Would you buy a gas tractor

[atsah]

I would have no issue buying a gas tractor, most every tractor we had growing up where gasser's, they always started and are still running today, as long as the gearing is there, I would buy one. I have a gas JD 2010 that has more loader power than my TC45D had. My International gas 350 will do anything a diesel the same size will do. I went from diesel trucks back to gas and never looked back, the EPA is making modern diesel engines a pain in the neck..

 

[Will_C]

I imagine that there will be some gas offerings due to the cost and complexity of Tier IV. When you add the normal extra cost of a Diesel engine, coupled with the cost for Tier IV, I would imagine that a 30,000 dollar diesel tractor would cost 25,000 or so with a gas engine-something for most of us casual users to consider.
I much prefer diesel, but for a cost savings I'd certainly consider a gas engined tractor.

Will

 

[Oldpath05]

I've been told on pickup trucks a diesel engine will push the base price $5k+ more on same size truck, 5k more on a same size tractor, that's something to think about............

 

[Loadstar]

I would like to see a resurgence in gas tractors. I have gas and diesel and I can see high points and low points to both. If you can't see advantages your being close minded on it. Gas has it's fair share of industrial engines in tough applications. I'm a diesel guy at heart but I respect the gas engines. I have a soft spot for the robust 2.3l industrial engine. Simple computer, sensors, distributor less ignition, simple fuel injectors... They are pretty simple. I am impressed with the longevity before plugs are due. You hear the tired tale "they just don't build them like they use to" your **** right they don't they can go 100k miles before a tune up. I just poured $2500 in my tractor for a rebuilt injector pump and injectors that I pulled and replaced myself. It's a tough engine I love it, but if I could have the same tractor with a 2.3 in it... I would have two exceptional machines in my opinion.

 

[SDT]

I've been a diesel fan all my life, because they offer relative simplicity compared to a gas. No ignition system. Mechanical fuel injection. The ultimate in simplicity....until recently. With the federalization of diesel engines has added a lot of complexity. DEF, Tier 4, etc make a diesel as complex as a gas. I've noticed that delivery fleets (like UPS) and others are switching back to gas in their delivery vehicles. Municipalities in this area are going back to gas in their ambulances and some of their smaller fire apparatus. It may very happen with small tractors, too. We'll just have to wait and see.

Bingo!

You can expect to see gasoline powered SCUT, CUT and utility tractors in the foreseeable future due to federal meddling.

Of course, once gasoline powered tractors become popular, the federales will attack them as well.

Stay tuned.

SDT

 

[JWR]

No.

TBN says my message was too short. Has to be at least 5 characters. OK.

No, no , no. That's 6 characters plus punctuation.

There's a lot of Mickey Mouse BS around this otherwise good forum mechanism. They need some simple additions such as a "like" and "dislike" feature so we can agree (or disagree) without a dissertation, etc. Do we need a filter to preclude under 5 character responses? No, no ,no.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

When I bought my last Grasshopper tractor, I had a choice, Kubota gas or Kubota diesel...

After talking to a couple guys that bought the gas version, I KNEW for sure I didn't want the gas engine just on what THEY quoted me on gas consumption alone! My dealer confirmed it!

Then there's the fact, of how BAD todays gas is, when you try to store it!

Sure glad I bought another diesel version, it starts easy, winter or summer, purrs nice, has good torque and is REALLY GOOD for fuel consumption!

SR

 

[Soundguy]

I would. I didn't mind my old gas IH one bit. Always started in the coldest winter weather.

I would... The 2 tractors I use weekly are gas!

I remember about? 20-25 ys ago, cub cadet had a large SCUT or small CUT that was a gas engine job...

 

[LouNY]

Ah, gas versus diesel;
brings back memories of the late 50's 60's.
In my opinion the main reason that most tractors went diesel was the fuel economy, back when a WD Chalmers was a big tractor (compared to a ? VAC Case), there was allways a concern on operating cost a great many of the old tractors were designed to start on gas then switch to kerosene just for economy. Then the gassers took over for a while with a few early diesels, at that time they were hard starting smoke belching pain in the rears at times. Then farms started needing ? more horsepower, about 60-70horsepower the diesel fuel economy was so much grater then a gas engine, run an IH 806 on gas for a days hard tillage work then the same 806 with a diesel, you where converted. It would be interesting to see how a fuel injected gas 40 HP tractor would do when worked next to a 40 HP diesel. I had to put a new condenser in an 656 just last week, points had been changed, carb tinkered with hard starting no rpms, old gas took more tinkering with then diesel. New gas with computerized ignition and fuel injection compared with a common rail electronic diesel would be interesting and both would be nice when working right and when not working neither would be worth a ****. Personally I still perfer mechanical diesel injection tractors.

 

[JWR]

LouNY: I would bet that most if not all the tractor manufacturers have made a gas fueled prototype directly comparable to one of their existing models and and are running tests right this minute.

I think diesel keeps the market for large trucks, farm tractors, larger generators and most industrial applications. It is fuel economy but also durability, self-lubrication qualities, simplicity, the absence of ethanol, less refinement needed, and higher energy content per unit volume.

