8N 12volt conversion kits

[Dave in De]

If you were going to convert to 12 volt, where would you get it from? is any kit better than any other?
will need to convert or rebuild genny soon. front bearing going bad. looking at costs of eather and pros/cons of eather.
Your thoughts please.

 

[Royse]

I have a good generator guy and I don't usually convert mine, so I don't have a lot of experience on where to get the kit.
I would look for one with a 3 wire alternator though.
They start charging at a lower RPM.
This site sells them.

 

[Dave in De]

Royse,
thanks for info. have a guy here that rebuilds them as well. just kind of wondering witch to do. from past experience I'm beting its going to cost about 75% of what a good kit will.
a friend converted his last year and it starts so much easier not that mine doesn't on 6 volt.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

I can't help you w/ kits either because all 3 of my N's are 6v. The only 12v tractor is the 740 & it came that way.

A 12v kit from this site sells for $134 plus shipping. The last generator I had rebuilt cost me $85.

If you don't have a local rebuild shop, these guys do 'mail order' work; give them a call to get a quote & shipping info.

And, they also do carbs, starters, brakes, water pumps, clutches, etc.

Automotive Manufacturers Incorporated
2400 N Lombardy St
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 321-6861

As to the pros & cons of converting to 12v, this debate comes up here w/ such frequency that you would benefit from doing an archives search on the topic. Generally speaking, you will find a few facts, a lot of opinion, & unfortunately, a little BS. And sometimes you will find factual information that isn’t the least bit relevant to a 12v conversion on a 23 hp, 60 year old tractor. ("the auto industry did it 40 years ago")

Generally speaking, the opinions can be grouped in three broad categories:

1. 12v conversions are the greatest invention since sliced bread.

2. If it's not broke, don't fix it.

3. Spend whatever it takes to keep it 6v.

From my experience, I've only found two reasons to convert an N to 12v: If you need to run 12v equipment (sprayers, pumps, lights, etc) or your N has poor compression (like less than 90 lbs) and you do not want to rebuild it, then a 12v conversion makes sense. If an N is hard to start in cold weather (or any weather) find out why & fix it! These tractors have low compression, low HP engines and will start just fine on 6v. There is nothing inherently 'wrong' w/ a 12v conversion. The problem is that there are about 6 different ways to convert the tractor to 12v, all of them work, and an infinite number of ways to do it wrong. If you have a basic understanding of tractor mechanics, you can buy a quality kit & do it correctly. Or, you can buy an alternator & fabricate brackets if you are skilled at that sort of stuff. Of course, if you have a basic understanding of tractor mechanics, you could just as easily fix the problem that you are trying to cure with the 12v conversion. Most problems we read about w/ 12v conversions are as a result of folks getting in over their heads trying to fabricate a conversion, using inferior kits or using kits w/ directions written in Chinese, or buying tractors w/ "Bubba" conversions and now the new owner is stuck with trying to figure it out. I can tell you that a wage earning mechanic known to many of us on this board summed up every conversion kit he was familiar with by saying that all are bad & some are worse. He makes his own for that very reason.

Now before the 12v advocates give me a spanking, let me add that lots of folks around here have 12v conversions & are perfectly happy w/ them because the conversions were done correctly. 12v is also more forgiving of poor grounds/weak cables, etc than 6v, so keeping everything "clean, bright & tight" in the system is not as critical. 12v gives you twice as much current & a faster spinning starter. And, because 6v headlights are 35w & 12v are 55w, the headlights are brighter.

You will spend $134 for a kit. If you install it correctly you will have an easy starting tractor for a long time. And, the 12 conversion will have just about nothing to do w/ the good performance. What will make the real difference is the new wiring, cables, clean grounds & new battery.

All three of my N's are 6v & they all three start the first time, every time, no matter what the weather. You will find that to be the case with folks who live in a lot of places much colder than VA. Plenty of 6v tractors start just fine in MI, NY, WI.....and have been doing so for years. Because they have the correct size cables, good batteries, & clean, bright & tight grounds & connections. And, the correct gaskets in the distributor.

If you do decide that a 12v conversion is the way to go, plenty of folks on this board have done them and they work well, so you have come to the right place for help!
50 Tips

 

[teddy52food]

Well it sure don't take much to put a new bearing in it. # 203DD Take it apart & get the pulley off then the 3 screws to remove the bearing. Pay attention as to the parts as they come apart & reverse to assemble. I would guess a bearing is 10 to 15 dollars. I have about a dozen in stock. Maybe a set of brushes if the old ones are getting short. Check the bushing on the other end. It is a good idea to replace that too if it has any play in it. Should take less than an hour to do one.

 

[oldtanker]

I have 3 tractors that came from the factory with 6 volt systems. All have been converted. 2 I did myself and the 3rd I just got and it has the one wire conversion.

