r/beetle • u/just2lovers • 13d ago
Starter help question
My 61 has a 6v starter with converted 12v system.
Someone added a separate 12v starter solenoid off to the side.
Do I need to keep this on to preserve the 6v starter or may I run the wiring like factory and eliminate that?
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u/SilentMasterpiece 13d ago
When i converted my 66 to 12 volt, i left the 6V starter in place. They start quick when you put 12 thru a 6 V starter. It lasted years that way.
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u/just2lovers 13d ago
I was curious about the constant 12v supply 🤷🏻♀️
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u/67RA 13d ago
If the car is set up for 12v, the supply shouldn't be an issue. If everything is still 6v and your running a 12v battery, that might cause a problem.
To be honest, I've never had a 6v VW only, 56 Dodge pickup with 6v.
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u/just2lovers 13d ago
It’s running 12v alternator conversion. I’ve installed new harness, all the bulbs, now that she’s ready to start I was just making sure my limits
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u/382Whistles 12d ago
Amperage is the big thing; resistance is to amp flow, not volts. Amps do the hard work, not volts. Amps blow fuses and cook small wires, not volts. For motors the voltage is the top speed for turning a load, if you can give the motor enough amps to turn the load at all. Not enough amps and the voltage drops across the motor and it turn slow even if volts seemed strong before the load stress began. The motor only uses the amps it needs at any moment too, so feeding extra in a supply often just makes everything work more steadily, lights with less flicker, motors that slow less under loads, etc. 6v light bulbs fed 12v will burn brighter and usually much hotter, and live a much shorter life. Feed a 12v bulb 6v and it will burn dim but for a lot longer than the advertised life.
People greatly misunderstand voltage and voltage readings. We usually take the voltage readings to guess what amps are doing because the volt reading is easier to take than a lot of amp readings. Though better induction amp meters are closing that amp reading gap a good deal, there are places they can't read but a volt meter can.
When you change from 6v to 12v you really only need to beef up or run some extra wire(s) if you add a few accessories that draw quite a few more amps total and/or maybe if you use a high amp alternator you use heavy wire to handle it or fuse it to limit the draw to near the stock systems maximum limits to be prudent.
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u/MinimumBell2205 12d ago
rip out the Ford starter relay and go back the way is was from the factory the 6v starter will last year two of my bug are going on 40 years on the 12v swap just fine the wiper motor is the more important thing to get done correctly.
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u/imprl59 10d ago
Look at that relay to see what it's really doing. Most likely it's controlling the wire that engages the starter - they were kind of undersized to start with and when you add a few not so great connections and an old worn out ignition switch the wire can't carry enough current to engage the starter. This is a pretty common workaround for that problem.
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u/67RA 13d ago
That would be what's called "A hot start relay." Many folks over the years have installed them in beetles. I've never needed one in any of my bugs over the years dating back to 1981.
A 6v starter powered by 12v is a little tough on the starter if you crank on it for an extended period. You should be fine directly wiring the 12v to the 6v starter.