TO30 Polarity?

[DuKir]

My TO30 (1954 Ser# 136836) Continental 6 Volt has NEGATIVE Ground. The electrical components are rebuilt but original. According to the 3/10 posting to jayp by Richard L (Thanks, Richard L) referencing: http://fergusontractors.org/fena/tractor-info/wiring-diagrams, the polarity should be POSITIVE Ground.
Question: Are there variations to the TO30's polarity?

 

[Mike Groom]

I've never seen a TO-30 that wasn't positive ground,someone put the battery in backwards,change it to pos. grd. and re-polarize it.I bought a Ford 8N that someone did the same thing to years ago.

 

[Richard L]

All TO 20, TO 30 and the first 21,249 1955 TO35s from the Detroit, Mi. plant were all Pos ground when leaving the plant.

 

[DuKir]

That would explain the (-) ground. I bought it some 30 years ago and didn't change anything; just rebuilt the starter and generator. Thanks.

 

[TractorJohn]

It won't make much difference which way you have it. If you change it polarize the generator. I have all my original 6 volt pos ground tractors 12 volt neg ground now and one that is 6 volt still but switched to neg ground.

 

[phil(va)]

There is a very technical electrical reason why 6 volt systems are better when positive ground, but not much better. I have a neighbor who has one like that, and it runs good, so I tell him to leave it alone. The ground side should go from the coil to the distributor, however, so make sure you check that. (If neg. ground, neg. primary coil wire to dist., etc.)

 

[John(UK)]

The tractor was designed to be Positive to ground and the ignition system was wired accordingly. With the positive ground you should make sure that the HT Coil has the feed from the ignition switch (the power) attached to the Negative terminal, failure to do this will result in a poor spark at the plugs...John(UK)[email protected]