6 volt starter
- Thread starter john2189
- Start date
ricky racer
501 Club
Just curious, why you used a 12 volt battery instead of a 6 volt if your starter was 6 vol?
47fivewindow
Member
If you have to buy, a starter 12 volts is available. If you come across a 6 volt starter for free, use a small battery and smaller cables, I have used lawn tractor batterys in a couple Cubs with good service.
Last edited:
MM-TX
Active member
Burned up or worn out brushes, dirty armature from short brushes? Have you opened it up to see the problem? They are pretty repairable. If you need a new one as others have said 6v is easier to get and works fine with 12v. Using 12v is probably not why it is bad.
I'd go with 6 volt because both Cubs are 6 volt house batteries. (Bulbs want isolated from 12volts.)
When I 've replaced starters I went to the shop that does starters . Handed them the old one and awaited a replacement. One time I awaited at home a while in between.
Years prior I took a Deere starter of Dad's I wanted nearer original to the alternator shop back in my hometown that did starters.
Went by the other day and was delighted to see they appeared to be in business still.
When I 've replaced starters I went to the shop that does starters . Handed them the old one and awaited a replacement. One time I awaited at home a while in between.
Years prior I took a Deere starter of Dad's I wanted nearer original to the alternator shop back in my hometown that did starters.
Went by the other day and was delighted to see they appeared to be in business still.
Starts easier, its. What i had
Havnt had a chance to tear into it yet.
I still use 6 volt and have no desire to change. It has started that tractor for 75 years. Others who have gone to 12 volt like that way to go. Been using 6V to charge 12V battery? It will work although rather slow. Do whatever you think you would like but I would use either the 6V or 12V complete system. Vern
Hi,
The 12 volt Delco starter IH used on the Cubs is a slightly bigger diameter than the Delco 6 volt starter. If you try to put a 12 volt Delco starter on a 6 volt engine, it may hit the block, at the lower oil filter housing area.
They have said on here that when IH changed Cubs to 12 volts in 1964, they changed the block so there is more room in that area.
There is also a different lower radiator hose elbow, with a notch made in it, to clear the starter.
Below are pictures from TM Tractor Parts of the Delco 12 volt starter.
http://www.tmtractor.com/tm-tractor/gel/crank12v_001.htm
The 12 volt starter doesn't use a pull rod. They have a large push button switch on the dash, then later they changed to using a key switch with a solenoid.
They changed the battery cables, there are 2 cables, different lengths depending on if the Cub has the push button switch, or the solenoid.
Your 6 volt starter might just need brushes and bushings, like was said above, or the switch on top of the starter might be burned, and the contacts need cleaning, or the switch replaced.
You could see if a 12V starter will fit. The case is larger diameter so won’t fit some blocks. Worth a try since you need to replace the starter anyway.
staninlowerAL
501 Club
According the the parts manual the 12v starter began at tractor SN 224401/ loboy 18701. My available reverence does not show the block change by revision number only that R92 is acceptable for all models and clearly shows the change in the oil filter housing for the 12v starter. The water inlet change is comparable to the same SN range. JMHO Stan
The Parts Catalog gives a lot of information but is sometimes noteworthy for what it doesn't tell you. Some other bits of information are only given indirectly. It clearly gives the 12-volt changeover at serial 224401. It only implies the block change to R8 by giving engine number 245701 for the change of the oil filter stud/bolt. That leaves the question of how serial numbers match up to engine numbers. By parts compatibility, we know the engine had to be changed to go to 12 volts. From serial number lists (not in the Parts Catalog), we know engine 245701 was used in May, but the 12-volt systems started in June. So there were maybe a couple hundred tractors built with the R8 engine block and a 6-volt system. Same thing with the water inlet. It had to be used in time for the 12-volt changed but may have been earlier. It was probably changed at engine 245701 but could have been a bit earlier or later.
staninlowerAL
501 Club
Jim, Thanks for your insight and comments. I suspected that the R8 block coincided with the modification for 12v but didn't have the data to say so. That's good to know for future reference. And thanks for your wealth of knowledge and willing to share it. Regards, Stan
Below are pictures from TM Tractor Parts of the lower water elbow used with the 12 volt system.
The notch is pointed to by the arrows, it is small.
http://www.tmtractor.com/tm-tractor/gen/pipeinlet12v_001.htm
https://farmallcub.club/rudi/farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.cleancomputes.com/Cub/Cub Owner's Manuals/International Cub & Lo-Boy Operator's Manual 7-29-65/Page-26.jpg
Below is a picture of a Cub with the 12 volt starter.
The notch is pointed to by the arrows, it is small.
http://www.tmtractor.com/tm-tractor/gen/pipeinlet12v_001.htm
Below is a page from the 1965 Cub and LoBoy operator's manual, showing the 12 volt system.
https://farmallcub.club/rudi/farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.cleancomputes.com/Cub/Cub Owner's Manuals/International Cub & Lo-Boy Operator's Manual 7-29-65/Page-26.jpg
Below is a picture of a Cub with the 12 volt starter.
Attachments
Last edited: