Polarity Question

Sooo...to make this right, I plan to reverse the battery leads, and change the wires on the coil so that the negative wire from the coil connects to the distributor. I think the generator is toast, so I will be running off the battery until I get a new one and new voltage regulator, which I know I will have to polorize. The ammeter has been disconnected (as has most of the other wiring), so I will be on an odessy to fix that.

Can someone please double check my wiring plan to make sure I have not overlooked something.

Also...a point on originality. I want to make this tractor as close to original as possible, which may be a challenge given some of the previous owner's butchery. The question is...when restoring a tractor, is it acceptable to use reproduction parts as long as the basic original configuration is maintained or is it best to seek original parts even if evpensive or hard (impossible?) to find. Case in point...manifold that it needs...modern repros are available. Originals are almost if not impossible to find.

Comments/advise??

'Bama - Here's a wiring diagram I did when I rewired my '53 Super H - your '54 should be identical.

Your wiring plan is right on - except the positive terminal on the coil should go to the distributor. Also, before you replace the old 6 volt generator, open it up and check the brushes and commutator. You might get lucky and find installing a fresh set of brushes and shining up the commutator will bring it back to life.

Regarding aftermarket parts, I guess it's up to you. If your a purist, then go with the OEM parts (but keep you checkbook handy!) My tractors on the other hand are "working restorations" - they've have been equipped with foreign-made manifolds, battery boxes, one has an alternator conversion, etc. Naturally I'd like to use OEM parts, but I simply cannot justify the cost.

Good luck with your SH!!

Thanks again for your help...you have saved me untold number of hours already...Bama