Gasoline Tractors are they coming Back ?

[Sawyer Rob]

Back in early 60’s Deere introduced 4020 and IH 806 in gas and diesel versions, both naturally aspirated. Hard to find gassers at auctions. They just weren’t up to the capabilities of the diesels - except for cold weather starts. I found an old 806 gas on dealer’s used lot last year and was tempted to pull the trigger on it but it would only be useful in temps below zero. The gassers are such dogs when it comes to field work.

Plenty of bigger gas tractors around here for sale, and at cheeeper prices! No one wants them because they are big time gas hogs.

No one here considers them dogs for power, not at all.... Power is fine, IF you can afford to feed them and keep them running.

SR

 

[Paystar]

It’s way above my pay grade, bro.
Youd have to be “Top Poster of the Month” to know everything

But seriously, it will change to world forever if we can generate electricity for so little cost. It will break people free of poverty. If we do it here in the US first, it will give us several years of a competitive edge. However, i think we have lost our competitive edge and expect that the world will probably develop it all together in a similar time frame. The Chinese steal all our R&D (or it get’s sold out from under us) so there’s that, too.

You really think our governments are going to let the population be poverty free and have money? How will they control us then? LOL

 

[AndyMA]

The only gasser Id bt is an antique one

Andy

 

[Gator6x4]

You really think our governments are going to let the population be poverty free and have money? How will they control us then? LOL

Surprised me that that is how the Government controls us. I thought they did it through political ideology.

Government social programs were intended at conception to lift the recipient out of poverty. An old politician told men many years ago the problem with social programs is the Government cannot legislate away, Ignorance, Stupidity and Greed. He also said Social programs were pushed by Christians as the compassionate caring thing to do to help the downtrodden, poor and those living in squalor and poverty. Then the "GREED Crowd" jumped in because they feel if some people are receiving money, they should also. He also said personal values changed. When Social programs were first started it was embarrassing and socially ostracized and stigmatized so ways had to be devised to deliver the social program funds without alerting others the recipient was receiving Social Program Funding. He said of the three GREED is the worse one because humans will figure out a way to get "Free" money is any is available.

During the 2008 Great Recession people were laid off and started receiving government money from one program or multiple programs, they are still riding the train today.

Then in 2019 Covid-19 came along and another generation of gravy train riders were brought onto the taxpayers back.

There is considerable debate now about whether some intentionally exposed themselves to the COVID-19 virus and refused the vaccine because they were hoping to be able to retire on SS disability from POTS, or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. It is mind boggling that people would actually risk there lives to be able to qualify for FREE MONEY.

 

[Gen3]

I'm with you...my "newest" tractor is a 2002 Mahindra 6000 (4wd/front loader/backhoe). Pretty much no electronics, just guts. My "daily driver" is a 1967 Ferguson 135 with the Continental Z145 gas engine. That thing starts on the first crank every time...I bought it about 13 or so years ago...it only had 687 orginal hours on it..today it has 1100...I don't do heavy farm work with them, but don't know what I'd do without them....I also have a '74 Farmall 140 that I play with. I start them all every week if I don't have anything else to do with them....hope they last as long as I do. regards, BobG in VA

can you please send me some pictures of how the subframe mounts with the fel?. I’m looking at a hoe setup from a 2007 4500 with sub frame to put on my 2001 6000.

 

[Hay Dude]

Now that Cummins has built and will be offering the new 6 cylinder 6.7L “Octane” gas engine, I think that will be a great option for anyone wanting a gas tractor engine.
With 600+ ftlbs of torque, it will equal similar size diesels.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I doubt I would ever consider going back to gasoline.

I have my diesel storage & fueling system all worked out. I would have to start over if I converted to gas. I don't use enough to qualify for home delivery for either gas or diesel. I use #2 heating oil (red fuel) to heat my home and fuel my diesel equipment from a 1000 gal storage tank, which I have filled every 18 months or so.

I'd hate the thought of going back to fueling with gas cans, which would have to be used every few months to prevent it from going "stale". Storing large quantities of gas wouldn't be practical in my case.

 

[Hay Dude]

I don’t like the volatility of gas.

 

[ultrarunner]

My gasoline tractors are workhorses but my Diesel BX is the most economical…

The formulation of the available gasoline has its own problems…

Maybe not with a new sealed injected fuel system but doesn’t play well with everything I have with a carburetor that is only occasional or seasonal use…

 

[slingworks]

I don't know, I'd probably go for a new gas tractor. I know allot of farmers that are pretty hard of hearing....I'd like to see it for the lesser noise. Not everyone has a need for a big Kubota or Deere with a soundproof cab. Overall I don't see diesel as being substantially cheaper as it once was?

