Is it time for a gasoline engine tractor?

   / Is it time for a gasoline engine tractor? #52  
A Blue Flame Six may run forever, but ever get behind one and breath the exhaust?...
About as nasty as my 30 year old Kohler KT19 in my Gravely until I replaced it with a Vanguard.
My what an improvement...
We needed emission control; the challenge is when to say enough is enough and focus on other major pollutants.
The folks in California need to chill out and worry about their earthquakes, not our engines.

The highest tech gas engine I own outside of my vehicles is, surprisingly, a one cylinder. Kubota may now be making gas engines but they didn't make many in the past, and none small enough for their own UTV, the RTV 400. Single cylinder EFI Subaru. 16hp. Starts amazingly well. Much more fun to operate than the diesel models due to the CVT trans, which in itself is high tech.

There were really good reasons we switched to diesel from gas. Lower fuel consumption, lower operating costs, and both safer to store and with longer shelf life than gasoline. Any switch back to gasoline has to address these issues. Now a smaller model using LPG makes lots of sense as the engines don't have any carb fouling issues, but where to put those big tanks? Zeroturns offer LPG as an option, and I thought a lot of tractors did too way back when. But wasn't diesel more power dense?

Right now regular E10 gas and diesel are the same price here, $2.29. Propane last delivered to me was about 40% less.
My propane Generac engine in my backup gen runs flawlessly, as did my last propane gen.

I think the ability to stay out in the fields for 8-10 hours without refueling is going to be a big consideration for production farmers.
 
   / Is it time for a gasoline engine tractor? #53  
I've got more than a barn full of old tractors, none on them been in a parade either... BUT, it's my diesel tractors that do the work around here!

When I put the first diesel tractor on this place, my dad didn't want nothing to do with gas tractors from that day on!

SR


What year was it then and what year is it now. I stated in one of these posts that some people are stuck in 1966.
 
   / Is it time for a gasoline engine tractor? #54  
A carburated low compression leaded gasser engine from 1966 is much different engine vs a direct injected , high compression unleaded gasser in 2016.
Just as 1966 diesel is a much different engine than a 2016 Tier IV diesel engine today.

Ahh, ok, avoid the question, no problem.

They still make carbs you know..
 
   / Is it time for a gasoline engine tractor? #55  
He is meaning the rules that applied then don't apply now. If we were to have a gasoline tractor come out it would need to be high compression, direct injection with a cat. A modern copy of an old tractor wouldn't fly because of the emission regulations. It might be a great copy of a great machine but it wouldn't pass regulations.

Lawnmower?
 
   / Is it time for a gasoline engine tractor? #56  
What year was it then and what year is it now. I stated in one of these posts that some people are stuck in 1966.

I'm still not seeing a problem, engine design is not an issue. Di or carb.. It burns gas and the wheels turn.

A gasser could work today.
 
   / Is it time for a gasoline engine tractor? #57  
Ahh, ok, avoid the question, no problem.

They still make carbs you know..

Yeah and carbs can be setup to run in exactly two places in the power band. Sorry but it's EFI for me, more power, less fuel etc. etc. etc. Installing a carb with so much EFI gear out there is downright next to stoopid. Why you may as well get a mule.
 
   / Is it time for a gasoline engine tractor? #58  
1966 - Them's was the day's! Four barrels and 10.5 compression in front of a 747. Change the cam, advance the ignition a touch, put in colder plugs, dual points and let the hair blow in the wind. Still had hair back then!
 
   / Is it time for a gasoline engine tractor? #59  
1966 - Them's was day! Four barrels and 10.5 compression.

I kinda like lower compression and forced induction, mo betta. Can you say mo powa? Still, that said, I had a 66 goat that ran like a scalded dog. Wish I still had it. If I did, I'd be putting some real juice to it. Something north of 500 anyway and that's easy these days.
 
   / Is it time for a gasoline engine tractor? #60  
Yeah and carbs can be setup to run in exactly two places in the power band. Sorry but it's EFI for me, more power, less fuel etc. etc. etc. Installing a carb with so much EFI gear out there is downright next to stoopid. Why you may as well get a mule.

Set the carb for pto rated rpm. Not that difficult... No magic involved.

Plenty of modern gas powered carb'd engines out there.

Beyond that.. Efi is fine too.. My point is, a gas tractor can still be viable, especially in scut and lower cut power ranges..
 

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