Author	[Modern View]
Hayrack 03-04-2013 10:12:06 64.33.240.237 Report to Moderator	With the prices of fuel these days... I see a lot of gas tractors for sale and Nobody's biting... I could have bought a 3010 John Deere a few weeks ago for 2500 in good shape... and passed on it because simply because the idea of feeding it on a regular basis scared me! Think I am going to stick with my 720 LP and 720 Diesel for a LOOOOONNNG time! [Reply]   [No Email]
Bret4207 03-05-2013 04:33:47 64.19.90.196 Report to Moderator	Re: Fuel for your tractors... Gas, LP, or Diesel? in reply to Hayrack, 03-04-2013 10:12:06   I have 1 LP Cockshutt 30, a diesel DB990 and several gas tractors from a JD 40 crawler to a Case 811B. For light work like raking the gas is fine and it's good in cold weather. But I dread filling the tank for mowing or brush hogging. A nice little 35 hp diesel would be a lot cheaper. The LP is also good for raking and such, and I do a lot of raking. For tillage work or round baling the diesel wins every time. Too bad 'cuz I adore that big Case. I suppose the answer is to find an affordable Case 830. [Reply]  [No Email]
Texasmark1 03-06-2013 01:05:55 184.63.52.151 Report to Moderator	Re: Fuel for your tractors... Gas, LP, or Diesel? in reply to Bret4207, 03-05-2013 04:33:47   The little Massey 35 with the 3 cyl Perkins diesel is one tough critter and like Ford's little diesels sips fuel. The Perkins torque curve peaks at 1000 rpm. Think about that a minute. Idle is 600-800 range and with a curve that low, anything you hook to it will get the tugging of it's life. I got distracted once and ran into a fence post between the engine cowl and front wheel. Thank goodness I got the clutch pushed in fast enough, but the little Perkie was digging 2 trenches and not looking back. Mark [Reply]  [No Email]
Texasmark1 03-04-2013 20:32:38 184.63.52.151 Report to Moderator	Re: Fuel for your tractors... Gas, LP, or Diesel? in reply to Hayrack, 03-04-2013 10:12:06   Had them all (except steam) and it's diesel by a landslide. Maint is non existent, can sit for months and fire right up. On work for fuel consumption there is just no comparison. Mark [Reply]  [No Email]
Paul from MI 03-04-2013 19:33:51 204.106.250.243 Report to Moderator	Re: Fuel for your tractors... Gas, LP, or Diesel? in reply to Hayrack, 03-04-2013 10:12:06   On my very small operation, the actual cost of fuel isn't that great. BUt when it's time to refill the tank I wish I'd restored a John Deere R instead of my D. The B I use for most chores is pretty easy on fuel, so I guess it evens out. At todays prices LP has some real advantages. [Reply]  [No Email]
rusty6 03-04-2013 19:42:07 142.165.85.227 Report to Moderator	Re: Fuel for your tractors... Gas, LP, or Diesel? in reply to Paul from MI, 03-04-2013 19:33:51   For most jobs around the yard I will try to use the Massey Super 90. That Perkins diesel just can't be beat for economy. You've likely all seen the videos of my gas Cockshutts in use too. 50 runs the hammer mill and the 40 has the snowblower mounted on it all winter. Their biggest advantage is that if I ever needed a tractor started right away in an emergency it would be the gas tractors. None of the diesels would start without an hour at least of pre heating. Even if its below zero, if the old gas tractors will turn over they will start. I try not to think too much about the $4.50 a gallon gas that they burn. [Reply]  [No Email]
Ralphwd45 03-04-2013 18:25:09 66.243.214.142 Report to Moderator	Re: Fuel for your tractors... Gas, LP, or Diesel? in reply to Hayrack, 03-04-2013 10:12:06   All my tractors are gas, but the ones I use the most, are small Allis tractors. The AC B, the AC CA,and the AC C, all use the same engine, and are fuel sippers. The WD45 is also easy on fuel, and easy to keep. My 335 minniapolis loader tractor, seems to be falling in line with the WD45, on fuel useage. The Oliver super 55 is compareable, on fuel for light work, but haven't used it pulling a plow or disc. I really don't want to pull the loader off it.My gasoline would go a lot farther if I was more successful at catching gas thieves. I have been plagued with them, off and on, for 13 yr's, and only caught one. [Reply]  [No Email]