 

[jyoutz]

I don't know, I'd probably go for a new gas tractor. I know allot of farmers that are pretty hard of hearing....I'd like to see it for the lesser noise. Not everyone has a need for a big Kubota or Deere with a soundproof cab. Overall I don't see diesel as being substantially cheaper as it once was?

It really is cheaper because it provides more hours of run time per gallon of fuel.

 

[rontaki]

Maybe it's time for electric tractors - don't most of us have $10-15K just hanging around to buy new batteries?

 

[slingworks]

It really is cheaper because it provides more hours of run time per gallon of fuel.

Yeah I'm familiar with how it works. More hours of run time, but more per gallon at the same time.

Kinda reminds me of the same concept in cars.

I used to drive only VW's...And had a few diesels. My Golf TDI could get about 45mpg on the highway. I have a 2015 Chevy Cruze that is gasoline and gets about 35 plus mpg on the highway.

They both do the same thing, albeit I think the Chevy has more power.

doing the math:
Chevy/Gas 2.80/35 8 cents a mile
VW/Diesel 3.73/45 8.2 cents a mile.

Not as much of a difference compared to the olden days. Tractors would be somewhat similar. Most diesels do seem to have more low end torque, but I think turbocharging a tractor's gasoline engine would make it catch up quite a bit. Would be more refilling of a gas tractor in an 8hr workday.

 

[Hay Dude]

One of my old bosses had a gas Ford tractor. It was about 40 HP utility tractor with a loader and 3pt hitch.
I don’t say this to disparage Ford or New Holland, but because that tractor had a gas engine, it was the weakest POS I ever operated. I mean you had to feather the clutch and ease it into gear just to pull a 8’ york rake and not stall out.

 

[slingworks]

One of my old bosses had a gas Ford tractor. It was about 40 HP utility tractor with a loader and 3pt hitch.
I don’t say this to disparage Ford or New Holland, but because that tractor had a gas engine, it was the weakest POS I ever operated. I mean you had to feather the clutch and ease it into gear just to pull a 8’ york rake and not stall out.

I wonder what model? There were lots of good and bad gas tractors over the years.

 

[jyoutz]

Yeah I'm familiar with how it works. More hours of run time, but more per gallon at the same time.

Kinda reminds me of the same concept in cars.

I used to drive only VW's...And had a few diesels. My Golf TDI could get about 45mpg on the highway. I have a 2015 Chevy Cruze that is gasoline and gets about 35 plus mpg on the highway.

They both do the same thing, albeit I think the Chevy has more power.

doing the math:
Chevy/Gas 2.80/35 8 cents a mile
VW/Diesel 3.73/45 8.2 cents a mile.

Not as much of a difference compared to the olden days. Tractors would be somewhat similar. Most diesels do seem to have more low end torque, but I think turbocharging a tractor's gasoline engine would make it catch up quite a bit.

You are also discounting the fact that diesel engines will give many multiples greater service hours/miles than a gasser engine and therefore hold more residual value. For example a diesel truck that is in general good condition still holds good value at 250K+ miles, but most gas engine trucks are either junkyard bound or worth very little after 250K miles.

 

[slingworks]

You are also discounting the fact that diesel engines will give many multiples greater service hours/miles than a gasser engine and therefore hold more residual value. For example a diesel truck that is in general good condition still holds good value at 250K+ miles, but most gas engine trucks are either junkyard bound or worth very little after 250K miles.

I'm not really discounting it. Sometimes it's a perception/state of mind thing. For example I have a brother with a 99 Dodge Truck with a Cummins Diesel. He's dumped an endless amount of money in it (the motor) maintenance wise just because it's a Cummins Diesel...Had it been a V-8 he would have lost interest in it 10 years ago and probably scrapped it like you point out. And yeah, he'd probably want 10k for it if he sold it right now, just because it's a "Cummins"

A diesel pickup also costs more upfront than a gasoline one generally. Maybe what, 10k more today? So yeah it's not unreasonable they'd sell for a little more 20 years down the line.

My VW diesels were much more problematic and required a great deal more maintenance than either my Chevy Cruze (Not the world's best car) and way more problematic than any of my Dodge/Jeep gasoline vehicles. The VW TDI's didn't last any longer. And no longer than the same model VW's in gasoline either.

But you know what? A diesel VW sells for more than a gas version. Sometimes ALLOT more. Just because it's a "Diesel".

