make sure it stays greased "meh" forget type of grease to use right off. to make sure bearings stay in good condition.

back check between battery, to what ever cable that connects to tractor chasis, and then point between that and starter. rusted / bad connections could cause some issues. same with corroded battery ends.

also double check there are no nicks in the battery cables. i had a couple issues were wire was almost completely cut through the rubber coating on cable! one was from vibration and just simple rubbing, and another was wire some how managed to get up on a sharper edge.

 

[Farmall45b]

I had a 1945 Farmall B that I restored before my first Kubota. A 6 volt system requires much heavier cables than a 12 volt system as there is twice as many amps flowing through them. You either have a cable or battery problem. You could do a voltage drop test to determine if it is the cables, which I am happy to explain if you want, but an easier way might be to just add a jumper cable in parallel to the existing cables and seeing if it cranks over better. Keep in mind that if the battery is weak it will decrease cranking speed causing the starter motor brushes to remain in contact with the armature longer and current draw to increase dramatically.

 

[DJ54]

If they are automotive type/size, like 4 gauge, yes, they are way too small. I prefer 1/0 cable. The last set I had made, NAPA was out of 1/0, but had 2/0, so had them make a set out of that. Pricey, but man it really turns it over..!!

Depending on how big of a hurry you are in, I found a place online in Florida, that makes up Marine type cables, in various gauges, 1/0 included, for a lot less than can be made locally. Bad thing is, I didn't save the link. They are pre-made in various lengths, and looked to have very nice HD ends, and shrink wrap.

 

[JonBB]

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate you taking time to make some suggestions. I have checked out the battery cable a little more and I'm pretty sure that is going to be the problem. If not, I'll try some of the other ideas you had. Thanks again!

 

[JonBB]

They look like automotive cables. I don't know how long they have been on there but the first thing I will try is putting on 2/0 cables and see if that fixes it. I'm pretty sure that is the problem. Thanks for the reply and advice!

 

[JonBB]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to replace the cables with 2/0 cables and see if that will do the trick. The cables that are on there now look like automotive cables. They are pretty light weight. I appreciate your reply!

 

[RickB]

Clean the battery posts and opposite connection points well. Clean the contact parts of the new cables prior to installation.

 

[DJ54]

1/0 will be plenty heavy enough, and a bit cheaper. 2/0 are pretty stiff to bend..!! To save you some sticker shock, those 2, 2/0 cables from the local NAPA were $80 and change... But, VERY nice..!! As I reckon' they should be, LOL...

 

[JonBB]

Thanks RickB! I'll be sure to do that when I put the new cables on.

 

[JonBB]

Wow! $80? I may back down to the 1/0 then. I don't know what size cables are on there now but they look like regular automotive cables. I tried to crank the engine earlier today. It spun over pretty good the first try and almost started. Then it started being slow and randomly turning over. I checked and the cables and starter and switch on the starter were already heating up so I just quit.

 

[JonBB]

Wow! $80? I may back down to the 1/0 then. I don't know what size cables are on there now but they look like regular automotive cables. I tried to crank the engine earlier today. It spun over pretty good the first try and almost started. Then it started being slow and randomly turning over. I checked and the cables and starter and switch on the starter were already heating up so I just quit.

 

[JonBB]

One more new question I have come across. In reading an old thread I found, I appears that the "ground" is always positive on these old B Farmall's and the negative should be hooked up to the starter. I found a manual online with a diagram that confirms this. I never knew in all my years that this was the case. I took the battery out earlier to be tested (it tested good by the way) and didn't notice if it was connected as positive or negative ground when I removed it. I'm sure when I hooked it back up I hooked it up as a negative ground. I'll have to go look in the morning in the daylight to be sure. Any thoughts on this bit of information? Just want to confirm what I discovered.
Thanks for your answers!

 

[DJ54]

Yes, positive ground.

Here is one of the sites I found online, that make custom cables. Seem to be much less expensive than NAPA. https://tinnedmarinewire.com/wire/i...id=148&zenid=5e14146bff87f244a7708199b6eaa9bf

You'll just have to measure your cables, and maybe a little extra to allow for the bends. You can choose color of cables, and ends. Didn't check to see what shipping would be. There are many others, that may be closer to you, that do the same thing. I just did a search for custom made marine battery cables.

 

[JonBB]

Thanks DJ54!

I double checked this morning and it is hooked up positive ground. In fact I never noticed that the positive was the ground when I put the battery back in the other day after having it tested. The way the battery box is made and the placement of the posts only allowed me to hook it up positive ground. I have never known that in all my time around Farmall tractors. If I did I forgot.

Thanks for the website about the cables. I'll check that out. I looked also this morning and the cables are 4 guage. I for sure have to get those replaced.

Have a great day!!!

 

[DJ54]

Most all brands that I know of that are 6V were positive ground.

Also, don't know if you noticed, when specing out the cables for what you want, one end different stud sizes,and the other the same, plus a positive end, or a negative end on the cables.

 

[JonBB]

Thank you sir! Have a great day!