what fuel? lead substitute?

sweinert

Member
I am new to the restoration scene and currently have a U and a couple Rs. I have bought gasoline without alcohol to run in the tractors - my question is - should I continue avoiding the alcohol blends and should I be adding a lead substitute to the fuel since the tractors were built long before lead free gas was invented?
 
Yes, avoid the alcohol blended fuel. It goes bad quickly and can wreck havoc on the old fuel systems especially if you don't use the tractor a lot. I don't bother with lead substitutes. I also don't use my tractors to make a living so they only get occasional use.
 
Obviously you are a young person White gas or Unleaded gas was around long before they started to put lead in it. Back in the day we had Kerosene, and or Disolete, White Gas, and Red Gas (Leaded). Used only in cars and trucks. Eventually it was recommended to use leaded gas in tractors. During WWII gas was rationed and Red gas was scarce. But Briggs and Stratton warned against using White gas because with out lead the valves would not get enough lubrication. Many years later environmentalist decided lead in the gas was a problem. I don't argue with that. I do argue with them on many other issues. So when Unleaded gas came out most all companies recommended Unleaded gas including B&S. As I grow older I see and realize how the public is Brain Washed and Controlled by the Powers that Be.
I have been using Unleaded gas in 15 tractor ever since it came out. And I have never had a problem that would point to the gas.
I do however agree with BMG1 these new formulas make a whale of a mess if it sits for a long period of time. If that's the case then you better put some conditioner in it.
MMDEL
 
For anything that tends to sit unused for a few months, I would definitely avoid ethanol blended gas.

On my antiques, and any small engines that sit for long periods, I use 100LL gas from the airport. There is no performance benefit from it in these engines, other than the fact that 100LL is formulated to be stable in storage for years at a time. It's expensive, but I don't need a whole lot of it.
 
I accuse other people on this forum (to myself) with answering a questions and giving answers that don't fit the question. And I just did it myself. I was thinking unleaded gas versus leaded gas and not thinking about ethanol. I'm sure that came on the scene after you was born.
Sorry!
MMDEL
 

Some of the U tractors came in LP, and I have one. They came with hardened valve seats when factory equipped for LP. I also have an R, and to the best of my knowledge, none were equipped from the factory for LP. My R is one of those I use 100LL airplane gas in, to help protect the valves and for fuel stability.
 

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