Volvo N12

I have recently bought a Volvo N12 (1979) from Tassie. Everything I have read about the N12 shows it runs a 24v System. Not so .. with the one I have. !2v Alternator, starter, lights, horn etc. Is this normal ? Also, any ideas where I would find something containing the wiring diagram of the truck ? Finally, The front cross member is broken and needs to be replaced. Does anyone know where I would find this crossmember...also supports the front engine mount.

Hi David,
Good to hear you have a Volvo, they are a pretty damn solid old truck. (despite what Swishy would have you believe!)
My old N10 did a ripper job, and it was comfortable as well- a bonus for a truck of that era!
From my memory, they are 24volt start and 12 volt run- stupid idea I reckon, but pretty common, especially for older european trucks. If you look around the battery area, you should see the series - parallel switch mounted around there somewhere. Usually called the jesus box, for obvious reasons....
I've always found Volwreck in Melbourne pretty helpful, talk to John, they should have everything you need, and it shouldn't be expensive for an old banger. Thier number is 03 93577081.
Good luck, and post a pic of your old girl please!
Cheers
Richard

She must have done some pretty hard yakka off road to crack a frame member. The N series had a much tougher chassis compared to the G's and F's. The Euorpean built Volvo's had full 24 v and only the Aussie built ones had the 24/12 (copying Kenworth?) Ditto on Volwreck. You don't say where you are but should be a matter of finding a wreck to strip with spanners. While your'e down there check to see than none of the bolts for the spring hangers have come loose and flogged the holes out.

Checkout the heritage volvo pages on www.hunteroldtrucks.com

Thanks guys for the reply. I am at Phillip Island, so Volwreck is not so far...I guess. The truck spent it's life in Tassie, and I believe carted wood chips prior to ending up on a farm. It had not been used for several years, but started first time and I drove it back from the docks to Phillip Island. Like all old trucks, it will need some work, especially the paint and electrical. I have been watching too much of "trick my truck", but this N12 was bought to put into action carting honeybees around the state. Stay Tuned !!!!

I can't figure out how to post an image. Maybe next time. Grrrr

Good luck, David, she sounds like a good, honest bit of gear.

Have a go at this link for posting photos - www.hcvc.com.au/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1170808619

Basically, you need to upload the photos to a hosting site like Photobucket. Once they're loaded there you can copy the address provided for each photo (look for the one starting with [img] and ending with [/img ]) and paste it into a message on here. The wonders of computers do the rest.

Hi was that the Volvo for sale on the North coast around devonport

David,
good luck Volvoing, I will get BlacksmithPete to contact you, he has an N10, he corected all his electrical issues with a fire, apparently a common occurrence as they get older, water leaks from winscreen into the big fuse panel, and sparks up instead of shorting out. During his rebuild he got rid of as much 12 volt as he could, but the radio and something else are still 12 volt and keeps sucking his batteries flat....

stand by.

/me

Sucking his batteries flat - sounds like he has the 12v converter wired directly to the the battery and not via ignition switch. It will pull some current even when the radio etc is off. Best practice anyway is to have an isolator switch on the battery box and use it when away from the truck.

New a bloke years ago whose Father and Brother both had N series Volvos that he would simply rewire from scratch.
Needless to say he did simplify the whole thing considerably