[AT] 8-volt batteries in 6-volt tractors

[George Willer]

Mike,

Here's my opinion, and it's only an opinion based on experience.  Converting
to an 8 volt battery is merely an attempt to avoid putting the system in
good condition.  I've done a fair amount of mechanical music instrument
restorations over the years, and a mentor I respect gave me this advice..."
Taking a shortcut to make something work for a while is like being kind to
your dog by cutting his tail off a little at a time".  I put the 8 volt
batteries in that category.  Converting to either 8 or 12 volts don't really
address the underlying problem that will have to be addressed sooner or
later.

George Willer  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com [mailto:at-
> bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Mike Sloane
> Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 9:41 AM
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> Subject: Re: [AT] 8-volt batteries in 6-volt tractors
> 
>  From what I understand, your Ford's 6 volt generator & cutout will
> charge the 8 volt battery up to about 6.75 volts, so you really will
> gain nothing. On a tractor with a "normal" three terminal voltage
> regulator, I understand that it is possible to adjust it to put out 8.9
> volts (which is what you need to charge an 8 volt battery properly). If
> you do that, your lights will last maybe an hour or so and then burn
> out. And I know of no 8 volt replacement tractor lamps. Your coil will
> also run hot at the higher voltage.
> 
> But, as many folks have said before, if the tractor won't start on the 6
> volts it was designed for, then your problem isn't the battery; it is
> something else - ignition, wiring, rings, valves, etc. Higher battery
> voltage may help for a while, but you haven't fixed the problem. On the
> other hand, if your battery/generator is shot, you need brighter lights
> for night work, you need to start in bitter cold, or some other issue,
> then you might as well just "bite the bullet" and do a proper complete
> 12 volt conversion.
> 
> Mike
> 
> D. Day wrote:
> > TSC has quit stocking 6-volt batteries and replaced them with 8-volt.
> The
> > sticker on the 8-volt battery states that the 'extra 2 volts helps
> antique
> > vehicles start easier.'
> >
> > Several years ago, a friend suggested that I buy an 8-volt for a Ford 2N
> > that I was working on. Once I installed it, I found that the charging
> system
> > on the 2N wasn't keeping up with the task and I was unsure exactly how
> to
> > charge an 8-volt battery with my 6-volt/12-volt charger.
> >
> > I called Exide, the company that made the 8-volt battery, and finally
> spoke
> > with an engineer. He suggested strongly that 8-volt batteries should
> never
> > be used in any application that was not designed to maintain an 8-volt
> > battery.  He said that typically the on-board 6-volt charging systems
> are
> > not adequate and except for a few industrial machines, no one makes an
> > 8-volt charger.  According to him, charging an 8-volt battery with a 6-
> volt
> > charger doesn't work and charging it with a 12-volt charger is
> dangerous.
> >
> > Anyone have experience with 8-volt batteries?
> >
> > Dick Day
> >
> 
> --
> 
> 
> Mike Sloane
> Allamuchy NJ
> mikesloane at verizon.net
> Website: <www.geocities.com/mikesloane>
> Images: <www.fotki.com/mikesloane>
> 
> You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image
> when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.
> -Anne Lamott, writer (1954- )
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> Remembering Our Friend Cecil Monson 11-4-2005
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at