Modern Gas Tractor? What's the Chance?

[oldestgoat]

I'm a huge fan of old school injection pump diesels. They just seem so trouble free. Seems that with the strict emissions standards nowadays that diesels have become pretty complex. Conventional non-turbo 4cylinder fuel injected engines are rock solid. Especially if they have conventional OBDII programming and connectors. Could be a solution to all the angst among tractor buyers. What are your thoughts?

 

[dusty3030]

Updated GM iron duke would be a great one.

 

[ericm979]

A lot of the angst is due to guys reading too many forum posts. Some is due to guys not reading the owners manual and operating at too low rpm. There's been a few DPF models that really did have problems like the Kubota B3350 which is out of production. But only a few. Diesel EFI and DPFs are pretty well known and reliable tech at this point. CUTs under 75hp don't need DEF or EGR which are often the cause of problems with diesel trucks.

The TYM-branded Bransons have MFI. There's still a DPF and a computer, but it just tells the operator when to do a regen. Older ones like my 2017 don't even do regens but that was a problem for guys in cold areas who can't run their tractors hard during winter.

There's no reason why CUTs couldn't use gas engines, except most manufacturers don't have appropriate ones in their lineups. They'd need to develop or buy in one, and there's probably not all that much of a market. Most people associate tractors with diesels these days. So it really comes down to customer preference, which is mostly due to marketing.

 

[4570Man]

Ethanol fuel and infrequent use is the biggest hurdle. If it wasn’t for all the fuel storage problems gas tractors would probably already be available.

 

[Hay Dude]

After farming with diesel tractors and seeing the possible problems with fires, I would not own a gasoline fueled farm tractor. Working around burning piles of brush another reason to not own a gas tractor.
Last reason would be gas storage. Diesel stores better/longer.

 

[2manyrocks]

I trust diesel fuel much more than the *&^% they sell for gasoline

 

[Jerry/MT]

I'm a huge fan of old school injection pump diesels. They just seem so trouble free. Seems that with the strict emissions standards nowadays that diesels have become pretty complex. Conventional non-turbo 4cylinder fuel injected engines are rock solid. Especially if they have conventional OBDII programming and connectors. Could be a solution to all the angst among tractor buyers. What are your thoughts?

Putting emission controls on farm tractors given the numbers of farm tractors relative to diesel buses and truck that operate in cities, in my opinion, is a "fool's errand"!
Farming is a business with slim margins and initial cost and reliability are important parameters for those of us in agriculture. Modern emission controls build several levels of complexity into tractors that operate in extreme vibration and dust conditions. They increase life cycle costs that agriculture can't recover in the marketplace. And for what? The relative contribution to emission is miniscule compared to both gas and diesel engine operations in major metropolitan areas.

I'll now step off my soapbox!

 

[5030]

My only comment is if I could buy a gas engined tractor in the 100 pto power range with appropriate torque rise, I'd buy one.

 

[oldestgoat]

Gas tractors are not a new concept, and I admit that fuel volatility and storage are issues. That being said I have a yamaha fuel injected jet ski I fire up for only a short time each year and I have never had problems. I do winterize it though. Some folks I know are switching to gas power in their service trucks as the purchase/operation costs of diesels increase and outweigh that of gas engines.

 

[Paystar]

I'd buy a new gasoline tractor. My 1955 Allis Chalmers is still going trouble free (other than the rear rims rotting off and some hydraulic leaks.)

Lets see how many modern tractors are still going in 68 years without any kind of major repairs, LOL

All the school bus and ambulance fleets here have bought all brand new gasoline powered units this year because they are all finally fed up with the breakdowns with emission diesels and the high cost of diesel fuel which is now more than gas here.