8 Volt Battery in a 6V system ???

[lepager]

With winter coming up and my 8N not liking to turn over as the temperature drops I'm looking for some help. With the tractor plugged in (block heater), still the tractor turns over slowly in cold weather and sometimes fails to start (it's still 6V system). I had a suggestion to buy an 8V battery and adjust the voltage regulator back to 0 and this would easily fix my problem. Does anyone else know anything about this?

 

[GB in MT.]

[b:1c493caaca]
lepager;
If you have the correct, high cranking amp, 6V battery, and have all your wiring clean and tight, with good clean grounds, You should not have any problems starting your "N"!!!
I don't know how cold an area you are in, but.... here in MT. it gets a lot colder than a lot of places, and my 44 2N starts every time, at 5* to 10* below zero at times. Anything colder than that, you should not be outside anyway.
Try making sure the pto is not engauged, with the clutch in, and a fully charged battery.. Should start every time!!! Don't hold the choke on too long. If ya do, it won't start at all. You flooded it.!!!

Gary [/b:1c493caaca]

 

[Colin King]

Nope. Sure won't. Your 6 volt gennerator produces a max voltage output around 7.3-7.6 volts. That's not enough to charge an 8 volt battery.

The 6 volt system will spin slowly in summer, as you know, and spins even more slowly in winter. But mine starts just fine when well below zero in West Central Minnesota. Hold down the clutch while starting to reduce drag.

Now, on to the important stuff. When was the last time you did an electrical tune-up? How old is your battery? It's been suggested that 3-5 years is about what you can expect from a 6 volt battery. Fix your electrical problems and you will have fixed your starting problems ;-)

Point gap setting to 0.015 and Autolite AL-437 sparkplugs gapped to 0.025.

Post back with questions if you need help.

Colin, MN

 

[lepager]

I don't know if my battery is a high cranking amp battery I just bought a 6V battery at Auto zone, was that a mistake? Here in Indiana it's surely not as cold as MT and we hav'nt had any snow yet but when we do I'd like to be able to plow my driveway. Within the last year I have replaced the Voltage regulator, plugs, wires, and distributor cap.

(quoted from post at 16:27:15 11/24/07) [b:b68d9211b5]
lepager;
If you have the correct, high cranking amp, 6V battery, and have all your wiring clean and tight, with good clean grounds, You should not have any problems starting your "N"!!!
I don't know how cold an area you are in, but.... here in MT. it gets a lot colder than a lot of places, and my 44 2N starts every time, at 5* to 10* below zero at times. Anything colder than that, you should not be outside anyway.
Try making sure the pto is not engauged, with the clutch in, and a fully charged battery.. Should start every time!!! Don't hold the choke on too long. If ya do, it won't start at all. You flooded it.!!!

Gary [/b:b68d9211b5]

 

[lepager]

yes it definately floods out easily

 

[Jack - Illinois]

A 6 volt "N in decent shape should start well down to -10 degress with out any help. An 8 volt battery may get you better starting this year, but next year it will probaly take a 12 volt one. Other suggestions were mentionioned as to disengage the PTO and hold in the clutch while starting. This removes the extra drag of the transmission oil and hydraulic pump. Thinner weight mortor oil will help, but you say you aready are using a block heater. As mentioned - do a complete tune up and shinning up of electrical connections. You must learn how to start a manual choke carburatored engine in varing weather condidtions. There is no rule that will fit all - you have to learn which method works best on your specific tractor or engine. There is no reason a good "N" won't start with the best of the 6 volt machines and better that a lot of undermaintained 12 volters

 

[lepager]

What weight oil are you recomending?

 

[Anonymous-0]

THERES NO SUCH THING AS AL-437!!!!!!!!

THERE'S NO AL, IT'S JUST 437!!!!!!!!

THIS AL-437 NONSENSE IS WHY PARTS STORE KEEP TELLING PEOPLE "WE DON'T HAVE THEM"

 

[old]

AL stands for auto-lite so thats where AL comes from and yes it can cause some problem in the parts store because of it

 

[old]

Sorry but an 8 volt battery at best is a bandaide fix for other problems, like a weak engine, poorly tuned up engine, bad battery cables etc. etc. Its better to switch it to 12 volts or fix your other problems. 8 volt batterys are hard to keep charged, have you ever seen an 8 volt charger in the stores?? So staying with 6 volts or up gradeing to 12 volts is the best way to go. 12 volts will start one if its going to start and also get rid of charging problem you would have with an 8 volt one
Hobby farm

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Every year when the weather gets cold we get 2 or 3 questions about 8v batteries. And, every year, the advice (w/ minor exceptions) is always the same: you are curing a symptom & not a problem. First off, ask who ever told you to ".....adjust the voltage regulator back to 0 " to show you how to do that. Next, as others have pointed out, you have a problem in the starting circuit; find it & fix it. Lots of folks here can help you w/ that. Even if you have an old style v/r that can be tweaked (and you better know what you are doing when you try it) putting 8v's into 6v light bulbs, points & the coil is going to shorten there life considerably. Like many folks on this board, I have three N's, all 6v w/ points & all three start just fine regardless of the outside temps.
50 Tips

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Really? When I go into the NAPA & ask for AL-437's, they can find them just fine. Just because the parts clerk you asked couldn't figure out that AL stands for Autolite doesn't mean all of us have that problem.
50 Tips

 

[souNdguy]

As the others have told you.. it would be money ahead to either fix your 6v system or jump to 12v altogether.

That means.. have your 6v starter rebuilt if it needs it.. make sure it has a good ground,a dn good heavy cables in good condition with clean terminal ends and connectors.. and a good battery, and a good ground connection. No paint or rusty sheetmetal connections.. etc.

Next inspect all connections in the ignition system. Also.. depress the clutch when starting.. that way the starter don't have to spinn the trans in neutral..

Soundguy

 

[Hobo,NC]

You are probably rite about that,,,, I am to tard to go look at a box,,, but will when I git up to git a nutter beer....,,, The fridge izz at the parts room door he he. Its sum'n you git use to thanks fer set'n the record straight. Will have'ta wait supper izz ready,,,, Yum Yum

 

[Sean (TX)]

This subject sure comes up alot!! What the heck do you use a 8 volt battary in anyways?

 

[souNdguy]

I guess if ya had a wartime 2n with a mag.. and then refit it with a 1wire / 3 brush genny and a starter.. then an 8v bat wouldn't bee too bad.. since you could actually dial the genny up enough to charge it.. and not worry about degrading lamps or points.. etc..

past that.. I don't see a practical application for an N.. that wouldn't be better address by a correct working 6v system.. or a jump to 12v.. etc..

soundguy

 

[OKDAD]

Golf carts!