The Ford Barn

johndee138 · 09-08-2015, 04:50 PM

Just swapped my 6v to 12v. I am glad I did. I know some of you fellas
poo poo this alteration, but my lights work great and the electric cooling fan eliminates standing in traffic overheating problems. However the starter hits pretty hard and I'm concerned about reliability. I don't want to get stuck off somewhere with the wife and have to punt cause the starter took a dump. Should I switch to a purpose built 12v starter or risk breaking something with the 6 on 12v stock assembly, or is it OK and just quit worrying about it?
Oh, by the way, it cranks up in a jiffy, no long drawn out turnover at all.
Thanks all,
JM

Bassman/NZ · 09-08-2015, 04:56 PM

It will likely break the bendix spring somewhere down the track, but I know guys who have done this for years. I bought a 12v starter with the new springless type throwout. Had it for about three years now. Works well, but still hits pretty hard.

4t8v8 · 09-08-2015, 05:42 PM

Biggest problem I had was the starter hitting so hard it pulled the starter ring off the flywheel. Did the Allen set screw thing and solved the problem. Never did break a Bendix spring. Did what Bassman did and built a resister for the starter. Real smooth now.

koates · 09-08-2015, 05:49 PM

Hi there, better carry a couple of spare starter drive springs or a complete starter drive in your spares box. Another little trick was to fit a much smaller starter motor cable so as to introduce some voltage drop to the starter while cranking and therefore slowing the starter cranking speed down a little. Now that's a bit rough but sometimes does the trick. The correct fix is a new 12 volt starter motor. Regards, Kevin.

Capt Kirk · 09-08-2015, 06:55 PM

I'm sure there are people on here that have experience with this...I don't. I left mine 6v pos ground. I always had a...lets call it...laxidasical crank with a script battery. I got tired of that and changed to a 6v Optima battery. I didn't change anything else at that time and I swear I could drive to the store on the starter alone! As for your case, logically you'd assume that putting twice the voltage to a motor (that wasn't designed for it) is going to fail. Might fail tomorrow might fail next week or you might have one that will last...who knows. I personally want a little more comfort with dependability because "Murphy" is always around and there's no reason to give Murphy an advantage here. Get yourself a 12 volt starter and make things "right"... feel comfortable in knowing that if something fails it's not because of you pushing the limits.

johndee138 · 09-08-2015, 06:59 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

What about the hi-torque mini race starters Ive seen on E-pay? Not concerned about authenticity or show points, reliability is my main goal.

paul2748 · 09-08-2015, 07:33 PM

I have one on my 312 and it works very well. Been on about ten years

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndee138

What about the hi-torque mini race starters Ive seen on E-pay? Not concerned about authenticity or show points, reliability is my main goal.

Vic Piano · 09-08-2015, 07:40 PM

I would recommend that you convert the OEM starter motor to 12 volts. Your 6 volt starter motor could work fine for years on 12 volts or it could go out tomorrow. That's a crap shoot. Even in cars and trucks I have with the stock 6 volt system, I keep an extra Bendix Spring in the glove box, just because you never know...

Lawson Cox · 09-08-2015, 07:49 PM

Easy fix. Just be sure you park on an incline where you can roll it off if you have to. LOL

Kahuna · 09-08-2015, 08:46 PM

My 39 Coupe has been converted to 12 volts for almost 25 years. Stock 6 volt starter still works fine. Never broken a spring.
My 32 has a 12 volt Mini Starter. It works fine also.

Drbrown · 09-08-2015, 08:51 PM

My '47 with 12v system on its 6v starter has been fine for several decades. However, the engine normally starts right up, even in cold weather, so there's no extended stress on the starter.

Pete · 09-08-2015, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndee138

What about the hi-torque mini race starters Ive seen on E-pay? Not concerned about authenticity or show points, reliability is my main goal.

I have been using them for years. Reliable and cheap.

Ronnie · 09-08-2015, 10:29 PM

Real easy and priced rite.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55549

R

flatheadmurre · 09-09-2015, 03:31 AM

The 12v fields cost about $50 new and comes with the 2 brushes ready to install.

48 coupe · 09-09-2015, 02:05 PM

I went to the speedway starter years ago. no trouble now. I broke several 6 volt ones. I think I had a early starter on a late light flywheel. There is differance on the set back of the starter.

flatjack9 · 09-09-2015, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 48 coupe

I went to the speedway starter years ago. no trouble now. I broke several 6 volt ones. I think I had a early starter on a late light flywheel. There is differance on the set back of the starter.

There is no difference in the starters. The difference is in the flywheel.

Ronnie · 09-09-2015, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 48 coupe

I went to the speedway starter years ago. no trouble now. I broke several 6 volt ones. I think I had a early starter on a late light flywheel. There is differance on the set back of the starter.

What eng 8ba or 59a?

R

34PKUP · 09-10-2015, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatjack9

There is no difference in the starters. The difference is in the flywheel.

And there is no difference between a manual shift starter and Ford-O-matic starter?

chap52 · 09-10-2015, 07:15 AM

Been running a 6vt starter on my 12vt system for nine years. Only one Bendix break about 7 years ago.

