MTFCA Forum

I found a 1917 T that previous owner had started to make into a depot hack.there is a starter but there is no provision for a generator. Can a alternator be added and is there a kit to do it? Also does anyone have plans for sale or do any members have plans I could buy or copy?

These are some I offer.

12 volt alternator, can be used with a water pump as well. Kit $390.00 with shipping.


Or install a 6 volt original generator by removing the gear and installing the supplied pulley.
Kit (no Generator) $290.00 with shipping.

Hope this Helps,

Hank

Here's one in operation!

If you don't want all that plumbing hanging off your engine then just use your magneto to charge your battery. And a lot cheaper to set up as well

Frank has the simple solution. Even simpler is to use a decent battery and charge it each time you get home. Unless you plan on heaps of stop-start driving, a well maintained battery will serve the purpose. And, you can always use the hand crank if the battery does die.

Allan from down under.

This is one of T.T.P.'s kits - simple install - although I replaced the "hokey" belt adjuster !

You really don't need to do the alternator.

I put a starter on my '11. I use a 6V Optima battery. I bought a Battery Tender; the connection is a pig tail about 12" long that hangs below the rear seat (you can barely see it). I can drive my car for days, always use the starter, and I don't have to charge it. Every once in awhile I connect it to top it off, but it's not much of a concern. In the winter I leave the tender connected. This works great, and I don't have to worry about an alternator and whatever problems it may have.

The magneto chargers are great and they're cheap, I just don't have the need for one.

I installed Halogen lights so I needed the output.

Steve Tomaso - Which "T" is that Steve,....the Centerdoor? Some nice "mods" on that "slightly warmed-over" engine besides the alternator,.....HC head for one, and I especially like the timer elevator! Sure makes servicing the timer quicker and easier, huh?

Gary London - I agree with your Optima battery/battery tender charging methods. I do the same thing and it works just great! Can't really say how often I need to put the battery tender on overnight, but darned seldom! Because I can tell when it's "just about time" when the starter begins to crank the engine a bit slower,....and as you say,.....battery tender all winter of course. I do this on a couple other "T's, and a project I've been considering is to try to come up with some quick, easy and safe way to hook up the battery tender with a more convenient "plug-in" arrangement instead of the alligator clips,.....anybody got any ideas in that regard?

Sorry for the "thread drift",.....harold

......oops! Gary,.....I meant to also say that when you think about it, I don't feel like an occasional "top-up" of the Optima battery with the battery tender is even as much trouble as what people have to do with their "all-electric" cars and golf carts and such!

That's the '14 Touring, Harold.

Harold - the "Battery Tender" brand unit comes with both the alligator clips & permanent eye rings to attach to the post bolts - all 5 of mine are permanent !

I doubt that you will have any power requirements necessitating going to an alternator (6 or 12volt). Since you will need a battery, start off with just that. If that doesn't work out for you then you can always add on a generator. As far as batteries go - you should get a Deep Cycle battery like used in golf carts, marine and other portable equipment applications. They're designed to be repeatably charged even when drained, normal car batteries don't handle a recharge after drained well. In choosing one don't select one based on CCA (cold crank) value (Deep cycle is less than Car battery) pointless unless you drive your T below 35°F. The key value is AH. This link gives a very good explanation of battery lingo https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/article ... asics.html read it covers all the bases including proper recharging.
Unfortunately its references are to a 12volt but they should apply to a 6volts as well. You will also need to decide where to put it on the vehicle, so size matters.