Adjusting a 6 volt regulator
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Adjusting a 6 volt regulator
I have just installed an 8 volt battery in my 54 ford f-100 6v positive ground truck. I was told I would have to adjust the 6 volt regulator so it would put out more voltage (~9v) to support charging the 8 volt battery. Anyone know how to do this?
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Southern New Hampshire
Adjusting a 6 volt regulator
It depends upon the regulator. Factory ones were adjustable by bending the adjustment arms on the cut-in and cut-out armatures.
With the attachment terminals facing you the cut-in is the right side and the limit is the left. Current is in the middle.
Aftermarkets vary and Ive even had ones with an adjustment control on the top of the cover.
With the attachment terminals facing you the cut-in is the right side and the limit is the left. Current is in the middle.
Aftermarkets vary and Ive even had ones with an adjustment control on the top of the cover.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Brooklyn
Adjusting a 6 volt regulator
>I have just installed an 8 volt battery in my 54 ford f-100
>6v positive ground truck. I was told I would have to adjust
>the 6 volt regulator so it would put out more voltage (~9v)
>to support charging the 8 volt battery. Anyone know how to
>do this?
Biodoth: Did you select the 8 volt battery because the 6 volt had a tough time getting the engine started? I have a 6 volt positive ground in my 51 F-3 and she always seems to crank slowly when trying to wake up. I really don't want to convert to 12 volt so maybe the 8 volt is the answer? On the other hand, I would think that Ford would have designed the original equipment to handle the load when starting, so I am wondering if my occasional use of the truck is to blame for the cranky wake up call? Some folks say I don't run her long enough, or go far enough, to fully charge the battery. My gauge always shows a charge when running so I know that the generator is working properly, and the battery is new by under 2 years. Any comments, anyone?
F-3 Brien
>6v positive ground truck. I was told I would have to adjust
>the 6 volt regulator so it would put out more voltage (~9v)
>to support charging the 8 volt battery. Anyone know how to
>do this?
Biodoth: Did you select the 8 volt battery because the 6 volt had a tough time getting the engine started? I have a 6 volt positive ground in my 51 F-3 and she always seems to crank slowly when trying to wake up. I really don't want to convert to 12 volt so maybe the 8 volt is the answer? On the other hand, I would think that Ford would have designed the original equipment to handle the load when starting, so I am wondering if my occasional use of the truck is to blame for the cranky wake up call? Some folks say I don't run her long enough, or go far enough, to fully charge the battery. My gauge always shows a charge when running so I know that the generator is working properly, and the battery is new by under 2 years. Any comments, anyone?
F-3 Brien
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Adjusting a 6 volt regulator
You hit the nail on the head. Slow cranking, tough to start when hot etc. I always have to park on a hill so I could pop the clutch but sometimes had to push to start. As far as not using the truck enough, it is not my daily driver but even when I keep it on a charger, I sometimes have starting problems (especially when hot). The 8 volt battery really spins things up and she now starts fine but there are problems with the voltage regulator setting. This is what I'm trying to figure out now.
If you want to keep the truck 6 volt, there is another alternative, you could install a one wire alternator. The advantage of the alternator is it always charges, even at idle, this is something a generator won't do. They are built and sold thrugh "Fifth Avenue Antique Auto Parts" in Kansas. There phone number is 785-632-3450. If the 8v fiasco dosn't work out for me, I may either covert to 12v or go the 6v alternator route.
Good luck,
Tom
If you want to keep the truck 6 volt, there is another alternative, you could install a one wire alternator. The advantage of the alternator is it always charges, even at idle, this is something a generator won't do. They are built and sold thrugh "Fifth Avenue Antique Auto Parts" in Kansas. There phone number is 785-632-3450. If the 8v fiasco dosn't work out for me, I may either covert to 12v or go the 6v alternator route.
Good luck,
Tom
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From: Brooklyn
Adjusting a 6 volt regulator
Tom: So that's the problem with the 6 volt systems. Well the alternator alternative sounds very tempting because you can't get a jump from too many people when you sport a positive ground system. I keep the trickle charger on for a day before I want to run around with her but she also is very slow to crank when hot. It gives one a feeling of unreliability when tooling around. I share your idea of parking on hills, but they are not always there and it is dificult to find someone willing to push a F-3 fast enough to start. I thought about carrying a "spare charged battery" for these instances also. Thanks for the information. No luck yet adapting the 8 volt? F-3 Brien
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Adjusting a 6 volt regulator
I went to my local old ford mechanic on saturday for some consoltation. My old regulator was shot (probably from me messing with it) so we put in a new one ($35 not bad). Now the system is charging at around 7.5 volts, still low for an 8v but better than nothing. I'm going to leave it for now and see what happens. I also found an 8v charger on line from a company called Halon Marketing. They are made by Deltron and should keep the battery at 8.1V by using the unit when the truck is parked. If this dosn't work, it's a 12 v conversion for sure.
