6 volt battery

[fatdaddy]

I'm gonna have to buy a new 6 volt battery for my 42 9n.I thought I would check and see where some of you gentlemen have been buying yours and what you reccomend. Thanks

 

[Bruce (VA)]

When I purchased my 1951 8N, in October, 2002, it came w/ the above battery, a Deka, model 901MF. The date code on the battery was April, 2000.

I'm not sure how the PO maintained the battery the first two years of it's life, but given the overall condition of the tractor when I purchased it, my bet is it sat unused most of the time.

I always run the N's to operating temp every 3 or 4 weeks if they haven't been used. To make sure the battery doesn't discharge, all 4 N's now have float chargers.

I also keep everything "clean, bright & tight", use the braided strap & 00 gauge positive cables.

So, in addition to it being a well made battery, doing everything else right probably helped this battery to make it 8 years & 6 months!

It finally refused to turn the 1951 over last September, so I replaced it w/ a new one. Another Deka, model 901MF; cost w/ exchange was $69.

50 Tips

 

[John P.]

I bought mine off the rack at Tractor Supply.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I use batteries that cost 30 to 35 bucks.TSC and Walmart have plenty at that price, why pay more?

 

[profire31]

maybe you guys have some other thoughts but I had to replace mine a few months back. I went to the local batteries plus and switched it out with and 8 volt. Seems to have a little more cranking power and didn't bother anything. Cost was also about $70. I put it in a 49 8n.

 

[fatdaddy]

Will a 6 volt generator charge an 8 volt battery properly?It doesn't seen like that would work.

 

[Clelle]

You are right these tractors are not set up to keep a charge on an 8 volt battery; it will spin well at first but will die eventually. The voltage regulator can be re-wired to use an 8 volt but from what I have read it is often done wrong. Your best bet is to just replace the 6 volt battery and let her run as designed.


Just noticed you said 9n, no voltage regulator on that but I am sure you catch my drift

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 21:04:26 07/10/09) Will a 6 volt generator charge an 8 volt battery properly?It doesn't seen like that would work.

Not without "tweekin", and try finding an 8v charger.

Either keep the 6v, or go for the gusto, and 12v.

8v is a poor bandaid at the best.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

No

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Sometimes you get what you pay for. I've used plenty of $35 batteries, give them the same level of care & have never had one last more than 4 years. Most have a 3 year warranty (pro-rated) anyway.

 

[kilroy]

I got my last one at checker, about 50 bucks, a year ago. It seems to stay up well and spun the 48 over and fired her up at -40 last winter, so I guess itll do

 

[J.F. Regan]

The voltage regulator MUST match the battery. Thus an 8V battery needs an 8V regulator which usually then means it has a charging voltage of about 9.3 Volts or so. If the tractor is a 9N or 2N with adjustable 3rd brush type generator we do make all regulators for that application in both 6V and 8V versions. I do not recommend changing your battery from 6V to 8V but we do make the correct VR if you have already have done it or have a good reason for doing it.
9N/2N Voltage Regulator Web Page

 

[Anonymous-0]

Mr. Regan, some gentleman always said that 8volts will make the 6volt generators sling solder. It would seem that excess heat must be involved to melt solder. Is 1/3 greater voltage going to cause that? I ask you, sir, because you must have experience with this since you make/sell 8 volt regulators for these old Ford 6 volt generators.
Thank you very much for consideration of this question.

 

[J.F. Regan]

Each adjustable 3rd brush type generator has a power limitation. Model T generator is one I have most experience with and that generator is limited to about 100 watts. What this means is that when operated at 6V the charging voltage would be 7V and then the max current you could pull out of it before exceeding its rating would be just under 15 amps. Power = Volts x amps so 7 x 15= 105 watts. If you use an 8V regulator on that same generator then you must lower the amperage setting of the 3rd brush or risk overheating it. Assuming charge voltage at 8V battery would be 9.3V then 100/9.3=11 amps max setting. The N tractor generator is smaller and I believe is rated at about 10 amps for 6V operation which would be 7V x 10 amps = 70 watts and if operated on 8V then you must reduce the current setting of the third brush to 70/9.3=7.5 amps. If you go over 7.5 amps you risk damaging the generator which will make it overheat and start melting solder. The problems come in when people just ignore all the directions and set the generators for MAX since there seems to be a mentality that when it comes to electrical things - MORE IS BETTER but in truth that is where the troubles start. The 9N/2N had a cutout so it would let you set the charge rate as high as you wanted on 8V so likely folks set it to 10 amps or more and at 9.3Volts out - they were making wattage approaching 90+ watts and burned up the generator. Not really the fault of the 8V battery but of the lack of knowledge on the part of the installer of the battery who didn't pay any attention to the charge rate.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have found that some cheap batteries have smaller plates.The hydrometer tube goes in deeper before it touches the plates.I still get over 5 years on the tractor batteries.My truck battery was 8 and a half years old when a frozen cell did it in.My tractor batteries do well with a 5 amp charge rate.No corossion on cables.