6 volt battery/cables

[vidaliaman]

any recommendations for 6 volt battery brand? also 6 volt cable, copper? 2/0 or 4/0? what do you all think?
dave

 

[David G]

I would convert it to 12V and be done with it.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Get the strap for your positive cable and 0 gauge for the negative. This site and nnalert's will have the correct gauge and length.
75 Tips

 

[Den N Ms]

Use 1/0-or better yet 0 or 00 stranded copper cable.You can make them up the length you need using copper ends and heavy clamps solidered on the cable.Use heat shrink tubbing on the ends.You will have better cables than you can buy and they will last many years and have faster starts and cables that will last a long---time.Find the cable and ends at a quality automotive electric shop or a large truck/Semi shops.

 

[Lester Isby]

Best thing I every did was convert mine to 12 volt and electronic ignition.

 

[Phil N]

I agree with David and Lester. 6V was gone in the US Auto Industry in 1955.

 

[vidaliaman]

i have the strap i purchased from here, however i'll bet my negative cable is meant for the 12v system

 

[vidaliaman]

i agree with you all on the conversion, i only have 1 8n with a 6v system left, i converted my dad's 8n last year and he loves it but this 2n being his dad's tractor he really wants to to remain 6 volt

 

[Ken(Ark)]

(quoted from post at 20:48:56 05/08/17) any recommendations for 6 volt battery brand? also 6 volt cable, copper? 2/0 or 4/0? what do you all think?
dave

Here is an interesting read . Best thing to do is keep the charge full , acid full, and terminals clean . Battery plates are kind of like your teeth , don't let the plaque get started . I have seen a lot of good batteries bite the dust because the acid level dropped below the top of the plates .

http://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=nboard&th=801310

 

[vidaliaman]

lol, i just was reading that in the archives, my dad doesn't have any electricity in his barn and it is couple hundred yards from his house, what about a solar 6v trickle charger? or does anyone know of a good portable power pack for him to carry to the barn and give his 6v 2n a little boost after not using for a while?

thanks for all your help

 

[vidaliaman]

my negative cable is 2 gauge, that doesn't appear to be big enough correct?

 

[Bruce (VA)]

2 gauge is too small for 6v.
75 Tips

 

[Ken(Ark)]

(quoted from post at 10:02:43 05/09/17) lol, i just was reading that in the archives, my dad doesn't have any electricity in his barn and it is couple hundred yards from his house, what about a solar 6v trickle charger? or does anyone know of a good portable power pack for him to carry to the barn and give his 6v 2n a little boost after not using for a while?

thanks for all your help

I hear Ford installed 6v generators on those models

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

...and, FORD kept tractors at 6 volt until the diesel models came out, Hundred Series...

Tim *PloughNman* Daley

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

Got a copy of Bruce(VA)'s 75 Tips For N-Owners? Get one -it's FREE to download. Your 6-volt battery cables are not like your cars' 12 volt ones. You need good, thumb thick ones on the 6 volt so as Bruce says, get the correct braided strap for your positive ground and the good decent #00 for the negative cable to starter. Best to invest in a good brand of battery like DEKA or INTERSTATE too. Low budget ones tend to last only a few years. Also a good idea to check the wiring too. The 6-volt/positive ground system requires more than just a 6-volt battery. Generator, voltage regular or cutout circuit, coil, ballast resistor, key switch, all wiring, et al, must be correct as well. Google JMOR's Wiring Diagrams to see every conceivable way to CORRECTLY wire these old N's, 6 volt and 12 volt included. Disconnect the ground lead if tractor is going to set for more than 30 days. A battery tender will prolong the life of the battery too.

Tim *Ploughman* Daley(MI)

 

[maxwell99]

my opinion in this case
Bigger is better
I have a 1957 TO35 Ferguson with 12 volts system, but it's old school may have been the first year for 12 volt,

I replaced my battery cables with #1 size cables, maybe over kill, but on a cold morning the little Ferguson with a 60 year old starter needs all the help it can get to turn over and fire off,

Just cost a few dollars more at Napa,

 

[vidaliaman]

thanks Ploughnman, just went to my welding store and they are making me up some 00, i already had the braided strap, i'v got the 75 tips downloaded and thumb tacked to the shop wall, i should have looked for the cable tip, once i thumb tacked 75 tips to the shop i haven't had much to ask on yesterday's tractors, so i just read post, thanks to everyone here

dave

 

[ericlb]

those cables need to be the thickest ones available, now that means the wire diameter inside, not how much plastic rubber the chinese can put on the outside, 4 gauge is not enough, 1 gauge works well, its not the volts, its the ability to move amps, think of a river,going between your battery and the tractor, the volts are the water, the amps is how much water, i have 6v tractors and car too, plus a battery charger for 6v, if you have to jump it when it sits awhile the best fix is a battery cut out switch so the battery can be isolated for storage, to jump it you need a 6v battery, you can do it with a 12v, BUT only directly to the starter with the other cables off of it, while 6v did stop in the late 50's, this is a antique forum and all n tractors were original 6v positive ground, regardless of what they have now