I have never in my 57 years seen a 6 volt anything that will start easy at -30F. That's one of the reasons I converted the 2. My dad was big time into taking care of his equipment and preached to anyone who was around about keeping connections "clean tight and brite". Yet his 6 volt AC Ca with a fresh overhaul, rebuilt mag and carb had to be plugged in for a few hours when it was real cold and even then sometimes had to be jumped.

Reasons for staying 6 volt....one that comes to mind.....keeping it original. Reasons for converting. Cheaper, east to find batts. Better starting in extreme conditions. No worries about jumping. 6 volt charges are getting harder to find, not impossible but harder. I bought 2 new battery charges this year. A small one with max charge of 20 amps and a large one on wheels that was over 200 bucks with 400 amp boost. NO 6 volt setting. Both are 12 volt only.

I like the 3 wire conversion myself. I found it was cheaper to get the alternator at the local parts store and order the mounting brackets. I was well under 100 dollars I think about 70 per tractor not counting the battery.

Both my Ford 8N and farmall M would start right down to about 0 just fine on 6 volt. After that you had to apply heat.

Rick

 

[Ultradog MN]

Dave,
As said below it's an ongoing debate which way to go.
Here's a list of what I think are good reasons to convert to 12V.

*12V spins your engine faster and will start it better in all conditions, especially if it is very cold or if the engine has marginal compression.
*12V with an alternator is more reliable and uses a solid state voltage regulator instead of an old fashioned system of points, coils and electromagnets to regulate the charging voltage.
Solid state is better, more accurate, more dependable. Everything - your TV, computer, phones, microwave is solid state and better these days.
*12V is more forgiving of dirty contacts on/in the entire wiring harness.
*12v is the industry standard and has been for 50 years.
*12v allows you to run sprayer pumps, flashing lights, winches and a host of other modern accessories on your tractor.
*12V lights are brighter.
*A 12v alternator will easily put out more amps than an old fashioned generator and vr.
*An alternator will charge at an idle. Generator usually will not.
*A 12v system is safer. For example, Most people know how to jump a 12v negative ground car, truck or tractor. Not many people know how to safely jump a 6v positive ground tractor with a 12v battery without it exploding in their faces.
*6v requires bigger, harder to find cables and wires throughout the system.
*12v batteries are to be found just about anywhere, are cheaper than 6v and are usually maintenance free.
*12v lets you use electronic ignition easily.
* And last but not least, is this your only 6V machine?
Think about it;
What kind of battery is in your Harley, your boat, RV, classic car or even your 4 wheeler or snowmobile if you have them? A 12v N is very handy to putter on over to restart your lawn tractor, etc if it's balky.
Why have an odd ball battery that can't jump or be jumped by anything else?

 

[Dave8N in Pa]

I changed my 8N to 12v and it wasn't that hard to do. I got the kit from Y/T and did the job in a day. I'm not a mech. or guru like some of these guys. If I can do it in a day, anybody can. But only if you think it's the right thing to do. Not everyone agrees. It was right for me but it's your tractor so think about it.

 

[NOXJohn]

I have converted my three 8Ns to 12 volts with kits from this site or nnalert. Both sell the one wire conversion kits which are very easy to install. The one wire kits now sold come with a small pulley for the alternator so the alternator starts to charge at a lower RPM, so there is no need to race the engine as once was the case. My oldest conversion is about 5 years old and working great. If I get another tractor I will convert it as well. 6 volt systems worked great for years but parts are getting more difficult to find. One of the reasons I converted mine is because I had to buy three 6 volt regulators before I got one that worked properly. Also with 12 volts you have the flexibility as the others have indicated.

 

[Kevin in MN]

ON my 49 front mount I purchased the pulley and mounting brackets from this site, diode from radio shack and the alt from O'reilly's . Spent about $75 total.

 

[Charles Krammin]

I converted my 2N (front mount) to a 12 volt generator,polarized to + ground, regulator, 12 to 6 volt reducing resistor, ballast resistor, 6 volt coil. Complicated wiring but works beautifully. Had previous problems with alternators, and burnt coils. No big alternator sticking out side near tie rod.
However on Ford 600. went with a "denso" alternator from junk yard, had small v-belt pulley machined, 12 volt coil, switched coil wires. Simple and works good.
Charles Krammin SW MI

 

[Hobo,NC]

TISCO is the ONLY supplier that I have found that comes with the right alt pulley # 98naa5825 for N's with a 5/8" belt...

I normally roll my own kit other than the alt brackets... If a side mount the brackets are not cheap but worth the price they are well made for the tractor...

Not my wire'n

I use the replacement wire'n harness its converted EZ so EZ a boy scout could do it.... Its so EZ I don't know why folks fight it... Nuttin is cheap any more set aside $200/300 are so if you have to buy all the parts...

 

[Dave in De]

thanks for the info guys, I"m leaning toword going to 12v.

Hobo, where do you get your tisco kit from?

 

[Hobo,NC]

(quoted from post at 21:47:06 08/11/12) thanks for the info guys, I"m leaning toword going to 12v.

Hobo, where do you get your tisco kit from?

I buy the parts from TISCO I need and the rest from a auto parts store...