who rewires 6 volt starters to 12 volts ?

[Kdancy]

Being as I need to keep the 6 volt starter bendix because of the ring gear matching up, I would like to find some one that can rewind my 6 volt starter to 12 volt. Anyone know some one that can do it?

[StudeRich]

Why not just use a '56-'64 12V Standard or Automatic 6 or 8 Cyl. to match whatever you have Starter, and switch the Bendix to 6V to match your flywheel?

Replacing the field windings AND the Armature is replacing the Starter, so it is not practical to do so.

I just changed the flywheel Starter and the works, all motors, bulbs and electrical components to 12 volt, not that hard to do.

Some people leave the Starter alone and just enlarge the Battery box, install a group 24, 12 Volt Battery and 12V Gen. and Reg., or a real CASO would just install a Honda 12V Batt. and call it good! That would require some bulbs and a volt-A-Drop for the Temp. and Fuel gauges though.

StudeRich

[stehlik]

Save your money and use the 6 volt starter. I converted my 55 20 years ago and I'm still using the 6 volt starter. I drive my car a lot and it is still going. Bob

55pres- Cascade Chapter Oregon

http://users.mcsi.net/cascadestudebaker

[Kdancy]

This 55 has the DG automatic trans so I don't know if the converter and ring gear is the same for later BW units, I would guess not. Maybe it is this particular stater as it "bams" when the key is turned to start.
The later 12 volt starter shaft is smaller then the earlier 6 volt shaft so the 6v bendix which has a half moon keyed shaft,will not drop into the smaller 12 volt shaft.

[Kdancy]

After reading through pages of stuff about the 6 volt vs 12 volt source issue, it seems like I need to use a smaller gage solenoid to starter wire to give some resistance and thus slightly reduce the voltage to the starter to soften things up a little. Right now I have 1-0 welding cable wire running down to the starter. I will check the resistance on that vs some smaller gage wire and see what I come up with.
???
Here are some of the comments I found-

quote:Careful on that Farmall starter! We have an H that someone converted to 12v. Busted 2 end plates on that starter with 12v. I wanted to convert it back to 6v. It is technically my wife's tractor and she let someone talk her into just having the starter modified. Not sure what they did. Put a shunt in or something? Anyway, it works fine now, but my point is that 12v on that 6v Farmall starter was too much for it.....Twice!

The torque increase causes problems with bent starter shafts, damaged Bendix drives/springs and damaged teeth on the flywheel ring gear.
By slightly reducing the 12 volt voltage to the starter you can take some of the edge off this significant torque increase.
I do not recommend using 12 volts on a Model T starter (I see the damage this causes everyday in my shop) that has not been modified, but if you must, simply use 12 volt battery cables from the battery to the starting motor via the foot switch. This has the aforementioned effect of slightly reducing the voltage to the motor.
Ron the Coilman
Erich
When you operate an original Model T starter on 12 volts there is a 60% increase in torque.
After breaking the counterweight off twice I installed about 20 feet of # 8 wire between the solenoid and starter. Now it starts just like 6 volts. No more bendix problems. John

Erich, The 20 feet of # 8 wire acts as resistance and reduces the voltage to approx. 6 volts.

[Mike Van Veghten]

As has been mentioned...just run it as is.

While I haven't done this myself, I do know a couple people that have with zero problems, over long periods of time.
I even know one guy that HAD his starter rewound to 6 volts to be used on a 12 volt system. He did this to spin the engine easier when using excessively high compression. This was back in the day of 100 octain gas..!

You shouldn't have any problems.
And for what it's worth, also leave your 1-0 gage battery wire in use. You DON"T want this getting hot.

Mike

[Turbopackman]

Most 6V items will last longer on 12V because the 6V systems use twice the amperage than a 12V system uses and therefore is built better. The only 6V items I've ever worried about was bulbs and gauges, and o/d solenoids. Everything else is usually built well enough to handle 12V, but I do recommend changing out the starter solenoid, and as long as you're not cranking the starter for minutes at a time and letting it overheat, it will be fine. I converted my '48 Packard to 12V, because I'm putting a/c in it, and can't be happier. 12V isn't as picky about grounds as 6V is, either. 6V gets really agitated if it doesn't have good to perfect grounds. 12V, to an extent, but not so much.

Eric Boyle
Packard Engineering, LTD.
Wichita, Ks.

<---Posts may contain anywhere from 30-100% sarcasm--->

[Kdancy]

While I have actually run a 6 volt starter on 12 volt system before, I've never had one that just "Bammed" into the ring gear like this one. I don't just set there and turn the starter for minutes at a time, it never got hot. Being as this is some one else's car, I've decided to have this company to re-work the starter for 12 volt as they have done a lot of them that way --http://alternatorstarterexchange.com/
I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

[curt]

I have known antique car buffs who converted from 6 volts to 12 volts. They have used the 6 volts starter with everything else 12 volts. Car started and ran fine , many, many years. I would not hesitate to use a 6 volt starter , with a 12 volt charging/battery set up.

[Turbopackman]

quote:Originally posted by Kdancy

While I have actually run a 6 volt starter on 12 volt system before, I've never had one that just "Bammed" into the ring gear like this one. I don't just set there and turn the starter for minutes at a time, it never got hot. Being as this is some one else's car, I've decided to have this company to re-work the starter for 12 volt as they have done a lot of them that way --http://alternatorstarterexchange.com/
I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

Before you do that, did you put a 12v solenoid on it first?

Eric Boyle
Packard Engineering, LTD.
Wichita, Ks.

<---Posts may contain anywhere from 30-100% sarcasm--->

[Kdancy]

Yes, it has a new 12volt solenoid installed.

[Turbopackman]

And it still bangs the flywheel? that's odd. It makes me wonder if the the bendix is longer, as I've had 3 6V cars converted to 12V, used the 6V starter, and never had a banging going on.

Eric Boyle
Packard Engineering, LTD.
Wichita, Ks.

<---Posts may contain anywhere from 30-100% sarcasm--->

[Kdancy]

results of 6V starter on 12V system

[bezhawk]

Just put a 12 volt starter in it.
If you look at the bendix, there is a snap ring holding the sheet metal "bell" and gear on the end. Remove that and install the old gear on the new 12 volt starter.

To make up the shaft diameter difference just measure the shaft, and the inside bore of the gear, and go to your local bearing house and get a bronze bushing to make up the difference. Of course that will only work with the Delco starters. Prestolites used a different bendix

[Charlie D]

curt,

Long time no hear from!! Did you sell your '55?

Charlie D.