[Farmall] Converting to 12 v system on Cub

[Greg Hass]

I changed my 49 Cub to 12 volts several years ago. The immediate reason was 
a dead battery, also I had the cut-out regulator which I was not happy 
with. I hand cranked it for several months before converting it; mag 
ignition. I used a delco one wire alternator and I think the same belt and 
generator pulley. As mentioned by someone else , you must make a new 
mounting bracket and it must be just so in order for the alternator to fit 
under the hood ( trial and error).  I saw one at a show that stuck up too 
high and the owner put the hood on and beat it with a hammer  around the 
alternator and left a big ugly bulge of the alternator in the hood. 
Personally, I thought someone should have kicked his a_ _  ; but thats just 
my opinion. Other reasons for changing to 12 volts were, cheaper batteries 
and headlights, ability to jump start other equipment, and the ability to 
run other twelve volt equipment such as small sprayers etc.   Also,  mine 
is a working tractor so I am not too concerned with keeping it 100% 
original,  although I try not to change it too much.
And finally, I hate to admit this, but after I had bought the 12 volt stuff 
and was starting to remove the 6 volt stuff I found the ground loose where 
it fastened to the tractor ( yes, Farmer I know what you always say, but I 
was so sure I knew what I was doing that I didn't  take your advice). Just 
to satisify myself, I tightened the ground, pulled the starter, and to my 
surprise, it fired right up, nothing wrong but the ground. However, because 
I had the new parts and had made the decision to convert I went ahead and 
did it. I am happy I did it because of the above reasons, but it turned out 
it would not have been a must do type of thing.
Greg Hass