I just picked up a 1950 f2 flatbed, for an original project truck. The lady I bought it from said it had some starting issues, apparently from the battery not being charged sufficiently. I notice it has an 8 volt battery. Anyone here with any experience with using 8 volt batteries? Will the generator charge it? Can I pull the cover off the voltage regulator and adjust the charging voltage? Maybe someone here has been down this road.

 

Have you put a voltmeter on the system while it's running? What is system voltage when running at 1500 RPM?

IMO get rid of the 8v and either go to 12 or back to 6. You can adjust the voltage regulator to go back to 6, but need a 12v regulator to go to 12 unless you go directly to an alternator.

 

If you keep the 8V the regulator has to be adjusted to charge enough.
I could never get enough voltage and went back to a 6V Tractor Supply Battery that works fine.

 

I drove my 52 F-1 for 7 years with an 8 volt battery in it. Simply bump the voltage regulator up to about 9.3 v output.

Keith

 

Imho, an 8 volt battery was a band aid to help start an engine that was worn out or had other issues. Even though a 6 volt cranks slow, it has been my experience that if everything is right on an engine, it will start and run fine on a 6 volt system. In most cases, it was easier to add an 8 volt battery than to change a worn out starter, or to do a rebuild so the engine had enough compression to start it. Just my opinion. My 8N tractor still has a 6 volt system and starts every time without even choking it.