The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 6 volt to 12 volt

ok 1950 chevy all tore down in driveway im going with 12 volt alternator what should i do about my starter iv heard you can leave the 6 volt for a short time but it wont last is ther a 12 volt that will bolt up and work im replacing the clutch so i could replace ring gear if needed let me know guys im sure im not the first

I did the switch 4 years ago. 6 volt starter will last for years as long as you don't crank on it for extended periods of time. If it won't start in under 30 seconds, something needs fixed.

6 volt starters last longer on 12 volts then
on 6.

thanks iv also heard the windings are heavyer in a 6 volt so i guess all i need is a good 6 volt the two i have seem sluggish wonder why i used heavy cables and grounded right to the housing they turned slow even with 12 volt

Sounds like either a bad battery or a bad connection.

You can charge the battery and take it to the parts store for a free test.

Are all your cable connections to bare, clean metal? The ground should go to the top bolt on the starter housing.

Is the contact swich on the top of the starter okay? It's under the push button, comes off with two screws.

neww cabels new battery ill cheack the switch probly just a bad starter

What would happen if you just put a 12 volt battery in the 6 volt system and didnt do anything else? Would it work?

Kyle,

You would blow the light bulbs out first and the fuel guage would follow and shortly there after coil would go. UNLESS, you put on a voltage reducer on the system. The starter as stated above will handle the 12 volts, with no problem, just keep in mind only for short period of engine cranking. I wouldn't think the voltage regulator would handle the 12 volts either.

Last the generator wouldn't do a good job handling putting 12 volts back into the battery. the battery would probably only be charged to 6.5 volts or so. Don't know for sure, never had a chance to check this theory out. Just an assumption on my part.

I found out that all of the above is true, or at least the previous owner found it out first hand. Every single bulb was out and the fuel gauge was completely destroyed when I first got my 54-3800 truck.

John N.

we had one at work once we kept a 12 volt setting on the floor when it wouldnt go on the 6 wed jump it to start then go back to the 6 old timers used to instal 8 volt batterys in the chevy they would work fine in place of the 6 volt i wonder if you can still get 8 volt batterys it just had one extra cell

8 Volts were very popular. They started out using them in tractors, especially WD 45's (A C) it just spun the starter faster. The last I seen them were at farm stores IE farm centers. Never knew of any problem's they caused to 6 Volt systems.

popcorn The Rruth is Out There (Yep guys started using them in farm trucks especially for cold winter starts)

this truck will be driven daily so 12 volts it is mayby two 6 volt cart batterys

Had the same problem. Broke my heart to convert; really hoped to stay original but remember 6 is 6 and 12 is 12 and the two don't mingle too well. My stovebolt came with a generator and 8v tractor battery (Exide brand) that you can still buy at Tractor Supply. Had gen. rebuilt but truck wouldn't turn over after being run awhile probably because it couldn't fully recharge the 8v battery. A 6v battery wouldn't work either even after putting in a new harness and big 1 ga. cables. Gave up and turned her over to a kid in the neighborhood who's a hotrodder and used to work at GM's design center. He tells me the truck was an electrical "mutt" meaning half the bulbs were 6v & 12v and the coil, starter and maybe even regulator were 12v. The real headache started when turn signals were added and the headlight switch had to be replaced. Shorts all the place! Should have her back this week so I'll let you how it worked out.

Had the same problem. Broke my heart to convert; really hoped to stay original but remember 6 is 6 and 12 is 12 and the two don't mingle too well. My stovebolt came with a generator and 8v tractor battery (Exide brand) that you can still buy at Tractor Supply. Had gen. rebuilt but truck wouldn't turn over after being run awhile probably because it couldn't fully recharge the 8v battery. A 6v battery wouldn't work either even after putting in a new harness and big 1 ga. cables. Gave up and turned her over to a kid in the neighborhood who's a hotrodder and used to work at GM's design center. He tells me the truck was an electrical "mutt" meaning half the bulbs were 6v & 12v and the coil, starter and maybe even regulator were 12v. The real headache started when turn signals were added and the headlight switch had to be replaced. Shorts all the place! Should have her back this week so I'll let you how it worked out.

yes iv had 6volt in the past they were ok if keep in top notch shape but in a pinch they would sometimes fail 12 volt is the way to go if your going to drive it everyday

I gotta chime in here. I drive my 49 every day. There is nothing wrong with a six volt system. My truck has the original wiring harness. I have put liquid electrical tape on some bare spots( this was all on the head light wires) and run a new wire form the ignition switch to the coil. I replaced the hot lead from the battery with a new correct cable. I'm using the original ground straps, just cleaned all the connections. The voltage regulator has been replaced and I took both the gen and the regulator to a local auto electric and paid $5 to have them bench tested. the gen was fine, the reg was shot. It starts every time including after long runs in 98 degree heat followed by a 20 minute heat soak. Check each piece in the system and you WILL find the problem. My .02.
Dave

It has been my experience with 6 volt starters to check the brushes and also the brush springs the springs rust and go bad if one brush has weak contact with armature starter will still turn but will not have full power pull the cover around the brushes and move them with a small screwdriver if you find a weak spring there's your problem

Dave