Would you buy a gas tractor

[CalG]

Just a note of "historia" ;-)

the Fordson E27n that I have is a straight gas tractor with magneto ignition. In this same model year (1950) one could have the tractor fitted with petrol fuel, as I have, or TVO (Thermal vaporized oil) in which the engine is started on gasoline, but when warmed up, runs on kerosene, (don't forget to change over before shut down or the carb will be filled with TVO!) or the same tractor fitted with a Perkins four cylinder compression ignition engine that runs diesel fuel.

It would seem that immediately after the Second Great War, fuel availability was more important than fuel type it's self. There were great numbers of these tractors sent to Canada and to Australia in all forms.

Me, I am happy to have the straight gas tractor. The only issue I have, is that in the hills, when the tank runs low, sometimes fuel doesn't cover the tap, and the engine sputters and dies just when it is needed most. (Don't ask what happens to the splash fed front main bearing) In the same way, when the tank is full, an uphill run will have gasoline gysering out of the filler cap vent and right into my lap!. Oh well, It only burns for a few hours.... ;-)

 

[shaeff]

Again, I'll say my gas machine has sat not running for 15.876 years of its 16 years of life with 10% ethanol in it with no ill effects. None. I keep three 6 gallon cans of gas and use them as needed. When I empty the last can, I fill them again. I use about 1 gallon per hour, so about 50 gallons per year. I fill the three cans about 3-4 times per year, as I also fuel my chainsaw, push mower, weed eater and log splitter out of those cans. I've been using 10% ethanol in everything I own since the early 80's. I've had ONE 20 cent fuel line go gummy on a chainsaw in about 35+ years of ethanol usage. My gas machines sit for weeks and months between usage and they start and run just fine. I just don't get it. What am I missing?

Not sure, really. I had issues with my weed whacker's carb, and my lawn mower too. When I first got my Massey running, it was great for a bit then started to run like crap, when I pulled the carb apart it was funky inside, I thought maybe it was from the ethanol.

In hindsight, it may just have been old. But the aforementioned two I'm pretty sure we're ethanol related. That's my experience, anyway, seems you've had fine luck with the 10%, I'm just not sure I'm willing to try it again.

 

[CalG]

Again, I'll say my gas machine has sat not running for 15.876 years of its 16 years of life with 10% ethanol in it with no ill effects. None.

I keep three 6 gallon cans of gas and use them as needed. When I empty the last can, I fill them again. I use about 1 gallon per hour, so about 50 gallons per year. I fill the three cans about 3-4 times per year, as I also fuel my chainsaw, push mower, weed eater and log splitter out of those cans. I've been using 10% ethanol in everything I own since the early 80's. I've had ONE 20 cent fuel line go gummy on a chainsaw in about 35+ years of ethanol usage.

My gas machines sit for weeks and months between usage and they start and run just fine. I just don't get it. What am I missing?

MR

Your experience matches mine.

I do need to "twiddle" the weed whacker carb screws each season for best running. A sign of some gumming I suppose. but that is one small engine with even finer jets.

 

[rScotty]

Again, I'll say my gas machine has sat not running for 15.876 years of its 16 years of life with 10% ethanol in it with no ill effects. None.

I keep three 6 gallon cans of gas and use them as needed. When I empty the last can, I fill them again. I use about 1 gallon per hour, so about 50 gallons per year. I fill the three cans about 3-4 times per year, as I also fuel my chainsaw, push mower, weed eater and log splitter out of those cans. I've been using 10% ethanol in everything I own since the early 80's. I've had ONE 20 cent fuel line go gummy on a chainsaw in about 35+ years of ethanol usage.

My gas machines sit for weeks and months between usage and they start and run just fine. I just don't get it. What am I missing?

I don't think you are missing anything. Ethanol is an aggressive chemical and it also carries water along with it. That's not news to anyone. How that affects an engine when we put alcohol blended gasoline into it depends on when and how the engine was designed.....how the manufacturer decided to design for the fuels he thought would be popular.
Specifically, on my own engines built after about the mid 1980s I don't have any problem with letting the fuel sit in the power washer or generator for half a year. Both have modern Honda or Kawasaki engine built to deal with alcohol and they hold up well - just as you've said. But if I let the same fuel sit for three months in my old 1958 JD 2 cylinder tractor or my 1970 chevy PU, I might as well rebuild their carb before I even start it, because it is going to be a leaker if it works at all.

So For engines designed before ethanol became such a common part of fuels, using today's high ethanol blend gasohol fuels will all but guarantee that we all see the typical problems when the alcohol and water vapor interacts with the rubber, plastic and different metals of motors from an older era. We see it first in corrosion and suchin the carburettor bowl, but as the years go by can even see vapor interactions attacking deeper parts like the O-rings and gaskets throughout the engines.

Like you say, using the same gasohol fuels in a motor made to handle them has fewer problems. However, the volatility - and therefore the available energy - of stored gasoline has always declined faster than it does for diesel fuels. That's a function of the way the respective molecules are shaped. Can't change that. All that means is that if all is equal then it is is diesel will retain more of it's original energy than gasoline or gasohol will.
Good luck beats good planning,
rScotty

 

[rScotty]

Something else I'd not considered is fuel storage. I certainly wouldn't want more than a few cans of gasoline hanging aground. I don't depend on my machine to make me money, so the gasser works fine. If I used it daily or to make money, I'd look for a diesel machine.

Definitely safer to store diesel.

This thread could go for years and never arrive at a conclusion. I'm sticking by my initial assessment: each has their place, it depends on your needs.

Ps- I have ethanol free fuel available a mile from my house, so no worries about longer term storage. the flammability is more a concern than fuel going bad.

Hello Shaeff, when great minds think along the same lines, then even mine can follow. I got to thinking the same thing this summer and just finished up with a purpose-built fuel shed down at the far end of the property. Now I'm keeping all our fuels and oils in a safer place far from the house & barn. Feels better already.
rScotty

 

[4570Man]

Locally off road diesel cost less than gasoline. On road diesel cost less than the ethanol free gas. But for the average person that puts 100 hours year on their machine fuel cost difference isn't enough money to worry about. If you're burning thousands of gallons of fuel per year than a gas machine isn't for you.

 

[CalG]

Hello Shaeff, when great minds think along the same lines, then even mine can follow. I got to thinking the same thing this summer and just finished up with a purpose-built fuel shed down at the far end of the property. Now I'm keeping all our fuels and oils in a safer place far from the house & barn. Feels better already.
rScotty

I too built a "Shed" that houses the fuel cans . Just seemed like the the right thing.

I also moved the 300 gal fuel tank out of the basement and put it in a purpose built "oil shed" outside, but along the foundation of the house . Call it "one degree of separation". ;-)
It doubles as a great place to put the garbage cans, even if the fuel delivery drivers don't think it's such a grand idea! ;-)