48 coupe · 09-10-2015, 07:34 AM

59 ab starter speedway gear reduction.

09-08-2015, 04:50 PM	#1
johndee138 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 505	6v starter on 12v Just swapped my 6v to 12v. I am glad I did. I know some of you fellas poo poo this alteration, but my lights work great and the electric cooling fan eliminates standing in traffic overheating problems. However the starter hits pretty hard and I'm concerned about reliability. I don't want to get stuck off somewhere with the wife and have to punt cause the starter took a dump. Should I switch to a purpose built 12v starter or risk breaking something with the 6 on 12v stock assembly, or is it OK and just quit worrying about it? Oh, by the way, it cranks up in a jiffy, no long drawn out turnover at all. Thanks all, JM

09-08-2015, 04:56 PM	#2
Bassman/NZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napier, New Zealand Posts: 2,001	Re: 6v starter on 12v It will likely break the bendix spring somewhere down the track, but I know guys who have done this for years. I bought a 12v starter with the new springless type throwout. Had it for about three years now. Works well, but still hits pretty hard.

09-08-2015, 05:42 PM	#3
4t8v8 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 524	Re: 6v starter on 12v Biggest problem I had was the starter hitting so hard it pulled the starter ring off the flywheel. Did the Allen set screw thing and solved the problem. Never did break a Bendix spring. Did what Bassman did and built a resister for the starter. Real smooth now.

09-08-2015, 05:49 PM	#4
koates Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne Australia. Posts: 2,082	Re: 6v starter on 12v Hi there, better carry a couple of spare starter drive springs or a complete starter drive in your spares box. Another little trick was to fit a much smaller starter motor cable so as to introduce some voltage drop to the starter while cranking and therefore slowing the starter cranking speed down a little. Now that's a bit rough but sometimes does the trick. The correct fix is a new 12 volt starter motor. Regards, Kevin.

09-08-2015, 06:55 PM	#5
Capt Kirk Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Clarkston MI Posts: 830	Re: 6v starter on 12v I'm sure there are people on here that have experience with this...I don't. I left mine 6v pos ground. I always had a...lets call it...laxidasical crank with a script battery. I got tired of that and changed to a 6v Optima battery. I didn't change anything else at that time and I swear I could drive to the store on the starter alone! As for your case, logically you'd assume that putting twice the voltage to a motor (that wasn't designed for it) is going to fail. Might fail tomorrow might fail next week or you might have one that will last...who knows. I personally want a little more comfort with dependability because "Murphy" is always around and there's no reason to give Murphy an advantage here. Get yourself a 12 volt starter and make things "right"... feel comfortable in knowing that if something fails it's not because of you pushing the limits. __________________ 35 Ford Cabriolet 56 Chevy Pickup 63 VW Bug Empty wallet

09-08-2015, 06:59 PM	#6
johndee138 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 505	Re: 6v starter on 12v Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) What about the hi-torque mini race starters Ive seen on E-pay? Not concerned about authenticity or show points, reliability is my main goal.

09-08-2015, 07:40 PM	#8
Vic Piano Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 7,611	Re: 6v starter on 12v I would recommend that you convert the OEM starter motor to 12 volts. Your 6 volt starter motor could work fine for years on 12 volts or it could go out tomorrow. That's a crap shoot. Even in cars and trucks I have with the stock 6 volt system, I keep an extra Bendix Spring in the glove box, just because you never know... __________________ Imagination is more important than knowledge.

09-08-2015, 07:49 PM	#9
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: 6v starter on 12v Easy fix. Just be sure you park on an incline where you can roll it off if you have to. LOL __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

09-08-2015, 08:46 PM	#10
Kahuna Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,617	Re: 6v starter on 12v My 39 Coupe has been converted to 12 volts for almost 25 years. Stock 6 volt starter still works fine. Never broken a spring. My 32 has a 12 volt Mini Starter. It works fine also.

09-08-2015, 08:51 PM	#11
Drbrown Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Glens Falls NY Posts: 1,267	Re: 6v starter on 12v My '47 with 12v system on its 6v starter has been fine for several decades. However, the engine normally starts right up, even in cold weather, so there's no extended stress on the starter.

09-08-2015, 10:29 PM	#13
Ronnie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canada Where it snows Posts: 2,058	Re: 6v starter on 12v Real easy and priced rite. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55549 R

09-09-2015, 03:31 AM	#14
flatheadmurre Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,045	Re: 6v starter on 12v The 12v fields cost about $50 new and comes with the 2 brushes ready to install.

09-09-2015, 02:05 PM	#15
48 coupe Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Shell Knob Missouri Posts: 151	Re: 6v starter on 12v I went to the speedway starter years ago. no trouble now. I broke several 6 volt ones. I think I had a early starter on a late light flywheel. There is differance on the set back of the starter.

09-10-2015, 07:15 AM	#19
chap52 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Marana Arizona Posts: 1,777	Re: 6v starter on 12v Been running a 6vt starter on my 12vt system for nine years. Only one Bendix break about 7 years ago.