Any news on gas engine CUTS?

[ME83]

With everything I read about how much more expensive the new diesels are, how it is not good to run them for short periods of time, and the expense of things break, are any of the brands going to start offering gas powered tractors again in the 50 hp range?

With all the advancements in fuel injection and turbocharging, a gas engine could perform very well in a tractor, particularly for a home owner. They can produce a lot of torque with turbos and be EPA friendly while hopefully being cheaper.

I know it will use more fuel, but there are times I go a few months before fueling my 110 tlb. I had an older Ford 3500 with the 3 cyl gas and never had any complaints with it being gas.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

With the terrible quality of gasoline these days, I cannot imagine in my wildest dreams anyone wanting a gas engine on a tractor. Heck, we didn't even want gas engines on them back when we had good gasoline to use.

I'd be a lot more interested in propane engines than gasoline. Back on the farm, all of our tractors ran on propane . . . mainly because propane was dirt cheap back then. But propane doesn't produce as much power. Then propane got almost as expensive as gas and propane tractors went the way of the dodo bird.

In my opinion, an excellent way for a tractor manufacturer to turn a large fortune into a small one would be to invest heavily in producing tractors with gasoline engines.

 

[davesl708]

With the terrible quality of gasoline these days, I cannot imagine in my wildest dreams anyone wanting a gas engine on a tractor. Heck, we didn't even want gas engines on them back when we had good gasoline to use.

I'd be a lot more interested in propane engines than gasoline. Back on the farm, all of our tractors ran on propane . . . mainly because propane was dirt cheap back then. But propane doesn't produce as much power. Then propane got almost as expensive as gas and propane tractors went the way of the dodo bird.

In my opinion, an excellent way for a tractor manufacturer to turn a large fortune into a small one would be to invest heavily in producing tractors with gasoline engines.

Agreed. Gas would not hold up with the demands of torque requirements on tractors. Would consume a lot of fuel with little payback.
If you don't like the new engines I would look at a 5 year old tractor.

 

[MossRoad]

I had a gas engine in my late 70's IH2500b. 50PTO HP. Ran fine. I just made sure to use fuel stabilizer if it was going to sit over the winter, and always drain the water bowl before each use. Ran for 35 years, so no problem.

 

[ESBkevin]

Also modern petrol/gasoline has a short shelf life and many tractors tend to sit months with half a tank of what will be stale fuel, a potential problem to be avoided.

 

[ME83]

Gasoline has a recommended shelf life of 3 months, but many people have no issues using past 3 months. A tractor engine is severely detuned so that it can run hours on end at higher rpm, but with that low output it could probably run on non treated gas that is over a year old! Regardless, the longest I have gone between fueling my tractor would be maybe 3 months. That was because I moved our belongings and setup everything in our new house while my wife was in her third trimester and couldn't take any vacation time from work.

As far as the torque output, if you look at dyno charts of a new 2.0L VW TDI and 2.0L turbo gas engine (GTI) the output is very good. I chose the 2.0L size since that is a common size in CUTs. Even when those engines are tuned, the diesel will have 10-15% more peak torque, but that torque drops as the rpms increase. The gas engine has a flatter torque profile and sustains it's torque better at higher rpm. A turbocharged gas engine is definitely up to the task, possibly even better than a diesel if you look at the area under the dyno chart. The only downside is it would used a lot more volume in gas than diesel, but the amount an average homeowner uses it may never pay itself back due to the extra cost of the diesel fuel itself and the extra cost of the diesel engine.

 

[davesl708]

I always use pure gas and add Sta-Bil to keep it fresh. Asto gas vs diesel my 22hp gas is no comparison to my 22hp diesel in power when cutting tall grass.
Use less diesel when cutting as well compared to the gas engine.

 

[MossRoad]

25hp is 25 hp is 25hp.... same for gas or diesel. Its the ability of the diesel with most likely a larger displacement and longer crank arms to keep itself in the torque range easier than a gas engine that makes it able to not bog down when you hit tall grass.

 

[MossRoad]

As for the life of gasoline... treat it with stabil and its good for a long time. Boat engines, tractors, lawn equipment, etc... that may be not run for a long time. With that said, I don't use it in anything but my generator because it sits for months without being run and still starts rather easily.

 

[bigdeano]

A lot of work has been done by gas tractors. I'd rather rebuild a 1 barrel carb than an injector pump. My 1940 and 1941 MMs and my 35 yr old homemade tractor with a Chevy 230 will still do the job. A new modern gas tractor might well be a good seller with gas being a lot cheaper than diesel, and the tractor cheaper to start with.

