• From: Bethel Park PA
  • Registered: 2004-06-27
  • Posts: 686

Topic: 6 volt starter in 12 volt system

I found the following exchange on another forum (not VW).  Any comments / thoughts?

POST:

My starter recently went out and I took it in to get rebuilt today. In my discussion with the shop owner he asked what happened to the drive gear. I told him it flew south and was on the road somewhere as I never found it. He stated that running a 6 volt starter in a 12 volt application was not a good idea as the drive pinion has to engage the flywheel at twice its intended speed, and this was the reason it broke.

I know others are running the same, as I've read in past posts, and most say just don't over crank. This was the first I heard someone comment on the engagement speed. He is going to put 12 volt field coils in now to slow it down.

RESPONSE:

Your repair man is telling you correctly. As long as you have a good functioning drive, it isn't usually a problem if handled correctly, but there are exceptions to all rules. This little draw back is a good reason not to run a 6 volt starter in a 12 volt system. From his point of view, it would also be impossible for him to warranty his rebuild if it were a 6 volt going into a 12 volt system. We don't do it here for that reason. Telling some people not to crank on it too long just doesn't sink in & whatever might go wrong is of course the rebuilders fault because you said it would work. I would say your repair tech is doing you a favor while looking out for himself as well. If I installed a 6 volt component in a 12 volt system, it would be at the customers request with an up front understanding that NO WARRANTY would apply.

David H
'66 VW Beetle w/sunroof
http://tinyurl.com/qhw59
"Where am I going ... and why am I in this handbasket?"
  • From: Colorado Springs, CO
  • Registered: 2004-03-27
  • Posts: 3,622

Re: 6 volt starter in 12 volt system

David: Interesting....I've run a 6 volt starter on 12 volts for around 12+ years and ran it on 6 volts for probably 6+ years before that (same starter).  I do keep the '65 Bug in relatively good tune (points, plugs, clean and properly adjusted carb, etc. ) so that I usually get the car to fire with about 2 seconds worth of starter. The extra spin speed is definitely a plus in below freezing temps. Ideally I should just convert the whole system to a 12 volt alternator system....but for now, I'll keep spinning.

Would you mind sharing what kind of 6 volt car the referenced post is talking about?

Clancy

  • From: Bethel Park PA
  • Registered: 2004-06-27
  • Posts: 686

Re: 6 volt starter in 12 volt system

Clancy,

It was a site dealing with WW II military vehicles.  The vehicle in question was a Jeep.

David H
'66 VW Beetle w/sunroof
http://tinyurl.com/qhw59
"Where am I going ... and why am I in this handbasket?"

4 Reply by Seans

  • Seans
  • Guest

Re: 6 volt starter in 12 volt system

LMAO . Jeep as in military , and American ? Go figure . I Suggest a 426 chrysler , cross ramm manifold 2 carter afb,s we can sett the motor back 14 inches hook it too warn over drive . Drop 4 core ford radiator in her , and go hill climbin . << Jeep me and my Dad built when I was like 16 year,s old . Sean

  • From: Austin, TX USA
  • Registered: 2004-03-30
  • Posts: 240

Re: 6 volt starter in 12 volt system

David,
I'll second what Clancy said. I've been running a 6V starter on my '61 Bug for 19 years now, and I've only had to do one replacement, and that was to replace the original starter. Don't overcrank, keep your vehicle in good tune, and you should get years out of a 6V starter.
            Cheers,
            -david

6 Reply by CW

  • CW
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2005-06-20
  • Posts: 120

Re: 6 volt starter in 12 volt system

Quote: ''LMAO . Jeep as in military , and American ?''

As long as we've strayed onto the topic, perhaps I might be forgiven for repeating here a story that was making the rounds some sixty-odd years ago, in hopes of keeping it alive:

An English-speaking Free French sentry was, for some reason, manning a checkpoint deep in the American-held sector of the Ardennes when the Battle of the Bulge broke out.

Most older readers will recall that this is the battle in which Gen. Otto Skorzeny's ''grieftruppen,'' wearing US uniforms, infiltrated American lines and caused much havoc. Five or six of Skorzeny's men approached our French hero on foot, with their American weapons shouldered . They identified themselves as lost Amercian dogfaces, looking for their unit, in perfect American English. The Son of Arcadia, though, never hesistated, and instead of letting them advance unchecked, leveled his BAR and took them all prisoner.

As a result, the Area Commander figured out something big was up and passed one of the first warnings along to SHEAF, which of course promptly ignored it for several critical hours. But it made him look like a genius once Headquarters DID figure out what was going on, and so earned him a commendation. Feeling generous, he in turn recommended to a Free French laison officer that the sentry who captured the Germans be awarded a Pour le Merit.

At the medal ceremony, the sentry was asked how he had known the captured men weren't Americans in spite of their uniforms, equipment, and perfect American slang. He is said to have replied, ''Les Americains sont jamais en pied, sont toujours dans les Jeeps!''

  • Registered: 2005-08-16
  • Posts: 70

Re: 6 volt starter in 12 volt system

''Les Americains sont jamais en pied, sont toujours dans les Jeeps!''

C'mon. I read that whole story and then you did that at the end. Spill the translation please.

  • Registered: 2005-09-25
  • Posts: 34

Re: 6 volt starter in 12 volt system

'' The Americans are never on foot, (they) are always in the Jeeps! ''

That is what the french>english translation tool in Opera says, with a little clean up from me.

9 Reply by Sean,s

  • Sean,s
  • Guest

Re: 6 volt starter in 12 volt system

I Actually Have a Hot Rodder Uncle , Who will Go outside and gett in his car too drive across the Street , too my house . Then Get In his car drive back across the Street Too His House . Well known Fact in our Family , If He has Too walk He,s Pssd LMAO As Too Jeep,s I love Um . Dad Still has a Jeep . I Still remember Reading The Jeep <, Book About A Jeep . And As A kidd I Played Ratt Patrol In a Jeep In the Devil,s Play Ground . As A Young New driver I Pulled wheelies In A Hot Rodd Jeep . I Burned A Jeep Up , as a kidd << Electrical Short . Im A Jeep Dude LMAO Sean