Gas vs Diesel tractor

Everyone,

I currently have a '68 3020 Gas narrow front. I am looking to purchase a second tractor (wide front with loader) and am seeing that gas tractors seem kinda rare.

So, would it be bad for a diesel noobie like me to get a diesel tractor?

I've never started a diesel. I've never drove a diesel. I grew up with Allis Chalmers WD45's, so even though I am far from a mechanic, I at least know what a carb is. Diesels on the other hand, no experience what so ever. Do diesels even start in the winter? Yet, I've heard that diesel tractor engines are much ... sturdier ... hardier ... last longer.

So, would you advise me to keep looking for another gas tractor, or are they not so different that I would be happy with a diesel?

Thanks, Lee

Other than diesel engine won't run with air in the fuel the engines aren't a lot different from gasoline. One good thing about diesels is no sparkplugs or points required. Main thing on diesel is keep fuel clean with no water or air in the fuel. I say go for a diesel but that's easy for me to say since I've been around diesel engine since the mid 60's.

It's all personal preferance. For hard heavy long hours of work the diesels use less fuel and pull better. Worst thing on a diesel would be if you happen to get one like you have it would have a 24 volt system. Try and stick to a 12 volt system.
Right now an LP model would be the most cost effective to run with LP at the lowest prices in years.

You could always stick a wide front and loader on yours. Gas tractors make good loader tractors. At least for me they do as I do alot of little lifting projects where I'm done before it even gets warmed up.

So ... you have to let diesels "Warm Up" a bit before you can use them? With my gas 3020, I can start working after just a few minutes at idle.

My 3020 is 12 volt, are the diesel 3020's (and their siblings) 24 volt? What does that really mean?

Not planning on working this tractor really hard ... just a hobby farmer with 50+ ewes. So, haying, manure scooping/spreading, post hole digging plus all the other stuff a loader is good for. So cost to run is not that big of a deal.

I think Mike has the best idea. Put the wide front and loader on the tractor you have- it's the perfect loader tractor. Then if you want, or need, buy a diesel, as they are most common now.
The challenge is you can't just say gas VS diesel. You have to measure up every tractor as a whole. Some diesels start right up. Some don't. I think you'll also find that many small, modern tractors, made cheaply, won't have the hydraulic capacity of your old 3020.

How old are you? Might not be worth teaching an old dog new tricks.
If you're going to keep that one and have two tracors,is it worth getting another fuel tank and storing gas and diesel?

Gas or Diesel? From my perspective it would depend on what you
want a loader tractor for. A gas tractor in my neck of the woods,
even antique, has generally seen a lot less hours and the hours
are a lot easier.... than a comparable diesel. If you are a part time
farmer and expect to use it as a chore tractor, cleaning, feeding,
moving supplies..and it will run for an hour or two per day... I
would consider a diesel. Because, a cold gas job idling will sure
suck up the fuel. Get a diesel with a block heater or radiator hose
type heater and buy yourself a power circuit timer to heat it up
30 -60 minutes before trying to start it. Newer diesels have
starting aids built right into them, starting with an ether starting
aid, glow plug in the intake and the more advanced use a
thermostarter. As the man says, keep clean fuel in the diesels
and remember to drain the water from the bowl and try not to
use cans to fuel the diesel... great way to introduce dirt into the
fuel system..

This debate is as old as the internal combustion engine.
Diesel now costs 20% more than gas, so they better be 20% more efficent eh? When a gas engine needs a tune up, it will cost $20. When a diesel needs a tune up, it will cost $1000. Where are you there are no gas tractors for sale?

If you want to work with your tractor buy a diesel, if you want to play buy a gas.

I started making the switch from gas to diesel about 4 years ago. Have two diesels now.
I mostly just fool around with the smaller Fords - 3000, 4000, etc.
Had a real nice running gasser in my 3000 then found a new engine cheap so I made the switch.
I do miss the gasser. It was sooo quiet compared to the noisey, rattly diesel in it now. Diesels stink like he77 too. Both if you get some fuel on you and out the exhaust pipe. Get some on your shoes and jump in the GF's car and you'll be hearing about it for a while.
Another thing is starting a diesel in cold weather.
Yesterday morning I needed to move the tractor and hadn't the foresight to plug it in for a couple of hours first. About 25° out and it didn't want to fire up so I had to give it a whiff of devil juice which I don't like to do.
My gasser would have started instantly in much colder temp than that.
Over the course of a year I don't run them more than about 100 hours - snow plowing and mowing and such so fuel consumption isn't a big deal.

