Why convert from 6v to 12v?

L

livemusic

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I have a guy who is a good shade tree mechanic who will help me get the 1956 Cub I bought started (after sitting idle for years by the previous elderly owner). Some mention converting the 6v system to 12v. Why bother? As far as what it will take to get it going... assuming the tractor will run and all is working, I could buy a 6v battery for, say, $100 and I'm good to go. Converting to 12v will require other parts plus his labor. Is there any real need to do it?

EDIT: Also, anyone know the exact parts I would need if I were to do it?
 
In a word, no.
If all your electrical components check out ok, just keep it 6v. (Note: it was originally 6v, POSITIVE ground).
If some of the 6v components need replacement, however, sometimes it is cheaper to do the conversion rather than keep the 6v.
Sometimes people convert to 12v because they think 6v is too weak, when in actuality, they have a different problem, like need a tune up or fix timing or rebuild a starter... there are plenty of people perfectly happy sticking with 6v.

If it has been sitting a while, make sure to prime the oil pump before attempting to start!
 
Tim has pretty well nailed the answer.

I converted to 12 volt because the 6 volt standard cub was the only tractor and vehicle on the place that was still 6 volt. And a lot of current electrical components on the market are not of very good quality.

You can probably do the conversion for around $100 plus the 12 volt battery.

Use the search function, top right of this page. There are a number of how to convert to 12 volt and listing needed parts.
 
Basically a 12v battery, a true single wire 12v alternator and change the light bulbs and coil to a 12v internal resistor type. Search this topic, there's quite a few posts on this topic. Also look in the HOW TO subform for some ideas.
 
BSR":18do7dhk said:
There's an old saying, If it's not broke don't fix it.
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But with respect to those old generator & regulator/cutout systems, they're usually broke and need fixing.

You're going to be out $50 or so for a good regulator, and a generator will cost you $100+. A battery is another $60 if you shop around (my local farm store sells them at that price).

A rebuilt Delco 10SI alternator can be had for as little as $28, and a $40 lawn mower battery is more than adequate for a Cub on 12V. The alternator will have an electronic regulator that won't care if its left sitting for months at a time, and will prove itself as a much more reliable setup.
 
Maybe l'm just lucky to be the 3rd owner of my Cub, my father was #2, and it's been in the family for 60 yrs. The only electrical problems l've ever had was replacing failed coils, and normal tune up parts. It even has the original wire harness.
At one point in my "young and ignorant" stage l mistakenly put the battery in with neg ground (l'm not a mechanic). Even after discovering my mistake, l fixed it and it still ran, charged, and started better than ever.
Personally l see no need to change to 12v. As long as all of the other electrical componants work, leave it as is. Even in sub zero temps the 6v system is more than enough to start a well tune engine.
 
I do like my 6 volt systems. I do think there are some very good reasons to switch to 12V - ease of starting is NOT one of them.

For success with 6 v you need correctly sized cables from the battery to the starter, and good solid ground and clean wire connections. I prefer the solid state voltage regulator from Clover as I have not found a standard VR that lasts very long. I also run a ground wire from the VR to another ground point as not to rely on the ground only through bolted connections. I also use LED lights as the generator bearly breaks even if the lights are on

What I consider good reasons to convert:

Like Euguene wrote the rest of the fleet is 12v -ease of maintenance across the fleet.

You have some modern electrical needs such as a sprayer or safety lighting for over the road use
( I have a sprayer and I sometimes just run it off of a battery while towing it with a 6 volt.)

The generator failed - a one wire alternator, a coil and light bulbs will be cheaper than a professional generator rebuild. The generators in my experience are very reliable but they do fail.

I do get testy when someone wrights " I have a hard time stating my Cub and an switching to 12 volts to make it easier."
Winter, summer, long stretches between starts, my 6v cubs start just fine. On flat ground, I can start my 6 volts in 2nd gear to make a point that 6 volts are the not the issue with hard starting Cubs.
 
I should add that I have 3 pieces of 12 volt equipment. I have a herbicide sprayer, spreader for sowing seed, spreading lime, fertilizer, and a water pump for watering a garden. All of which have alligator clips making it easy to hook to a tractor's 12 volt battery.
 
Number one reason to switch to 12v is cold weather starts. (Our cub has always been easy to start in good weather but a bear with 6v when it got cold) Since you will never have cold weather...your only other reason is like others stated...if something breaks...

Dad converted our 63 in the seventies and it was the right thing to do...starts in the winter...batteries last longer ....aux lighting is easier, plugs last longer.
 
Cause for the price of a 6v battery you can put a 12v alternator and battery. If still on a mag then that don't need touched. If coil then all you need is a resistor or 12v coil. That's why.
 
jsfarmall":3vtwnjz5 said:
Cause for the price of a 6v battery you can put a 12v alternator and battery. If still on a mag then that don't need touched. If coil then all you need is a resistor or 12v coil. That's why.
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I have read this before and I did not recall it being a big difference when I bought a 6 and 12 at the same time last fall. Now this is not an exhaustive study but I just went to the NAPA website and found a group 1 and agroup 26R battery with somewhat close CCA & warranty

Automotive Commercial 30 month 6 Volts Group 1 640 CCA for $95

and this

Battery - NAPA 40 Month - Universal 12 Volts Group 26R 450 CCA Top Post $76

Similar warranty and similar CCA $20 difference. Do not think you can get an alternator, bracket, light and coil for $20
 
These tractors run perfect on 6 volt. They always look a little bastardized with 12 volt. Just my opinion. Mine starts, I have started it just fine in 0 degree weather. What you don't have is extra power. Your tractor needs to be right, the ignition on, choke and throttle set, in very low temperatures.
 
Frozenstate":11uh7fn8 said:
These tractors run perfect on 6 volt. They always look a little bastardized with 12 volt. Just my opinion. Mine starts, I have started it just fine in 0 degree weather. What you don't have is extra power. Your tractor needs to be right, the ignition on, choke and throttle set, in very low tempefloydratures.
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X2 on that 'set right'. I remember getting only one or two trys when we were on 6v. I also remember dad buying a new battery every other year.

Everything is now 12 volt..on the place...and the cub batteries can do double duty in the cars and trucks....

If you dont want to look bastardized...a 12v generator looks just like a 6v on the outside....they are just a little pricey...
 
I also think 6 volt is the way to go. I’ve had my barn stored ‘54 cub start in -10*F with little issue. Started on the 5-7 rotation of the engine. I do keep a battery maintainer on it once it gets below freezing.
 
IF you decide to convert to 12V this little alternator fits perfect under the hood and only has one wire and that's it. Works great! $52.14 with free shipping, price subject to change from time to time.
https://www.dbelectrical.com/products/c ... 12180.html

Our Cub has been converted to 12V for simpleness just to keep it like everything else we have. Our Cub has a magneto on it and you can hand crank it with little effort. I never have been a fan of 6V anything but that's just me, to each their own. That's what makes the world the way it is, if we were all the same what fun would that be?
 
Up here in the great white north, the middle of winter makes the ground white and fluffy and it gets dark before I get home from work. If you are pushing snow in the dark, it is a nice luxury (and safety feature) to have the lights on and to have them bright. It doesn't take a lot of RPM's to push snow with the wonderful torque available in the C60.
Unfortunately, lower RPM's means discharging batteries with the lights on the bright setting. Most keep a battery tender on their cubs between snow pushes to recharge the 6V battery. Alternators supply more amperage than the generator and can keep up with the lights.
I haven't had to push start, crank, or jump start my 12v 184 (yet).
 
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