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Using Diesel in Model B

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John Villeneuve

01-25-2001 12:48:10




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Have a Mdl B that I would like to run on diesel. I know about starting on gas and switching to diesel at 180F.

Was told that I would lose power when switching to the diesel. Fact or Fiction?

Thanks,

JV




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C. Shepherd

01-26-2001 10:00:07




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 Re: Using Diesel in Model B in reply to John Villeneuve, 01-25-2001 12:48:10  
I run my 2cyl tractors on a mix of gasoline and diesel. About 50/50 in cold weather, about 70% diesel 30% gas in hot weather. This seems to make more power with better economy than using all gas or all diesel. The power is OK on all gas but the fuel consumption is terrible. Some diesel helps the economy without taking away power. All diesel lowers the power and it usually won't all get burned.

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Butch(OH)

01-26-2001 05:04:09




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 Re: Using Diesel in Model B in reply to John Villeneuve, 01-25-2001 12:48:10  
John, I believe that you should try kerosene or "distillate" instead of straight diesel. You can't buy distillate anymore but I have heard mixtures similar to what Two-pop is using are close. Quite a few tractors were changed to gasoline compression ratio at overhaul and that may be why Buckeye Al can't keep his from knocking. You will also have some oil dilution and will have to drain the sump back down to the full level. An owners manual will tell you how to deal with the oil dilution problem. When it gets warm enough, I am going to run a non-JD (sorry) on the dyno with gasoline and various blends to try to answer the power question.

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BEN SO TEX

01-25-2001 17:15:47




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 Re: Using Diesel in Model B in reply to John Villeneuve, 01-25-2001 12:48:10  
I have run our old B on diesel and it did just fine. BUT when I went to change the oil it had about 4 gals to much. The diesel was slipping by the rings and getting into the crankcase. I do not run diesel in it any more only gasoline,



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Mike Aylward

01-25-2001 15:56:08




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 Re: Using Diesel in Model B in reply to John Villeneuve, 01-25-2001 12:48:10  
John, I have seen this done. Several years ago I witnessed my dad drive a '36 A that was owned by a friend of ours plow all day on straight #2 Diesel. It smoked like a diesel, but ran just fine. It was summer, and the tractor was operated just short of boiling. If you have the original type low compression engine, it should run, if all conditions are right. And you should get MORE power out of a gallon of diesel fuel, due to the fact that it is a heavier fuel and has more BTU's per gallon. That was one of John Deere's selling points for many years. To be sure- everything has to be right to make this work. I wouldn't want to try it in cool weather, and be darn sure you shut the tractor off on gasoline, otherwise you will never get it started again. Hope this helps. Mike

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L.C.

01-25-2001 15:52:33




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 Re: Using Diesel in Model B in reply to John Villeneuve, 01-25-2001 12:48:10  
You might try running a search on the archives here to see the past discussions on the approximation of "stove top" fuel. I don't think I'd try to run diesel fuel.



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buckeye al

01-25-2001 14:18:26




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 Re: Using Diesel in Model B in reply to John Villeneuve, 01-25-2001 12:48:10  
I'd call it fact. If you try straight diesel,be surprised if it would run at all! If it did run, it would probably knock so loudly you'll abandon ship or at least want to! I once tried straight K1 Kerosine in one of my A's. It ran but it was REAL cranky about it! Had to open the needles SIGNIFICANTLY & then it drank the K1 like a cow goes for water after dropping her calf. It smoked like a staem tractor and I had to retard the timing (rolled the mag clear forward) to reduce (but not eliminate) knocking. The tractor was however VERY ready for a major overhaul. Ring end gaps were nearing 400 thousandths! I mix #2 diesel with gasoline and have good luck but I run less than 20% diesel. By good luck I mean I don't have sooty exhaust, slimy stacks (like a slobbering Diesel), plug fouling, hard starting or knocking. I run Champion D 21's or 23's. I have my mag's run and static timing both set to JD specs. A lot will depend on the condition of the engine. If you have some sitcky valves the heavier (more oily) fuel will usually free them up.

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Greg H.

01-25-2001 13:13:25




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 Re: Using Diesel in Model B in reply to John Villeneuve, 01-25-2001 12:48:10  
Isn't Diesel alittle dirty to work well. Carosene or tractor tractor feul were the second options after starting on gas weren't they. I don't know You might loose some power, due to it not managing the diesel effeciently.



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Dan

01-25-2001 17:50:17




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 Re: Re: Using Diesel in Model B in reply to Greg H., 01-25-2001 13:13:25  
We used to run stove oil in our old G after starting on gas and getting it running. Not sure what the difference is between stove oil and diesel but I understand the diesel is heavier. The G had the all fuel pistons and would do more work on stove oil than on gas but you had to be doing a big job to make it worth the trouble.



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Bus Driver

01-25-2001 18:41:32




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 Re: Re: Re: Using Diesel in Model B in reply to Dan, 01-25-2001 17:50:17  
Some B's were made for gasoline only. Does it have 2 fuel tanks? I drove a 1939 G quite a lot in the 1940's and 50's. We used straight kerosene, which was a bit heavier than K-1. I suspect that the post who reported all the problems might have a tractor that is not exactly an original all-fuel model. Maybe had higher compression pistons. In summer, we switched the G to kerosene before even getting into the seat of the tractor. All-fuel models had only 4 to 1 compression ratio. Higher compression knocks like crazy. If a tractor has any changes from original, I suggest staying with gasoline only. K-1 should be great for a true all-fuel tractor.

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twopop

01-25-2001 20:04:52




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Using Diesel in Model B in reply to Bus Driver, 01-25-2001 18:41:32  
I once had a 34 a all fuel,and i mixed 50% diesel with50% unleaded gas.it ran fine and didnt smoke.i could also run this fuel in my pickup,but it didnt want to burn until the engine got warm.if your tractor is an all fuel you will get more power and work per gallon with 50/50 mix than with straight gasoline



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