Gas or Diesel tractors?

[CompactTractorFan]

I'm not sure whether this modern variant of the AC G by Tuff-bilt would pass muster as a "real" tractor -- Tuff-bilt Tractor System - Affordable and Innovative -- but the original G was quite a little workhorse. My Dad had one and used it to plant field corn and garden vegetables, pull a grain drill, cultivate, tow a sickle mower, etc. around the farm. I think the original G had about 10 HP.

Steve

They are interesting...Never seen them before...

 

[john_bud]

With the way modern gas is these days, I wouldn't like to have to rely on it in a machine that may sit for weeks to months between uses.

diesel as a fuel is far more forgiving compared to modern gasoline.

 

[Mal AC]

i havent really drove a modern gasoline lately. my lawn mower and tractor are 1972ish gasoline. Last night i worked for my neighbor and we are cutting down trees for firewood and my job was to use the diesel Kioti to pull the logs from the woods out by the drive way and that diesel works very well. has no problem pulling the trees. I always like diesel better than gas. But someday ill own my very own diesel tractor.

 

[Ford tractor]

Diesel use is 1/2 to 3/4 that of comparable gas engine tractors.

 

[odleo]

My family has always oqn

 

[odleo]

My family has always owned gas tractors till I bought my little Yanmar. I

 

[odleo]

My family has always owned gas tractors till I bought my little Yanmar. I will not buy a has tractor again. The diesel is better I'm my opinion in staying power even though it cost more to buy

 

[jake98]

Well..........stop pouring it in your ears, it is meant to be a fuel after all.:laughing::laughing:

I gave up waiting for somebody to say that!:laughing:

 

[wolc123]

I see a place for both. Without question, the diesel is more efficient for most tasks. I still like gas for some jobs however, and it powers (5) of my (6) tractors. Usually it is a matter of convenience but it also makes for better extreme cold weather starting. My (2) 12 hp lawn tractors are both gas, and there just aint much available in diesels in that size range. I mow less than an acre and can knock it out in under an hour with either one of those tractors (one gear, one hydro), so any more hp would be overkill. My cultivator tractor (Farmall Cub) is also gas. I dont know if there is much out there in a modern diesel that would be much more efficient at 1-row cultivating than that little old 10 hp Farmall. I also use that tractor on a snowplow in the winter for light snows, or when I want to get out of the house for a little longer than I could on my larger diesel, which always makes very short work of my driveways no matter how deep the snow. A problem with my diesel (JD 4120) in the winter, is if the block heater is not plugged in for at least 30 minutes, cold starts are rough, with about 2 minutes of rattly, smoky operation before things smooth out. The little Cub, with its spark plugs, is ready to go on the second crank of the engine, as is my 1951 Ford 8n, no matter how cold it is. I have yet to see any diesel engine that was very happy starting when real cold, but I have only seen one gas tractor that wasnt. That would be my crank-start, 1942 Allis Chalmers C, which simply refuses to fire when the temperature is below 45 degrees F. No problem though, because I only use it when it is warm out. I like having a crank-start tractor that dont need a battery as those can be trouble at times, particularly if the tractor is kept at a remote location. A diesel would be very difficult to crank over by hand due to the high compression. My 8 year old daughter can almost crank start that old Allis. Other advantages to the gas tractors is more widespread availability of fuel and lower cost per gallon (these days anyhow).

 

[Archer EV]

My dad still has his MF gas tractor. I still like that old tractor but when I borrowed my brother's MF diesel, I was sold on the power. I bought a used Long 2360 which is about 38 hp diesel and I really like it. It is a simple, reliable tractor for brush hogging the fields, plowing snow from the 700 foot driveway, etc. I have to use the glow plugs for 30 seconds or so when it is below zero but it starts and runs well every time. I may add a block heater this fall to make it a bit easier.