Diesel vs gas depends on a lot of factors...

I"m guessing if you had a 3020 diesel and your 3020 gas, you"d wonder why Deere put the same model number on each.

Diesels have more torque and better fuel economy, and in general, run longer between "tune-ups". No fouled plugs, bad wires, worn or cracked caps, bad condensers, carbs plugged because of "reformulated gas".

Someone mentioned Diesels "smell bad"... so do gas jobs.

Diesel is less of a fire hazard. Drop a match in a bucket of Diesel... it will put out the match. Try that with gas and you need the funeral director.

A diesel will require more starting power, and in cold weather a block heater is recomended.

We operate a dairy farm in WI. Equipment runs every day of the year- and while many of our tractors are 40 years old, diesel is the fuel of choice. In models where we had both gas and diesel, the diesel performance and operating cost won hands down. The best example was probably in Skid Steers. At one point we had both New Holland 784 and 785 skid steers- same loader, only one model was gas and one diesel. the diesel has a 57 hp engine, the gas 72. The diesel would do much more work on 1/2 the fuel. It also didn"t require the constant attention of points, plugs, etc.

Do as you wish, but diesel is not to be afraid of. After a year or two, you may wonder why you want to keep gas around.

Amen to all the comments about gas and diesel tractors.

Learning diesel is not that big of a deal. I came from town and
went to farmin. I started out on gas because that's all I
knew....IH 464, 45 hp, 2wd. I learned about the two fuels, and
about LP on a 4020 JD and all that.

I got my initiation and paid the price for being stupid and from
town.

No more. Diesels are all the folks say they are and as I said,
learning them isn't all that big of a deal.

So, if you want to work, on max torque and min fuel go diesel. If
you want a run around the farm in the winter time doing chores
you might find a use for one. They start easier if you disrespect
the compression starting machine, like the diesel is. Not rocket
science, just a few little things you need to do to make it what
you want.

Mark

Thanks everyone.

My usage is definitely small time. In the winter I run about 1 hour a week, but when I need it - I really need it.

Two years ago I had to have Deere out and work on the tractor on Christmas eve at the start of a blizzard because I HAD to feed the sheep (I had left the 3pt up - holding up a weight - in an ice storm and when I went to lower it, it eat its linkage. No 3pt, no moving a bale). And round bales to not move by hand.

So that is when the wife and I said we needed a second tractor ... plus I need a loader (and a manure spreader) to clean up the feedlot.

Summer I'm using the tractor to spray the pasture, hay, run the post hole digger. Still, no more than 25 - 30 hours a week max.

Power is not all that available so if I get a diesel, I'll have to park it next to the house to be able to plug it in in the winter.

Well, there is 2 wide front 3010 diesels at auction Saturday (one with a loader) - I'll just have to see what they go for. Plus I just saw that a gas 3020 wide front (no loader) will be up for auction in two weeks. I guess I'll just have to see and not be impatient - I'm not trying to win a race. The right tractor will come along.

Thanks.

I am a pretty green guy but you could not give me a JD 3020 or 4020 gas that I had to keep and use any more!!!! With the new gas they are a PIA to keep running. I used a JD 3020 Gas for years on the feeder wagon. I got to where I could change the spark plugs real fast. They would foul out and not run. Last few years did not even tighten them with a wrench. Just spun them in and light torque with a pair of pliers. They would only be in there for maybe a week or two any way.

A JD 3020 or JD 4020 diesel will run fine in cold weather with just a little common sense. Do not run it out of fuel. Keep winter blend fuel for in the winter or just treat the fuel with anti-gel treatment. Plug the block heater in for a few hours before you want to use it and it will start fine. Then you have something that is dependable.

With the old gas tractors they are a pain to use when it is sub zero temperatures. The carbs frosting up and all. Too much of a head ache for me.

well diesel is teh way to go for two reasions a diesel tractor will do twiced as muchwork as a gas tractor on a gallon of fuel and will run longer if u take care of it

most ford diesel tractors will start great if u use the heater for 45 seconds down to 0 no need to plug then up cant beat them for winter starting

Agreed.

For light duty work and lots of cold starts the gas (especially for the purchase price) is a viable alternative. If you are going to work it long and hard you need a diesel.