Oil & Fuel Diesel in gas tank to make tractor pull harder.

[mjonesnh]

Farmall designed their tractors back in the 40's to be dual burn. I think it was due to the was and available of gas and kerosene. You started it up on gas, got it hot, and then switched it over to gas. My grandfather's H was designed that way. He ordered it in the 40's. Our newer M model had a higher compression engine and used only gas. I always thought that was a very unique solution to a war time problem IH was trying to address.

My dad told me he and my grandfather had a WWII era H that had maybe a 1 gallon tank for gasoline and a larger tank for kerosene. Would start tractor on gas and and then switch over to kerosene using a petcock plumbed into both tanks. He was told this was done to conserve gasoline for the war effort. Tractor was traded off in early 50's before I was born. Sure wish he and my grandpa would have kept it

 

[MHarryE]

We still have a few of the dual fuel tractors on our farm although none are now running. We have TD-6 and TD-9 international, the track type versions. Pull a lever that opens the valve to the gasoline combustion chamber. TD-6 is crank start. Start on gasoline which barely produced enough power to move the TD-6. Once warmed up move the lever to switch to diesel - closing off the valve to the supplementary gasoline combustion chamber which also increased the compression ratio high enough for compression ignition. Inefficient, complex, and prone to cracked heads but definitely better pulling power as a diesel.

The other one is a 1932 Case CC. It ran on both gasoline and kerosene. At the start of a day open a drain cock to drain remaining kerosene from the carburetor. Then turn other valves to set it to gasoline and crank to start. Once running it was operated until 190 to 200 degrees engine temp, then switch valves to run on kerosene. This tractor was put in a lean-to before I started driving tractor but I understand no significant power difference gasoline and kerosene; however, kerosene was less expensive.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

We still have a few of the dual fuel tractors on our farm although none are now running. We have TD-6 and TD-9 international, the track type versions. Pull a lever that opens the valve to the gasoline combustion chamber. TD-6 is crank start. Start on gasoline which barely produced enough power to move the TD-6. Once warmed up move the lever to switch to diesel - closing off the valve to the supplementary gasoline combustion chamber which also increased the compression ratio high enough for compression ignition. Inefficient, complex, and prone to cracked heads but definitely better pulling power as a diesel.

The other one is a 1932 Case CC. It ran on both gasoline and kerosene. At the start of a day open a drain cock to drain remaining kerosene from the carburetor. Then turn other valves to set it to gasoline and crank to start. Once running it was operated until 190 to 200 degrees engine temp, then switch valves to run on kerosene. This tractor was put in a lean-to before I started driving tractor but I understand no significant power difference gasoline and kerosene; however, kerosene was less expensive.

I am glad I started this thread, good info about those old tractors

 

[bcp]

Short article on fuels.

TractorData.com - Tractor fuels

Bruce

 

[Ken]

A third valve opens lowering the compression ratio so that the engine can start and run on gas. I don't understand how the combustion chamber fills with gas/air mix etc. because I haven't taken the time to study it.

This engine was used in Dozers and Generators during the Korean war and after maybe still using. But the problem was who ever was designated to take care would fail to keep clean fuel by keeping water out of the filters, and when stopping fail to switch to gas and then a dead engine and they would call the repair crew to come and fix.
Upon arrival one to 3 hours later would be met by the company officer usually a green fresh from the states. and didn't know a engine from fuel barrel.
The cold dead battery and never switched from diesel when shut off would not start . So shut off all fuels and jumper the battery
crank until satisfied the diesel is cleared out of system manually switch to gas by lever turn on the gas fuel and crank again sometimes it would start usually not carburetor adjustment all screwed up by knob twisters. so to solve the problems would take a 1/2 cup of gas and as engine was spinning pour into the air intake engine came to life with flame 10 feet above the generator if seen at night. immediate switch to diesel and hope it would run .usually did.
I learned to cuss the blasted engine every time called to fix. 60 years later still have not changed.

ken

 

[Rustyiron]

I don't know much about them, but looking at older military trucks, many of them had "multi fuel" engines in them. These were IIRC around 5 ton trucks and am guessing WW II and Korea era. And then the Germans used "wood gas", yes the gas that is emitted from burning wood!

 

[Ken]

I don't know much about them, but looking at older military trucks, many of them had "multi fuel" engines in them. These were IIRC around 5 ton trucks and am guessing WW II and Korea era. And then the Germans used "wood gas", yes the gas that is emitted from burning wood!

Rustyiron the coals from charcoal made by wood when ignited and smoldering gave off a gas.
also chicken litter. (How much chicken litter does it take to make a liter of fuel).
Answer is what ever it took.
ken

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I don't know much about them, but looking at older military trucks, many of them had "multi fuel" engines in them. These were IIRC around 5 ton trucks and am guessing WW II and Korea era. And then the Germans used "wood gas", yes the gas that is emitted from burning wood!

Learn something new everyday