TO-30 Electrical questions

OldTractorNoob · Sep 19, 2021

Just picked up someone else's project, a 1953 TO-30 that's torn apart and just waiting to be put back together.

I'm told it was 12v. It does have an alternator. There's no battery. There's a key switch that may be original and I think the original starter switch tied to the gearshift is there.

Is there an easy way to tell if I need a 6v or 12v battery?

Is there somewhere I can find a good wiring diagram to reconnect everything?

I did get the service manual, but haven't made it quite the whole way through yet.

Jim.ME · Sep 19, 2021

(quoted from post at 18:37:09 09/19/21) Just picked up someone else's project, a 1953 TO-30 that's torn apart and just waiting to be put back together.

I'm told it was 12v. It does have an alternator. There's no battery. There's a key switch that may be original and I think the original starter switch tied to the gearshift is there.

Is there an easy way to tell if I need a 6v or 12v battery?

Is there somewhere I can find a good wiring diagram to reconnect everything?

I did get the service manual, but haven't made it quite the whole way through yet.

If it has an alternator it is not likely it is anything other than 12 volt negative ground.

You can find Ferguson wiring diagrams at http://fergusontractors.org/nfs/ . You may need to use the original diagram and add the alternator into it, as the alternator is a conversion.

jvin248 · Sep 20, 2021

.

Find the stock wiring diagram for your model and a diagram for the 12v conversions. You will need to piece it together. Most of the 12v conversion kits only change a few parts.
Alternative is find a wiring diagram for a MF35 that is 12v and follow along with that, checking parts you have to know if they were swapped from 6v to 12v.

Test the switches as they get corroded and stop functioning (I've had new switches not work out of the package too, so test).

Test the neutral safety switch and wiring -- those often get disabled by owners. Make sure it's working as it's an important safety feature. A new safety switch is pretty inexpensive if you need one.

I have a TO-35 that the prior owner did wiring mods to install alternative switches that had to be sorted out -- so you may have a few layers in your re-wiring project.

Tom H. · Sep 20, 2021

Heres a link to a company that makes almost near restoration harnesses and will make yours up as you need to include the alternator. Ive been using
them for many years and a very happy with their product.

Tom
Untitled URL Link

CKain(MI) · Sep 25, 2021

I agree 100%. With alternator, it's 12v, neg ground.

TO-30 Electrical questions

OldTractorNoob

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Jim.ME

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jvin248

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Tom H.

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CKain(MI)

Well-known Member

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