Farmall B battery cable question

JonBB · Aug 9, 2015

Wow! $80? I may back down to the 1/0 then. I don't know what size cables are on there now but they look like regular automotive cables. I tried to crank the engine earlier today. It spun over pretty good the first try and almost started. Then it started being slow and randomly turning over. I checked and the cables and starter and switch on the starter were already heating up so I just quit.

JonBB · Aug 9, 2015

Wow! $80? I may back down to the 1/0 then. I don't know what size cables are on there now but they look like regular automotive cables. I tried to crank the engine earlier today. It spun over pretty good the first try and almost started. Then it started being slow and randomly turning over. I checked and the cables and starter and switch on the starter were already heating up so I just quit.

JonBB · Aug 9, 2015

One more new question I have come across. In reading an old thread I found, I appears that the "ground" is always positive on these old B Farmall's and the negative should be hooked up to the starter. I found a manual online with a diagram that confirms this. I never knew in all my years that this was the case. I took the battery out earlier to be tested (it tested good by the way) and didn't notice if it was connected as positive or negative ground when I removed it. I'm sure when I hooked it back up I hooked it up as a negative ground. I'll have to go look in the morning in the daylight to be sure. Any thoughts on this bit of information? Just want to confirm what I discovered.
Thanks for your answers!

DJ54 · Aug 9, 2015

Yes, positive ground.

Here is one of the sites I found online, that make custom cables. Seem to be much less expensive than NAPA. https://tinnedmarinewire.com/wire/i...id=148&zenid=5e14146bff87f244a7708199b6eaa9bf

You'll just have to measure your cables, and maybe a little extra to allow for the bends. You can choose color of cables, and ends. Didn't check to see what shipping would be. There are many others, that may be closer to you, that do the same thing. I just did a search for custom made marine battery cables.

JonBB · Aug 9, 2015

Thanks DJ54!

I double checked this morning and it is hooked up positive ground. In fact I never noticed that the positive was the ground when I put the battery back in the other day after having it tested. The way the battery box is made and the placement of the posts only allowed me to hook it up positive ground. I have never known that in all my time around Farmall tractors. If I did I forgot.

Thanks for the website about the cables. I'll check that out. I looked also this morning and the cables are 4 guage. I for sure have to get those replaced.

Have a great day!!!

DJ54 · Aug 9, 2015

Most all brands that I know of that are 6V were positive ground.

Also, don't know if you noticed, when specing out the cables for what you want, one end different stud sizes,and the other the same, plus a positive end, or a negative end on the cables.