International TD series engine question

[Shimon]

I was talking to a gentleman today who claimed to know of an International engine in the TD line that was a gas/diesel hybrid. He claimed it had a carburetor and somehow the engine ran on gasoline for starting and to warm up and once it was warmed up it switched over to diesel and ran as normal diesel engine. He claimed it had spark plugs and injector nozzles. I politely expressed my disbelief (I'm a marine diesel mechanic) but thought that maybe I better check the internet. Aside from the fact that I can't think of a good reason for doing this...I would think that this engine would be too complicated. Couldn't find any information from Googling so I was wondering if anyone has any information on this. Please educated me. And if he's wrong...is he maybe confusing some other design element which may have acted as a preheating element? Thank you.

 

[GreenWannabe]

The gentleman was right. The TD series tractors, at least through the mid-fifties, did have both a carburetor and a small gas tank for starting, and switched over to diesel after they were running. Diesels were hard starting back then. Cat used gasoline 2 cylinder "pony" engines in place of electric starters, and the JD R and 80 did as well. Many large Buda diesels used a little 153 cu in 4 cylinder gas engine to start - some of those diesels were as large as 2500 cu in.

 

[art]

Look at the Farmall MD models as well as the WD-6 models for a start in the IH line-up. The farmers loved them for the fact of the low fuel consumption but bitter sweet on starting.

 

[Shimon]

Well, thanks for setting me straight. I guess I owe someone an apology.
Found some videos on YouTube of a Farmall MD...very interesting.

Thanks for the info. I learn something new everyday.