Positive or Negative Ground!?

[Natejohnson17]

I just bought a 1948 Dodge Power Wagon and it is still has a 6 volt system. It had a brand new battery in it. It has the positive post hooked up to the starter. The truck does start. How do I know if the truck is positive or negative ground? What will happen if the battery is hooked up backwards? Any help is greatly appreciated!

[53Crusher]

wiring

All of our trucks started off as 6V POSITIVE ground systems. The wiring system is very simple with a single wire to nearly everything. Parts were grounded to the chassis. If you have a shop manual for your year, there will be a wiring diagram. You might also be able to find one on the forum.

[Matthew Welcher PWA]

Here is an early wiring diagram

Wiring

[Natejohnson17]

Thanks for the replies! The battery was put in backwards. Still started and the lights worked though...

[Clint Dixon]

You may want to polarize the generator if the truck had been incorrectly run negative ground for a time.

The link below explains the process. It is from the Ferguson site but the process is the same for Power-Wagons.

http://fergusontractors.org/nfs/wp-c...-Generator.pdf

Junior

[Clint Dixon]

Here is more on the subject, thanks to Paul Cook.

http://www.texaspowerwagon.com/polarize.htm

Junior

[Clint Dixon]

And more.

http://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cg...oard&th=472093

Junior