Of course that's a specific model of something, not a benchmark. Had they been powered by a sweet ISUZU diesel of some sort, who knows, maybe I would still be wrenching on them! LOL

A modern gasoline tractor engine would be just as durable as a diesel, or nearly so. Look at how many old gas tractors are still running.

Probably another factor everyone is overlooking is that diesel was CHEAPER than Gasoline in most places up to around 20 years ago. IF diesel was significantly cheaper today it would definitely be a win/win. (Or maybe a win/win/win)?? LOL I wonder had Diesel been quite a bit higher per gallon than gasoline since lets say, 1930...I bet we'd have seen allot fewer diesel anything around-Including tractors.

But you know, I don't buy a tractor based on what the resale value might be in 20-30 years... I doubt too many others would care either?

I'm just saying it probably won't be a negative thing if a new gas tractor in a good hp class hit the market. Besides that, who knows what the future will hold in 20 years. Diesel may be 3x the price of gasoline, or not available at all!

 

[arrow]

Maybe it's time for electric tractors - don't most of us have $10-15K just hanging around to buy new batteries?

So at the dealership I work at, a salesman came around with a Solaris or something to that effect.
I tried it and for mild applications, it can be a fit.
What kills them is the effects of cold and hard work like skidding or plowing.
The platforms for a compact are really too small to substantiate a workhorse battery such as in some bulldozers.
It would take a total redesign of what we consider a compact tractor or battery for one to do the work of the small diesel engined tractor.
Im not sure it would ever be a fit with present technologies.

 

[deserteagle71]

Sometimes it's a perception/state of mind thing. For example I have a brother with a 99 Dodge Truck with a Cummins Diesel. He's dumped an endless amount of money in it (the motor) maintenance wise just because it's a Cummins Diesel..

Probably another factor everyone is overlooking is that diesel was CHEAPER than Gasoline in most places up to around 20 years ago.

What's your brother doing to that Cummins to have to dump an endless amount of money in it? Is it all modified (tuner, etc) for more power than it was designed for? I have a 2004 Dodge/Cummins, so 21 years old, totally stock, and so far I've "dumped" the cost of one water pump in it. About $60 if memory serves correctly. Most guys that don't modify their Cummins and don't abuse it have them last 400 and 500,000 miles before major work needs to be done. That's why, out here where vehicles don't rust, a 1st, 2nd or 3rd generation (pre-emissions) Dodge Cummins sells for nearly what it sold for as new. Same with a pre-emissions Powerstroke.

And it sucks that in so many areas of the country the oil companies are putting the screws to diesel owners. In northern Nevada until last year diesel was running the same as or a few cents a gallon less than regular gas. As of today diesel is about 20 cents a gallon more than regular. Towing heavy the diesel gets about 5 mpg better than my gas V10 so it is cheaper by far to use it. With my tractors I use off-highway (non-taxed) diesel so that take around 60 cents a gallon off the price and makes it cheaper than regular gas.

 

[jyoutz]

What's your brother doing to that Cummins to have to dump an endless amount of money in it? Is it all modified (tuner, etc) for more power than it was designed for? I have a 2004 Dodge/Cummins, so 21 years old, totally stock, and so far I've "dumped" the cost of one water pump in it. About $60 if memory serves correctly. Most guys that don't modify their Cummins and don't abuse it have them last 400 and 500,000 miles before major work needs to be done. That's why, out here where vehicles don't rust, a 1st, 2nd or 3rd generation (pre-emissions) Dodge Cummins sells for nearly what it sold for as new. Same with a pre-emissions Powerstroke.

And it sucks that in so many areas of the country the oil companies are putting the screws to diesel owners. In northern Nevada until last year diesel was running the same as or a few cents a gallon less than regular gas. As of today diesel is about 20 cents a gallon more than regular. Towing heavy the diesel gets about 5 mpg better than my gas V10 so it is cheaper by far to use it. With my tractors I use off-highway (non-taxed) diesel so that take around 60 cents a gallon off the price and makes it cheaper than regular gas.

Yeah my experience is the same as yours. I have owned a 99 24 valve 5.9 Cummins and my current 2007 5.9 common rail Cummins. Lots of miles and I’ve not had to do anything to the engines except replace the batteries. But neither of mine are modified. Any the performance cannot be compared to a large V8 gasser. The Cummins will out haul and out tow any gasser and do it at 2500 RPMs on the highway. MPGs also don’t change much at all empty, hauling, or towing. No gasser will do that.