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Two-Cylinder Tractor Fuel

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AWB

02-04-2000 18:09:34




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I have just finishing restoring a John Deere LA engine. I realize these engines were run on leaded fuels as that was the only type of gasoline sold in those days. Should I add a Lead additive to the fuel? Or, should I use plain old unleaded gas? Will unleaded gas damage the engine? If unleaded gas is OK should I use regular or premium grade gas? Any information Anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated.

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Farmer Bob

02-07-2000 14:37:53




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 Re: Two-Cylinder Tractor Fuel in reply to AWB, 02-04-2000 18:09:34  
I have a farm in upstate N.Y. I have been farming with the same John Deere 60 since it was new. I never had any valve problems until I started using unleaded gas. I had problems with the valve seats recessing and the valve clearnce closing up then the valves would burn. Since I started to use a lead additive 3 years ago I havent had any more valve problems. I run that tractor about 200-300 hours a year.

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Todd

02-06-2000 21:15:31




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 Re: Two-Cylinder Tractor Fuel in reply to AWB, 02-04-2000 18:09:34  
Just use pump gas. Youre not going to put out a crop with it. Ive never had any problems with doing that.



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Britt

02-06-2000 19:38:16




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 Re: Two-Cylinder Tractor Fuel in reply to AWB, 02-04-2000 18:09:34  
Tetra ethyl lead did not find it's way into most automotive gasolines until about 1940 in the USA. However, low octane tractor gas, leadless gas, (white gas) and distillate was routinely avalible & used well into the fifties. The majority of John Deere two cylinder tractors were designed to run on these fuels. In view of these facts, I would not be afraid to use unleaded gas in these tractors. These slow speed engines will run to overhaul without teardown for valve seat erosion. In fact the removal of lead from the fuel has reduced the corrosion that was partially induced by lead salts in the exhaust stream. These salts can weaken exhaust valve stems to the point of failure in infrequently used engines and engines that are not worked very hard.
Sure, leaded gas or lead substitutes will extend the life of the valve seats, but at what cost in the long run? The cost of additives over the life of the engine between overhauls will far exceed the cost of valve seats and valves.

Britt

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clooney

02-04-2000 19:23:57




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 Re: Two-Cylinder Tractor Fuel in reply to AWB, 02-04-2000 18:09:34  
Awb,if you are only going to "play with it" idle it around, or use it for light duty, just use regular unleaded gasoline. If you plan on working it hard use a lead additive or 1 qt. of non-detergent motor oil per tank full. The use of a lead additive in a tractor that is just going to idle around will make the spark plugs foul easily. I usually put about a pint of 10w non-detergent motor oil in each 10 gal. of gasoline I put in, that also lubes the valve area & keeps the upper cylinder area lubed (sometimes the tractors I own only get run for a short time then parked for long periods). But I also put hardened valve seats in the head whenever I grind the valves to keep from burning the valve to seat area with unleaded fuel.

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John

02-06-2000 10:52:48




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 Re: Re: Two-Cylinder Tractor Fuel in reply to clooney, 02-04-2000 19:23:57  
I own a 1941 John Deere LA. I run it on normal unleaded gasoline. It runs great for me either at idle or with a load on it. I plow snow with it, and have nerver had any problem with lack of power. It has been so cold this winter, that I did added some dry gas to it. It keeps ice from forming in the sediment bowl. Hope this helps



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clooney

02-06-2000 11:14:31




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 Re: Re: Re: Two-Cylinder Tractor Fuel in reply to John, 02-06-2000 10:52:48  
John, the reason for adding lead or engine oil isn't to make it run better but to keep from burning or sticking a valve (old tractors don't have hardned valves or seats). Plowing snow isn't that much of a load,like pulling a plow or disc for many hours straight.



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