[AT] 6 to 12 volt starter conversion

Dean Vinson dean at vinsonfarm.net
Sun Dec 11 17:19:07 PST 2016


Any experiences converting starters to 12 volt, or not, when converting the
rest of the tractor?

Some prior owner had converted my Super M to 12 volts, and it would start
like a champ--spin the engine like crazy and fire right up.  But over the
past couple of years the starter has gradually gotten more and more likely
to clash and grind on the ring gear when I'd go to start the tractor, and
the hard, violent sound of the starter pinion hitting and grinding would
just make me cringe.   When that happened I'd get off and rock the tractor
or turn the fan blade to get the ring gear to move to a different spot, and
then it'd be fine.

A month or so ago it got to the point where I couldn't start it all, no
amount of moving the ring gear would let the starter engage.   Took the
starter off and looked at the ring gear, and it was worn but I guess not all
that terribly (photo attached).   There was a similar worn spot 180 degrees
around.   I cleaned them up a little with a rotary grinding bit but was
wondering whether I'd need to have the whole thing rotated or replaced
(beyond my skill/equipment/time level).

In the meantime I took the starter to a local shop to have the pinion
replaced, and also asked if they could convert it for 12 volt operation to
soften the impact on the ring gear somewhat.   They could and did.   I put
it back on the tractor and I'm wishing I'd had that done earlier--fires
right up again every time, haven't had a single issue with grinding, and it
sounds good.   But I'm still getting used to how slow it turns over...not
really slow at all, just not blazing fast like it used to do.

Dean Vinson
Saint Paris, Ohio


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