6 volt battery jump starter

[boblibido]

So...

I have a couple of tractors that are still 6 volt systems and have a bit of an issue starting up. The batteries are under two years old, get charged before starting, but still have a problem turning the tractors over.

Has anyone seen (recently) a jump starter for a 6 volt system? I have been looking at engine starters but they all warn against using the engine start feature in 6 volt systems.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ultradog MN]

My best advice is convert them to 12V.
That said, when was the last time you went through the wiring and cleaned all of the connections?
Remember the mantra: Keep 'em clean bright and tight.
I like to use a 1/2" copper fitting brush. In fact I keep one in the tool box on each of my tractors.
Remove each wire one at a time and clean any corrosion off of both the connector and the wire.
Starter, generator, voltage regulator, keyswitch, lights, etc.
This includes both ends of your hot and ground battery cables and also removing the starter and polishing the area of the block and starter where thet mate to insure a good ground.
They will start on 6V but you gotta do the maintenance on them on occasion.

 

[DJ54]

I'm assuming the two Farmalls in your avitar are what your referring to. I've heard a lot of people over the years refer to the IH starters as being lazy. Before doing too much changing over, what gauge battery cables are on the tractors. If they are 4 gauge, like automotive type, this may be the biggest problem, and they are too light of cable. They should be at least 1/0 gauge cables. You can get them custom made at many NAPA stores, and some of the larger tractor dealerships can make them too. Take your old ones in to match for length, or get a real good measure. If there are some sharp bends, get them a little longer, as the heavier cable may not bend so short a radius.

That appears to be a Farmall A, or Super A in your avitar. That one, I'd imagine would be the least expensive to have cables made for. It won't be cheap, but you'll not believe the difference. If your charging system is working well, and batteries in pretty decent shape, you'll think it is a 12V system cranking it over.

I'd imagine a set of 1/0 gauge cables for the A will probably run you in the neighborhood of $60 - $75. But, it's well worth it..!!

 

[boblibido]

Actually, the 400 in my avatar is one of the rare diesels and came as a 12 volt from the factory. She's my pride and joy.

The other one is a super a that I was going to rewire as soon as it warmed up. The one giving me the most problem is the '47 cub sitting in my yard. She only cranks when she feels like it.

I wanted to find something to make sure I always had the most amperage going through the system when I tried to turn them over. Most systems are 12 volt specific and I really do not want to melt anything.

Oh, and the battery cables will be changed out on all of them at some point this year. It is on my to do list. I just find it so hard to spend hundreds of dollars on what amounts to 2 cables per tractor.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I wonder if you would be able to buy larger cables from a shop that sells supplies for semi trucks. This is years ago but I had an 8 foot battery cable made up for around the $100 mark.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Another thing you can try, if they still make them, is to swap out the 6 volt battery with an 8 volt. We had to do that one an AC WD45 once. It was a lazy starter and putting that extra 2 volts into it make it crank a bit faster and enabled it to start much faster. The 8 volts wont hurt anything in the 6 volt system including the lights.
As I said, I don't know if they make them anymore, but they were common items back in the early 60's.

 

[Gem99ultra]

+1 on the 8 volt batteries. You'll notice the difference for sure. And yes, they are still readily available.

If the Farmall is all still original, I'd hesitate to convert it to a 12v system. That'll kill and 'collector' value. Unfortunately, that is the case with a lot of old Ford 9N/8N, etc. 12v with alternators...

 

[Winmac]

I installed a 8v battery in a 6v application, yes it did start better but the down fall was keeping it properly charged. Even with tweeks to the regulator it never charged the battery properly and it died prematurely.

 

[DJ54]

If you have an O'Reilly's Auto parts store near you, they can get you cable assemblies already made up. Here is a link showing the prices in y area. List: Battery Cables & Accessories - Universal: 2/0: BWD | O'Reilly Auto Parts

And here is one I found after getting the 2/0 set made for my Super C a couple years ago. Not sure what shipping would be, but much less than a parts store. At the time, I needed the cables PDQ, so opted just to have NAPA make mine. 2/0 Black 24" Long 3/8" x Neg. Post Lugs

 

[Ultradog MN]

I don't think it does much good to install an 8V battery if you don't know how to adjust your voltage regulator to make it charge. That's getting to be kind of a lost art.
I do agree on bigger cables though. I usually make up all my own from welding cable.
Buy the solder on ends from Napa and make them fit just right.