[AT] 6 to 12 volt starter conversion

[David Myers]

Dean,
My W4 was converted back in the '80's to 12v but still has the 6v starter on it.  Works fine.  I admit I did lock it once about 10-12 years ago but that was my own stupidity, never so much as a hiccup before or since.  Oh, by the way, this tractor was in daily use at the paper mill until 1995 so at least 10 years of hard use prior to my owning it.  Didn't hurt to convert the starter though, you are right, a little less abusive on things.

Dave Myers
Shop Foreman
(269) 720-2387
 

32673 E. Red Arrow Hwy.
Paw Paw, MI 49079
 
(269) 657-4446
(269) 657-4884 fax
www.LounsburyExcavating.com
 




> On Dec 11, 2016, at 8:19 PM, Dean Vinson <dean at vinsonfarm.net> wrote:
> 
> 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
> 
> 
> <SM_ring_gear_20161112.jpg>
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