 

[MossRoad]

A lot of work has been done by gas tractors. I'd rather rebuild a 1 barrel carb than an injector pump. My 1940 and 1941 MMs and my 35 yr old homemade tractor with a Chevy 230 will still do the job. A new modern gas tractor might well be a good seller with gas being a lot cheaper than diesel, and the tractor cheaper to start with.

I'd like to see your 230... I had one that I slightly modified in a 70 Nova.

 

[tduby]

Even better would be compressed natural gas engines none of the long term storage of fuel and most people can let there tractor sit all night for the tank to refil.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

now that all the price increases have shaken out, I don't think going gas would save enough $$$ to justify it. It would not be a leap at all, Kubota for instance makes many of their diesel blocks with gas heads. IE ZG332 is the same Kubota D1002 block used in the ZD's with a gas head. Awesome engine, but pricey.

 

[jimmysisson]

The thing I would miss most going to gas is the diesel compression braking in my hilly woodlot. I rarely use the brakes even on steep hills. A gas rig just doesn't hold you back that way.
Jim

 

[buickanddeere]

Agreed. Gas would not hold up with the demands of torque requirements on tractors. Would consume a lot of fuel with little payback.
If you don't like the new engines I would look at a 5 year old tractor.

Torque demands ? What ? How did gasoline farm tractors in the past and light equipment today operate ? They made torque . Actuly torque alone Accomplishes nothing.
Take a look at the Nebraska test for tractors with gasoline and Diesel engines in the same model. The gasser made as much or more torque and HP per cubic inch as the diesel.
Gas engines are not concerned with glow plugs, turbos, 30,000 psi injection systems, particulate filters, urea injection, cold weather gelling of fuel and cold weather starting .

 

[buickanddeere]

With the terrible quality of gasoline these days, I cannot imagine in my wildest dreams anyone wanting a gas engine on a tractor. Heck, we didn't even want gas engines on them back when we had good gasoline to use.

I'd be a lot more interested in propane engines than gasoline. Back on the farm, all of our tractors ran on propane . . . mainly because propane was dirt cheap back then. But propane doesn't produce as much power. Then propane got almost as expensive as gas and propane tractors went the way of the dodo bird.

In my opinion, an excellent way for a tractor manufacturer to turn a large fortune into a small one would be to invest heavily in producing tractors with gasoline engines.

Gasoline today is the best it's ever been. Varnish and gum is unheard of today. No lead reduces engine deposites and wear.low sulphur reduces oil contamination and corrosion.

 

[buickanddeere]

With the terrible quality of gasoline these days, I cannot imagine in my wildest dreams anyone wanting a gas engine on a tractor. Heck, we didn't even want gas engines on them back when we had good gasoline to use.

I'd be a lot more interested in propane engines than gasoline. Back on the farm, all of our tractors ran on propane . . . mainly because propane was dirt cheap back then. But propane doesn't produce as much power. Then propane got almost as expensive as gas and propane tractors went the way of the dodo bird.

In my opinion, an excellent way for a tractor manufacturer to turn a large fortune into a small one would be to invest heavily in producing tractors with gasoline engines.

Gasoline today is the best it's ever been. Varnish and gum is unheard of today. No lead reduces engine deposites and wear.low sulphur reduces oil contamination and corrosion.

 

[dusty3030]

I would say that fuel injection solves a lot of ills of long term sitting and hard starting of the carb machines of the past.
Fuel injected and built to handle ethanol laced gas a modern gas engine tractor should be as or more reliable as a diesel, especially in cold weather starting.

 

[dusty3030]

Thinking about it if you took the "bones" of something like a Ford 300 straight 6 which itself was used in bunch of stuff that need low end grunt (aircraft tugs etc.) combined with modern engine management you'd have a rugged engine for a tractor.

 

[DeereMann]

Torque demands ? What ? How did gasoline farm tractors in the past and light equipment today operate ? They made torque . Actuly torque alone Accomplishes nothing.
Take a look at the Nebraska test for tractors with gasoline and Diesel engines in the same model. The gasser made as much or more torque and HP per cubic inch as the diesel.
Gas engines are not concerned with glow plugs, turbos, 30,000 psi injection systems, particulate filters, urea injection, cold weather gelling of fuel and cold weather starting .

And they sucked fuel like pigs! Johnny Poppers had 6.25 inch diameter bores....that's where the 'pop' came from - surface area! You can't run the cylinder pressure up on 'em like you can on a diesel. Unless you build the gas engine like a diesel, go to direct gasoline injection, and then you'd have a...........diesel! So just get a diesel if you need low speed / high torque engine....like in tractors.

For those of use forced to subsidize corporate welfare gasohol producers, storage is an issue. Gasohol absorbs water & breaks down faster, despite how much stabilizer you put in it. And it has less energy. Biodiesel isn't as bad.