Tom
:-X11
Tom
:-X11
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Adjusting a 6 volt regulator
One more thing on the 6v system I forgot to tell you about. Make sure your battery cables are in good condition and are at least #2 gauge (#1 is better) and all connections are clean and good. You might also want to run the positive lead from the battery right to the starter motor bolt instead of the frame.
Tom
Tom
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Adjusting a 6 volt regulator
Hey guys, before you go to the trouble of changing to 12 volt make sure you do the following:
1. the cables: positive to ground, negative to starter, etc. should be #0 or #00.
2. get new cables, old ones could be corroded inside and not conducting enough juice.
3. make sure you have good ground contact, no rust, no paint.
4. test and rebuild if needed both the generator and the starter.
Good luck, Abe
1. the cables: positive to ground, negative to starter, etc. should be #0 or #00.
2. get new cables, old ones could be corroded inside and not conducting enough juice.
3. make sure you have good ground contact, no rust, no paint.
4. test and rebuild if needed both the generator and the starter.
Good luck, Abe
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 126
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From: Northwest
Adjusting a 6 volt regulator
The previous owner of my '49 F1 installed an 8 volt battery and a new 8V regulator. It runs at about 9V when charging. I have never had a problem starting. I'm told the military used to do this to jeeps. I'm undecided on going to 12V or back to 6V, but for now it's okay.
Things to consider:
Finding an 8V jump is impossible. I'm glad to hear someone sells an 8V charger. I'd consider one of those solar trickle chargers, and assume it could be modified for 8V.
I'd also consider one of those dual voltage batteries. It's 12V with a center post at 6V. Generator and starter are 12V and all else can be either 6V or 12V.
Also, all my gages read wrong, so I'm also considering building a 6V regulator for them.
At 6.1V, your bulbs should average 3300 hours, but at 8.1V, this drops to 87 hours! (ref: 49-51 F-series shop manual)
Bottom line, make sure you're not burning your battery's energy in heating the cables. The bigger the better. Measure the voltage at the starter. If it drops when starting (compared to at the battery when starting) then your wires are too small or you have a bad connection.
Good luck 8V brother,
Johann
Things to consider:
Finding an 8V jump is impossible. I'm glad to hear someone sells an 8V charger. I'd consider one of those solar trickle chargers, and assume it could be modified for 8V.
I'd also consider one of those dual voltage batteries. It's 12V with a center post at 6V. Generator and starter are 12V and all else can be either 6V or 12V.
Also, all my gages read wrong, so I'm also considering building a 6V regulator for them.
At 6.1V, your bulbs should average 3300 hours, but at 8.1V, this drops to 87 hours! (ref: 49-51 F-series shop manual)
Bottom line, make sure you're not burning your battery's energy in heating the cables. The bigger the better. Measure the voltage at the starter. If it drops when starting (compared to at the battery when starting) then your wires are too small or you have a bad connection.
Good luck 8V brother,
Johann
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The previous owner of my '49 F1 installed an 8 volt battery and a new 8V regulator. It runs at about 9V when charging. I have never had a problem starting. I'm told the military used to do this to jeeps. I'm undecided on going to 12V or back to 6V, but for now it's okay.
Things to consider:
Finding an 8V jump is impossible. I'm glad to hear someone sells an 8V charger. I'd consider one of those solar trickle chargers, and assume it could be modified for 8V.
I'd also consider one of those dual voltage batteries. It's 12V with a center post at 6V. Generator and starter are 12V and all else can be either 6V or 12V.
Also, all my gages read wrong, so I'm also considering building a 6V regulator for them.
At 6.1V, your bulbs should average 3300 hours, but at 8.1V, this drops to 87 hours! (ref: 49-51 F-series shop manual)
Bottom line, make sure you're not burning your battery's energy in heating the cables. The bigger the better. Measure the voltage at the starter. If it drops when starting (compared to at the battery when starting) then your wires are too small or you have a bad connection.
Good luck 8V brother,
Johann
Things to consider:
Finding an 8V jump is impossible. I'm glad to hear someone sells an 8V charger. I'd consider one of those solar trickle chargers, and assume it could be modified for 8V.
I'd also consider one of those dual voltage batteries. It's 12V with a center post at 6V. Generator and starter are 12V and all else can be either 6V or 12V.
Also, all my gages read wrong, so I'm also considering building a 6V regulator for them.
At 6.1V, your bulbs should average 3300 hours, but at 8.1V, this drops to 87 hours! (ref: 49-51 F-series shop manual)
Bottom line, make sure you're not burning your battery's energy in heating the cables. The bigger the better. Measure the voltage at the starter. If it drops when starting (compared to at the battery when starting) then your wires are too small or you have a bad connection.
Good luck 8V brother,
Johann
I makes sense if you stop and think about it, but you have to do it right!
This is for a 6v positive ground system.
Turn the key on, in neutral obviously.
Put the negative clamp on the OUTPUT of the starter relay. Touch the positive clamp on the positive battery post. The starter will crank.
This puts 12 volts to the starter only, because the starter relay is open.
6 volt starters are fine with 12 volts.
Just don't use the key or push button to start it, because this would put 12 volts through the whole system.
Hope it helps!!!!
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