[AT] 6 to 12 volt starter conversion

[John Hall]

Dad and I are not fans of converting 6 volt machines, just purists I 
suppose. That said, the vast majority of old tractors around here have 
been converted over. Most of the time folks are just changing out the 
battery and charging system and letting everything else go. Some go 
ahead and upgrade the lights, and install a key switch. I can't recall 
anyone changing out a starter just because they wanted to switch over to 
12 volt. I guess what I'm saying is throwing 12 volts at a 6 volt 
starter doesn't really hurt anything for occasional use tractors from 
what I have seen.

Was your Bendix shot? Wonder if that is why things are working better 
now. I'd start asking around for someone who will treat that fine 
looking M with the TLC it deserves when it comes time to change the 
gear. I know you can drop the pump and the clutch without splitting, but 
I imagine you would have to split the tractor to pull the flywheel.

John Hall


On 12/11/2016 8:19 PM, Dean Vinson 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
>
>
>
>
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