MC switching to 12V

General help and support for your Lindeman through 2010 John Deere crawler
Post Reply
Obie
MC crawler
MC crawler
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2020 10:59 am

MC switching to 12V

Post by Obie » Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:13 am

Switching My MC to 12V , should I leave it Positive ground or go negative ground ?

Jim B
350 crawler
350 crawler
Posts: 2080
Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2017 11:36 am
Location: western Maine

Re: MC switching to 12V

Post by Jim B » Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:01 am

If you are changing to a 12 volt generator and regulator you can polarize the generator to positive or negative ground as you choose. If you are converting to an alternator you will likely want to convert to negative ground. Commonly used 12 volt alternators are negative ground. There are few positive ground ones, but not common and they are likely to be expensive if you do find one.

Howsomever
MC crawler
MC crawler
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 5:40 pm
Location: North Plains Oregon

Re: MC switching to 12V

Post by Howsomever » Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:54 am

Hello Everyone,

I have been a member of this group for many years but seldom if ever post anything.
There is a wealth of knowledge and experience lurking. Anyway this is just my $.02.
I have owned and maintained my 1952 MC for well over 15 years. There is no need to switch to 12V unless you could no longer get the equivalent repair parts or 6V batteries. When all is working properly I have never had any problems starting down to 18°. That being said 12V positive ground is more common in the boats. The common Delco SE Alternators of 35 amp had a simple conversion that was done on the internal regulator / electrics that works perfect. Not out to start a war just state the truth. I appreciate simplicity of the original design.

Be Safe,
Wayne
North Plains Oregon

User avatar
Lavoy
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10936
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:32 pm
Location: North Dakota
Contact:

Re: MC switching to 12V

Post by Lavoy » Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:09 am

Remember, 12 volts gets violent on the 6 volt starters. Use a low CCA battery, and poor cables, or nose cone breakage and ring gear damage will occur.
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com

User avatar
Stan Disbrow
350 crawler
350 crawler
Posts: 2894
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 3:13 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Re: MC switching to 12V

Post by Stan Disbrow » Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:40 am

Hi,

I have never liked the idea of 12 volts unless one goes all the way and converts the starter. I had one 430 where someone had gone to 12v with an alternator but left the 6v starter as-is. First time I went to start it, the racket was painful to behold. Violent is a mild word to describe it! Sounded like the starter was about to launch itself into orbit. And, a huge grinding from the poor gears. And, this with a really small car battery and skinny cables.

I put it all back to 6 volts.

Lavoy is into the starter and generator parts business, and he can comment on this: I don't think the starter nosecone is available any longer. So, if it breaks, that'll cost a whole new starter.

Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!

Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (now known as 5045D)

Jim B
350 crawler
350 crawler
Posts: 2080
Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2017 11:36 am
Location: western Maine

Re: MC switching to 12V

Post by Jim B » Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:11 am

No war on my part regarding the positive ground alternators Wayne, just poor wording on my part. In some areas I expect they are more readily available but I should have said they are not common, if you walk into a parts store around here and ask for one. There are some outfits making 6 volt alternators as well now, but I doubt few stores stock them.

Just to clarify, I do not disagree with the risk of damage by converting to 12 volts without having the starter rebuilt to 12 volts.

All in all if the original 6 volt system is properly maintained it works well. My 430 (6 volt) would start below zero, if we were working it daily cutting and yarding wood. Lavoy likely has good quality 6 volt voltage regulators, but many on parts store shelves now are a real gamble on will they work and if they do for how long.

Jim

Obie
MC crawler
MC crawler
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2020 10:59 am

Re: MC switching to 12V

Post by Obie » Mon Mar 16, 2020 1:06 pm

AfTter reading all posts think I will stay 6 volt for now I can get everything to maintain it from Brillman over in Mt. Jackson . Thanks for all the input.

Jim B
350 crawler
350 crawler
Posts: 2080
Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2017 11:36 am
Location: western Maine

Re: MC switching to 12V

Post by Jim B » Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:35 pm

Obie,

I may be out of place with this but I'm going to post it anyway. Lavoy's store provides this site for us to use and he has most any, if not all, the parts you will need to maintain your crawler. I think it is kind of rude to post you are going to purchase your parts elsewhere, after asking for opinions/help here. JMHO.

Jim

User avatar
shinnery
350 crawler
350 crawler
Posts: 774
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 4:55 pm
Location: Hawley, Texas

Re: MC switching to 12V

Post by shinnery » Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:53 pm

I gotta agree with Jim.
Bryce
No trees were hurt in the creation of this message.
But, many electrons were terribly bothered.

440IC/602, 2-440ICD/831 MM UBU-LP, 445N-LP, 445E-LP, BIG MO 400-M, 4 Star-LP M5-D, M5-LP, M602-LP, M670-LP, G900-LP, G900-D, G1000 Vista-LP Case 580CK

Weekendcooker
420 crawler
420 crawler
Posts: 40
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2020 1:04 pm

Re: MC switching to 12V

Post by Weekendcooker » Mon Apr 06, 2020 3:53 pm

Hi all , new member here so I hope I'm posting the correct way . I recently did the 12 volt conversion on my 1956 420 crawler , got it started ran it for a few minutes , shut it off and walked away , looked back only to see smoke rollin outta the coil , boiled the oil out of it. Yes it was a 12 volt coil , my question is , should i have reversed the pos and neg wires on the coil ? Also i did add electronic ignition so no more points , 2nd question is the 2 wires from the distributor , one goes to coil , where does the 2nd wire go ? Thanks in advance and sorry for being *windy on my first post.

User avatar
Lavoy
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10936
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:32 pm
Location: North Dakota
Contact:

Re: MC switching to 12V

Post by Lavoy » Mon Apr 06, 2020 5:18 pm

You have something wired wrong, and I'm still not sure what happened. If the engine will shut off, there is no power to the coil, so should be no way for it to fry. Possibly short in the switch? Wire the electronic ignition according to it's directions, not the way the crawler used to be.
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 54 guests