I was wondering if anyone has tried using an 8 volt battery on their six volt + ground system. I don't know if my battery is bad, going bad or I'm just not used to the 6 volt systems yet. my truck spins over great when it is in the 60's but on days where it only gets to 30 degrees it spins a couple of times and quits. I tested the battery at 6.3 volts in a rested state, I would think that would be the voltage of a good battery correct me if I am wrong. Any info is greatly appreciated.

 

That's about 80% charged. 6 volt systems draw proportionally more current, so the cables and their connections have to be first rate. Still subject to the same problems of a dragging armature in a worn out starter though too.

 

The eight volt battery has been discussed many times. Some folks think it is the greatest thing for these old systems. Others of us think it is a patch to mask some other problem.
Other problems include, poor battery, under size cables, poor connections, and the list goes on.
6.3 volts is not a fully charged battery. Has it been load tested? What does it measure with the engine running at very high idle? How old is the battery in question?
A six volt system works well on these stock vehicles if all is right.

 

A good 6 volt battery should read about 7.4 volts fully charged.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. This place is the best. I will check to see what the high idle test is the next time I get it running. This truck is still new to me and I have not got the cold start procedure narrowed down yet but I am learning.

 

What battery do you have and how old is it? Cold cranking amps is what you're looking for.

Cold Cranking Amps on the Optima Red Top 6 volt is 800 CCA. I bought one, but I've never had to start in cold weather. And I've never had to use a trickle charger on it.

 

Cold weather starting tip: Hold the clutch depressed while attempting to start the engine.

 

I have heard that the Optima Red top high capaci8ty batteries for 6 volt trucks are really awesome. Spins the starter like a 12V. Go do some price searching though (I found the best deal on Amazon.com). Prices are all over the place.

My 6V battery is new, but when I need to change it, that is what I will do.

 

I recently bought a 49 f-68. The truck hadn't been started since last fall. Hooked up my optima battery and poured some gas in the carb and it started within 2 minutes. It was -4 Fahrenheit. I was quite surprised. Those batterys are quite amazing.

 

When my 53' sedan was my daily driver, I always used a dip stick heater in cold weather. the flathead cranked great and started in real cold weather.

 

Ray,
Can you explain that please. So you are saying keep it in gear with the clutch pedal depressed as opposed to putting it in neutral?

 

My dad always had trouble for the first start on a cold morning, once he had the truck started it would start all day no matter how cold it got. I don't drive the truck in the cold too much but I know it doesn't like to start below 40° but again, once I get it started it will start without a problem.

As for an 8 volt battery, my neighbor ran one in his '52, flathead 8, all original. He said it would crank the truck over really good. He had to adjust the regulator to up the charge to 8 volt. He also said he noticed his 6 volt bulbs didn't seem to last as long as when the truck had a 6 volt battery.

Ray, I think what you're getting at is the still might be a little internal tranny drag even in neutral. Pushing the clutch in make the engine spin a little faster. I've noticed that with my F-2.

 

I don't think so...... Each cell of a battery is 2.1 volts and a 6 v battery has 3 cells so a fully charged 6 volt battery is 6.3 volts
A charging system should show around 7.4 volts running at the battery

 

Agreed, and likewise a 12v battery with 6 cells is around 12.6v.

So with an 8v battery, you need a regulator no one makes, your bulbs are not rated for the ~9.6v needed to keep the battery charged (short life), and what do you do for the gauges? What do you do to the ignition system, use a custom ballast resistor? Either go 12v and be done with it, or fix whatever is wrong with the 6v system, IMO. Why re-invent the wheel?

 

Ok guys, I was just outside messing with the truck and it fired right up!!! I was amazed, pulled the choke hit the button and it fired right up 20 degrees outside. I let it run a while, loaded the dog grabbed a couple beers and headed out across my property . Here is where it gets weird. I turned the lights on and went about an 1/8 of a mile and the truck wanted to quite. Turned the lights off and it ran just fine. Figuring I had bigger problems I kept the lights off and navigated back to the house. Thank goodness I brought provisions. now I'm not indorsing drinking and driving but having a couple on your own property isn't too bad. The other thing that is a little off is when I made it back to the house, I shut it off and then turned around and hit the start button and nothing. Nothing at all, the lights are dim, the turn signals don't work, the heater fan turns slow. I don't know were to begin when the sun comes up tomorrow. Any Ideas. I'm afraid I'm looking at a complete rewire! To be on the safe side I disconnected the battery, I don't need a fire in the middle of the night