(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

is sa gas or kerosene

R

rray

Member
I have a 53 SA that my grand dad bought new. I have been riding this tractor since pre-school. I only remember it being run on gas. Now that it has been passed to me and I begin to study it a bit closer as I make repairs I notice that the 2 carburetors I have are as described on page 29 of the owners manual. They have a main jet adjustment screw and a drain cock. I do not know the serial number of the tractor since the seat has been replaced. The engine serial number is FAAM 329352 G. Is there a difference in the gas and kerosene engines or just external accessories?

Richard
 

So is there no difference in the engines? Would it harm a gas engine to put kerosene in it?
 
RICHARD; IF YOU WOULD GIVE ME A CALL I WILL EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KEROSENE ENGINE AND A GAS ENGINE. I HAVE A 1953 SUPER A THAT IS KEROSENE. FRANK 1-859-608-6404, THANK'S
 
There is a difference in the SA engine for gasoline, kerosene and distillate, it is in the pistons. The gasoline engine needing higher compression has a piston where the wrist pin is set lower in the piston body, the swept volume is the same but the piston top is higher up in the bore so with the same head the final compression ratio is higher. There were 3 basic sets of pistons, gasoline with compression ratio about 5.9 to 1, distillate with a compression ratio about 4.7 to 1 and kerosene with a compression ratio of 4.4 to 1.
The distillate/kerosene engines had a hop manifold with a flap valve to control heat input and they had carburetors with a drain tap on the bowl, if it stopped on kerosene you had to get rid of it out of the carburetor before trying to re-start on gasoline. The jets and venturi in the carburetor were also different. These tractors also had a separate started gasoline tank attached to the right-hand side of the cylinder head, radiator shutters, water temperature gauge and a head shield to fit over the manifold to stop the air from the fan cooling down the manifold
 
The valve on the carb can be added to a gas carb. My dad's 1947 gasoline H had a carb with a valve on it. Or the carb might have been replaced with a kerosene/distillate carb-I doubt that. In addition to what the others said, X3 would follow the serial if it was kerosene.
 
My 1948 Farmall Super A is set up for kerosene (distillate was never available in New Zealand). There is no X3 on the serial number, there is no suffix on the tractor serial number (my kerosene 1941 W-4 does not have any suffix either). The Super A does have a K suffix on the engine serial number but the Super A parts book (TC-39) does not mention suffix codes at all for either tractor or engine.
 

So what was the thinking behind have 3 different engines? The kerosene and distillate models sound a bit more contrary to get running and today no one could afford it.
 
In New Zealand before the advent of rebate (less road tax) petrol (gasoline) in the early 1950s, kerosene was the equivalent of 15c per gallon and petrol was 45c per gallon. So the cheaper fuel, even with its starting troubles and extra oil use won out. I presume when distillate appeared, just before the war it was cheaper than the kerosene which all IHC tractors used prior to that time.
With the use of rebate petrol the use of kerosene as a fuel diminished very rapidly.
Today kerosene is up to 4 or more times the price of petrol so now do not even use it for cleaning!
 
I use the codes given in Guy Fay's data book, in particular I believe the A or SA is not consistent using them. The standard engine for the A, SA, B and C is gas. The standard for the early W and H and M series is distillate or kerosene, thus there would be no suffix for the engine. Also there may be a difference because your SA was shipped (or built?) to New Zealand. The only K that could fit a SA is cast iron pistons, according to the data book. It is also listed as an optional 4th gear, but I believe that K is only for optional gears in the H,M, and W series.
 
My Super A had cast iron pistons hence I believe the K suffix on the engine serial number> The cast iron pistons were replaced with flat topped alloy pistons in 3 1/8 inch sleeves last year as the 3 inch pistons and sleeves are no longer available.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
3020 Gas or 3010 Diesel
Replies
17
Views
1K
620 John
620 John
R
1939 Farmall A Fuel, Gas or Kerosene?
Replies
7
Views
855
KD Cannon
K
Horsez2
IH 504 Question + Advice needed BADLY
2
Replies
21
Views
2K
ed12345
E
R
FH Gas or Kerosene Head
Replies
3
Views
670
used red MN
U
M
John Deere 1010 dozer not starting
Replies
6
Views
543
Dan in Ohio
Dan in Ohio
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top