Second thoughts on converting

[redbelly1948]

Okay everyone. Did the conversion, she started up, everything sounded and looked real good. Took her out and 10mins later a puff of smoke came from the left side and she stopped. Tried to restart with no luck. She wants to turn over but no spark. Pushed her back into the garage and now battery dead.

Hoping for some expert advice on what it might be? Going to get new plugs and hope that was the issue.

I don't like smoke!

 

[Bruce (VA)]

" she started up"

A little more info would be helpful.

What model tractor?

Front or side distributor?

Did you 'convert' it to 12v? Or EI? Or both?

If it's a 12v conversion w/ an alternator, what model alternator?
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[redbelly1948]

Bruce, sorry was trying to post to my original thread. She's a 47 8n front mount. 12v conversion. Took her out and was running great until I heard the sqeeling coming from the alternator. Belt got to tight. Readjusted and was all good. Then 10mins or so later a puff of white smoke and she quit. ?

 

[RM-MN]

Belts don't just "get too tight". Once adjusted, the alternator belt won't change for months or years so if yours is too tight, look closely at the alternator. You may have had a bearing seize. That could have cause a short inside the alternator, a puff of smoke as it discharged the battery, and the engine quits. JMHO

 

[Bruce (VA)]

What model alternator?
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[R Geiger]

Did he puff of white smoke come from the alternator or elsewhere?

 

[Tom N MS]

Yea, ought to have been left alone-6 volts is what they suppose to be..any BS you hear
about reasons to change over to 12 volts is exactly that--BS ----------ONLY advantage - if
u need 12v for sprayer or some other 12v equip=whatever that might be--never seen a
justifiable case Yet...........

 

[Big Trees]

Mine was already converted but I think I would have done as Tom suggests if mine wasn't already done.

 

[Eman85]

I guess if mine was original and working I might have left it alone. My 51 has been converted for 30 years that I've had it with no problems but I've got a side mount dist.

 

[R Geiger]

(quoted from post at 00:59:16 01/24/16) Yea, ought to have been left alone-6 volts is what they suppose to be..any BS you hear
about reasons to change over to 12 volts is exactly that--BS ----------ONLY advantage - if
u need 12v for sprayer or some other 12v equip=whatever that might be--never seen a
justifiable case Yet...........

If Henry had alternators back in the thirties, then that is what he would had used.

I got 2 8n machines and I just converted on over to 12 volts. The generator was shot and converting over was cheaper. I had the battery on hand that was not being used. I have had a lot of problems with voltage regulators working in the past. New out of the box and did not work.

So, yes I feel there is a reason or two to convert. If you want an original show machine, keep it 6 and be happy.

 

[HFJ]

i'm with R Geiger. there's also a reason people used to get around by horse - but that reason no longer applies

i've been very happy with my 12v conversion of my 2N. the only issue i had was that the kit came with a belt (wasn't sure about it before, but i checked with the dealer i bought the kit from, and ya, it came with a new belt) that does the job, but barely. it required me to put the alternator pivot bolt in last, as i can only pivot the alternator in till it touches the manifold, and the belt wasn't long enough to go over the pulley yet.

since i'm putting it all back together after an engine rebuild, i'll be ordering a belt that's 3 inches longer. problem solved.

 

[Dell (WA)]

redbely.........uhm? puffa smoke on the LEFT side of yer engine? And now it won't start??? Sparkies ain't gonna fix that. Only thing on the LEFT side of the engine that could issue smoke is the OIL BREATHER CAP. And that implies that you probably burned a HOLE in one of yer PISTONS. This is NOT a 12-volt problem. Ittza TIMING problem. Do I haffta tell you to do a compression check??? Ford spec's: 90psi min; good runnin' N-Engines about 110psi, brand new overhauled engines about 125psi.........HTH, Dell

 

[redbelly1948]

Fond the smoking gun (so to speak). The small red wire that goes from the ignition switch to the original resistor fries every time I turn the key to on. The small one in the left going to the junction.
Any advice?

 

[greywolf224]

Fried wires indicate you have excessive current flowing through that wire possible due to a a short. That resistor may have fried.

 

[redbelly1948]

Do you think the original resistor was the culprit? Or a short somewhere else. Wiring is just not my expertise. Racking my brain here. Ugh.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

" Do you think the original resistor was the culprit? "

No.

I think you wired it wrong.

Once you figure out which model alternator you have, Google "wiring diagram JMOR" and find the one that fits your alternator.
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