The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 6 Volt Starter on a 12 Volt electrical system

I converted my electrical to 12 volt 7 months ago. I used a painless wiring kit.

My starter went out a couple weeks ago, I changed it out and then the starter went out again yesterday. I swapped it out yesterday again...

My question is, it's a 6 volt starter, is the issue that I'm using a 12 volt battery? Everywhere I've read says no. What am I missing?

were the replacement starters 'new' or other used ones? ordinarily it isn't a problem providing you don't grind away for extended periods, like if the truck is slow to start

Bill

On the old 2 cylinder John Deeres, I have never had a problem using the old 6v starters after changing the system to 12v.
I think I read somewhere a starter does not know what volt it is.
I have used the tractors many years with this conversion, and never had a problem with the 6v starter.
I have never converted a truck, but I don't see any difference.

They were remaned from napa.

I have 14 years on a 6 volt starter not rebuilt at the time. It has been starting my truck on a 12 volt system for these 14 years.

Your wiring is the culprit, IMHO.

FPMnky,

How long do you have to crank before your engine starts? A few seconds?

as Cosmo mentions, the battery cables may be too light, especially for extended cranking [should start right quick], but I wonder if the remans are cheaping out and using too light internal wiring

Bill

The wiring should have nothing to do with it. I've got the starter all the way down to just the red cable from the battery and the starter mounted to the flywheel, all other wires have been detached, for testing the setup. It should at least kick over when I push the solenoid button, period.

As far as how long to fire up, the previous 2 starters kicked over immediately. The starter issue just started yesterday. So I swapped the 2 week old starter out for another one and the newest one isn't kicking over either.

Red58, I think you nailed it. I'm really doubting the quality of the starter, even though NAPA is a good parts store, it's the only thing that makes sense to me.

12v from the battery to the starter, ground & power cables properly secured. Hit the solenoid button and it should spin. But all I hear is a spark/sizzle and then nothing.

Two weeks ago when I first installed the other starter it fired right up and was working fine until yesterday morning. I added an oil filter assembly and fired up the engine, it fired up fine, then I shut it down to check the oil level, then attempted to start up again, but no dice.

Took the starter off and went and got another one but had the same issue.

I also replaced the battery yesterday evening, not that I needed to but it was old and I actually needed the battery for another car so it just kind of worked out. I also replaced both battery cables.

maybe you can find an old, but good, original starter

Bill

Engine grounded to frame?

I think we are talking about putting 12 v to a 6 v starter with a solenoid. I am not sure this is a good combination. A stomp starter is a different case.

aaah, good thought Fred .... is this the case FPM? if it's a solenoid start, a 6V solenoid very likely wouldn't appreciate 12V, but you should be able to make a 12V solenoid work

Bill

If he has a 6 volt flywheel on the engine, won't he have to change it out to use a 12 volt starter?

Could the 6 volt solenoid be changed to 12 volt or are their sizes different as well?

If he's using a stomp starter then it should last a long time. But if 6 volt solenoid on 12 volts won't last but a few minutes at best.

I have a 6v Flywheel. The old starter was 6v and as far as I can tell it was on the truck for years with no issues.

I'm not familiar with changing the solenoid to 12v. But as far as I've read I shouldn't be having any issues with the 12v setup to the 6v starter.

I'm getting another starter from napa on Wednesday, so I will keep y'all posted.

monkey, you won't have any issues with a 6V stomp starter on 12V, with a key start [from a 6V car] there will be a solenoid that isn't on the foot starter, and it is not likely to take 12V

Bill

I swapped the starter out for a 3rd time and we are good to go. Fired right up. I'm guessing the other starters were faulty