WGWKy2 03-04-2013 13:45:24 98.23.62.253 Report to Moderator	Re: Fuel for your tractors... Gas, LP, or Diesel? in reply to Hayrack, 03-04-2013 10:12:06   I had a Farmall MTA and a Ford 4000 3 cyl both on 11 ft. dics with 12 ft. drags. 40 gal. gas to 14 ga. of diesel. That MTA got retired [Reply]  [No Email]
rrlund 03-04-2013 13:23:33 207.241.137.116 Report to Moderator	Re: Fuel for your tractors... Gas, LP, or Diesel? in reply to Hayrack, 03-04-2013 10:12:06   I still use two gas tractors every day to feed cattle. Was using 3,but I just bought that diesel FWA loader tractor. Gas is cheaper than diesel and if you're just using them around the yard doing chores,what's the big deal? Nothing runs free. I've got another gas tractor in the shed that I use in the spring on the fertilizer wagon,all summer on the hay rake and haul wagons with it in the fall. I don't see any reason to replace it. I've got a diesel pickup that I've had for 22 years. I don't know that I'm gonna replace it with another diesel. Not worth the inconvience anymore to have to go farther to get diesel when it costs more anyway. [Reply]  [No Email]
samn40 03-04-2013 12:01:23 86.155.157.23 Report to Moderator	Re: Fuel for your tractors... Gas, LP, or Diesel? in reply to Hayrack, 03-04-2013 10:12:06   You won't see many petrol/gas tractors here and definitely no LPG. Our tractors have been all diesel since the early '60s, The only place anyone can afford to run a petrol tractor is at a vintage show. Sam [Reply]  [No Email]
Mike M 03-04-2013 10:41:39 24.140.0.120 Report to Moderator	Re: Fuel for your tractors... Gas, LP, or Diesel? in reply to Hayrack, 03-04-2013 10:12:06   Gas tractors are really good if you don't use them all the time. Good cheap HP great for odd jobs,loader and blade work especially in the winter. Right now an LP tractor would be the cheapest to run. [Reply]  [No Email]
Hayrack 03-04-2013 10:39:49 64.33.240.237 Report to Moderator	Re: Fuel for your tractors... Gas, LP, or Diesel? in reply to Hayrack, 03-04-2013 10:12:06   We run a 7000 head hog confinement operation and just do some haying on the side but no crop ground... so about all mine do is light work.. But I found the LP a great fit here. Were paying about $1.20 a gallon for LP and have about 8 different 1000 gallon tanks to choose to fill from around here... So having fuel isnt ever a problem. I know it takes more fuel than the Diesel but is pretty compareable to a gas tractor for fuel comsumption... and the final cost makes it just as cheap to run as the 720 diesel for us. The only draw back is that it has to stay close to home. Cant haul fuel to it. [Reply]  [No Email]
VicS 03-04-2013 15:34:24 70.195.69.9 Report to Moderator	Re: Fuel for your tractors... Gas, LP, or Diesel? in reply to Hayrack, 03-04-2013 10:39:49   You can haul fuel to it. Do you fill your gas grill bottles from the farm? You surely do if you fill your tractor. If you fit your gas grill bottle with a hose and turn it up-side-down so the liquid will come out, it will fill your tractor tank just like the 1000 gal does. [Reply]  [No Email]
donjr 03-04-2013 10:26:49 72.71.188.246 Report to Moderator	Re: Fuel for your tractors... Gas, LP, or Diesel? in reply to Hayrack, 03-04-2013 10:12:06   I have been burning diesel for 43 years, and will never go back to gas for anything other than a lawnmower or car. It may cost something more than regular, but will outlast and outpower gas by 30 or 40%. Yes, it has a few small drawbacks, but it's worth the little bit of inconvenience during the winter. [Reply]  [No Email]
Bob Bancroft 03-04-2013 10:18:58 97.73.64.149 Report to Moderator	Re: Fuel for your tractors... Gas, LP, or Diesel? in reply to Hayrack, 03-04-2013 10:12:06   Depends on what you're going to do with it. For light occasional work, maybe that would be OK. I wouldn't want to try to do any heavy work with any 3010 ! Just got filled up on fuel last week. Diesel - $3.80. Gas - $4.04 Net price on gas after I get all the taxes back is $3.30. Problem is it's a year later, and then the refund is considered income! [Reply]  [No Email]