 

[atsah]

When I bought my last Grasshopper tractor, I had a choice, Kubota gas or Kubota diesel...

After talking to a couple guys that bought the gas version, I KNEW for sure I didn't want the gas engine just on what THEY quoted me on gas consumption alone! My dealer confirmed it!

Then there's the fact, of how BAD todays gas is, when you try to store it!

Sure glad I bought another diesel version, it starts easy, winter or summer, purrs nice, has good torque and is REALLY GOOD for fuel consumption!

SR

Some of us have access to non ethanol gas so the poor gas problem isn't a problem for me. I have a fuel station two miles from me that sells 91 octane non ethanol fuel from Canada for 50 cents more per gallon than regular 87 ethanol fuel, it's in ALL of my gas engines.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

NO, have 4 Kubota tractors for a reason, got the G2160 Diesel Lawnmower for a reason, did not want to deal with all the gas and ethanol problems. The G2160 just sips gas when mowing. Mow the whole lawn on less then one gallon of diesel and the cute little 18hp D782 has more power and runs a huge 60inch deck (how many lawn tractors can run a 60inch deck?) with no stalling and sputtering that my 18hp Briggs L head twins did.

David

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Some of us have access to non ethanol gas so the poor gas problem isn't a problem for me. I have a fuel station two miles from me that sells 91 octane non ethanol fuel from Canada for 50 cents more per gallon than regular 87 ethanol fuel, it's in ALL of my gas engines.

I can buy No E gas too, bought 20 gallons today... BUT, it's a lot more than diesel and STILL won't store as easily.

Then there's the FACT, that a gallon of diesel will go a lot further too...

SR

 

[Soundguy]

Ah, gas versus diesel;
brings back memories of the late 50's 60's.
In my opinion the main reason that most tractors went diesel was the fuel economy, back when a WD Chalmers was a big tractor (compared to a ? VAC Case), there was allways a concern on operating cost a great many of the old tractors were designed to start on gas then switch to kerosene just for economy. Then the gassers took over for a while with a few early diesels, at that time they were hard starting smoke belching pain in the rears at times. Then farms started needing ? more horsepower, about 60-70horsepower the diesel fuel economy was so much grater then a gas engine, run an IH 806 on gas for a days hard tillage work then the same 806 with a diesel, you where converted. It would be interesting to see how a fuel injected gas 40 HP tractor would do when worked next to a 40 HP diesel. I had to put a new condenser in an 656 just last week, points had been changed, carb tinkered with hard starting no rpms, old gas took more tinkering with then diesel. New gas with computerized ignition and fuel injection compared with a common rail electronic diesel would be interesting and both would be nice when working right and when not working neither would be worth a ****. Personally I still perfer mechanical diesel injection tractors.

I agree.. On tractors, you start seeing an economy difference around 50-60 hp, with the larger ones going diesel.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

50 or 60hp? When I brought a 30hp diesel tractor on this place, it burned LESS fuel than any gas tractor we had or ever have had from 35hp on down!

When it comes to mowing lawn, my 21hp diesel mower, easily burned waaaay LESS fuel than any gas mower we have ever had here! And that's from 12hp tp 20hp gas motors.

SR

 

[Tractorable]

I would buy a modern gas tractor. Seeing how smooth, quiet, and reliable modern gas engines are I would definitely consider it.

If I was buying a new truck I would definitely choose a gasser over the current diesels.

The diesel in the new Super Duty's is an $8000 option. It's an extremely complex twin turbo motor with all the emissions and turbo plumbing. Fuel mileage isn't much better than gas either. Yea, it makes almost twice the torque, but the gasser will still tow just as much, albeit a little slower.

The modern gassers are simpler, cheaper to buy, easier to maintain, cheaper to fix, and will go hundreds of thousands of miles.

Also, after the warranty expires I can't imagine how much it'd cost to pay a diesel mechanic to fix the new diesels.

Ok Diesel fans, start flaming....

 

[MoArk Willy]

Whatever money you save by buying a gas tractor over a diesel will easily disappear 3 times over the life of the machine in fuel cost only.
I have a little Cub Cadet, 23 hp gas tractor that uses about 3 gallons to mow my 4 acres.
With my B2320 Kubota (diesel) I get about 4 mows per gallon. I've had it a year and can use it all day without using a gallon of diesel.
Just remember the speed you have to run a gas engine at to obtain it's power.

 

[MossRoad]

No.

TBN says my message was too short. Has to be at least 5 characters. OK.

No, no , no. That's 6 characters plus punctuation.

There's a lot of Mickey Mouse BS around this otherwise good forum mechanism. They need some simple additions such as a "like" and "dislike" feature so we can agree (or disagree) without a dissertation, etc. Do we need a filter to preclude under 5 character responses? No, no ,no.

NO

 

[MossRoad]

NO

Hahaha that worked!

 

[MossRoad]

I would... The 2 tractors I use weekly are gas!

I remember about? 20-25 ys ago, cub cadet had a large SCUT or small CUT that was a gas engine job...

I think they had gas options in 2001 still.