Buying F-H Kerosene Pistons and Sleeves

RyanKve

Member
Well hello again,
I have removed all of the pistons and sleeves from my farmall H and I would like to spend a little extra to keep it kerosene for restoration, demonstration, and doomsday purposes.
I am looking for anyone who knows where I can buy or get kerosene pistons and sleeves.
Please do not try to change my mind, Ive made up my decisions and every time I post, someone tries to convince me to keep gas. Please and thank you.
 
1. You say you want to keep it kerosene, which alludes to you having the kerosene pistons already? Any reason why the pistons can't be reused? You could buy new sleeves and reuse the old pistons.
2. I think the gas motors usually had a bit higher compression, but you probably could still run kerosene in it.
3. The bigger issue with the kerosene is (at least for allis motors which I am more familiar with) is making sure you have the right manifold to preheat the air in colder weather. Might have to custom build one.
4. As long as you get the motor up to operating temperature, you should be able to switch over to kerosene. I ran about 50/50 diesel/gas through the JD 520 (regular gas not allfuel). It has so much carbon in the engine, that it was dieseling when I shut it off, so I diluted it down a bit more, but it ran. Just remember to get it switched back over to gas on shutdown too so you can get it started the next time.
5. If you are running it on kerosene, who is going to know (except you) if you don't have the exact pistons? Good luck hunting down NOS.
 
I'm not trying to talk you out of kerosene, but are you sure it's available in your area? It's hard to find kerosene for torpedo heaters around here unless you want to buy it in cans from the farm supply stores and it's very expensive, about twice the price of gas. I'd hate to see you go to the trouble to get it set up for kerosene and then you can't find or afford fuel
 
I can't tell you where to purchase but I
can give you a couple of part numbers that may be correct for your application.
CT2530 for set of 4 sleeve and piston assy. 3 3/8 Standard compression flat top iron pistons. That is Central Tractor part number from 1955.
C1443P is 3 3/8 cast iron piston . Compression distance 2 1/2 inches . Pin dia. 1.1088 inch Replaces IH # 6144DA This is one piston and Sealed Power # from about 40 years ago. Have fun on your restoration.
 
There needs to be an understanding here. You will need to change the head to the Kero/distillate part number or you will not
be ableto run it on any fuel but gasoline. The compression of the Gasoline head is way different than the Kero head.
Standard pistons in an H were flat top, so with the flat top pistons and a gasoline head it will not be usable as a Kero
operational machine. Jim
 
I wont talk you out of anything, its your tractor. But as
previously mentioned, can you get kerosene in your area?
Its available here in 55 gallon drums to use in winter
space heaters. But you better have a deep wallet.
 
He you go we will see if the forum will allow the 1st link. It
is for a set of used pistons with the part number
6144DA Duner gave you. I have no idea of there condition, in the picture with them all together the 2nd one from the right shows more wear then the rest. The problem you will have is finding new 3 3/8 in. bore sleeves. You may even need to special order them because almost every sleeve put out for an H is for 3 7/16 in. overbore pistons. You may as well get the flat top over bore set sold here on YT. That small raise in compression from the overbore will not raise the compression enough to have a negligible affect when you run it on the kerosene. The 2nd link takes you to the ..Overhaul kits, sold by YT the top two are both flat head pistons. The serial number breaks I believe are due to a change in wrist pin sizes. I want to believe you have already done this, but if you click the ..Parts.. box at the top of these forums and navigate to Farmall H you will see there is a section for bearings which do not come in the kits. Also a separate section that gives you options for individual sleeves and pistons, but they are more expensive going that route. I know you said not to but here is my two cents worth. I may as well be straight up with you I feel what
you are doing is quite unwise, but it is your tractor. I
will say this unless you find the one in a million person
who really wants a tractor capable of running on
kerosene or distillate your tractor will NOT be worth any
additional value in stock restored form as far as it having the correct internal engine parts or other aftermarket parts.
Edited to fix some goofs. And now since I post from an iPhone after the edit there will likely be weird spacing in my reply.
Used pistons

YT Farmall H parts


This post was edited by used red MN on 05/13/2022 at 08:33 pm.
 
The kerosene head has a 4.4 to 1 compression ratio, the distillate head was 4.6 to 1 and the gasoline head was about 5.7 to 1
 
Athol has provided some information you can work
with. Knowing those numbers, you might be able to
modify the piston crown in a lathe to lower the
compression 1 point... just how deep to make the
bowl depends on how much metal is there... youll
have to consult with an engine machinist to
determine how far you can go. This is only
necessary if you cant find a kero head; but the
place to start is post a want ad right here on YT
classified ads. Try also a couple local farm oriented
newspapers. The Red Power Forums are free, can
just go on there and inquire, but to view the want /
for sale ads requires a subscription. Theres one
guy over there who cant give away a kero head for
an M, but refuses to scrap it. There must be some
H heads out there in the same situation. I am
interested in what youre doing cuz I picked up an
all-fuel F-30 that had some important pieces
robbed off it, and have slowly been finding the
pieces to put it back together. But anyway, my email
is open if you want to exchange kero ideas. Hard to
get on with the project when 90% of the responses
are negative.
 
(quoted from post at 22:00:01 05/13/22) 1. You say you want to keep it kerosene, which alludes to you having the kerosene pistons already? Any reason why the pistons can't be reused?

The motor was locked up and I had to destroy the pistons to get them out. The rings are frozen to the pistons and now the piston head is messed up from beating it with a metal pipe and a sledge.
 
(quoted from post at 22:53:36 05/13/22) I'm not trying to talk you out of kerosene, but are you sure it's available in your area?

Yes, We have a kerosene torpedo heater and there is kerosene available out of a pump. It's only $0.20 more per gallon that gas or something like that.
 
I like the idea of keeping the original kerosene parts on the tractor. Makes it a little different than the other 400,000 Hs that you see. I dont
think you are trying to make a living farming with the tractor so have some fun. I have a 40 H and a 39 F14 that still have all of the
Kerosene parts intact. I have ran the F14 that way but the H I have just used gasoline in the main tank. My understanding was that on the H
the flattop original piston were all the same and the larger combustion chamber in the heads made the compression difference for the three
different fuels. Head, manifold, carburetor (might just be the jetting), manifold heat shield and the required starting fuel tank and plumbing
were what made the tractor a kerosene tractor. I would think that if you had those parts that you could run the 3 7/16 flat top pistons with no
issues. Good luck with your parts search. Mike
 
(quoted from post at 15:53:04 05/14/22) Nothing special about the pistons, they are just flat top pistons. Doubt youll find original size though.

Though they're just flat top pistons, the head should match the pistons.. correct.?

The owner before me had put high compression knuckle pistons in the engine and the head has a cavity for the pistons. Would the head with the cavity not run kerosene, or do I have to have a kerosene head. I'm assuming the kerosene head is just flat.

If any of my wording makes sense..
 
(quoted from post at 15:53:04 05/14/22) Nothing special about the pistons, they are just flat top pistons. Doubt youll find original size though.

Though they're just flat top pistons, the head should match the pistons.. correct.?

The owner before me had put high compression knuckle pistons in the engine and the head has a cavity for the pistons. Would the head with the cavity not run kerosene, or do I have to have a kerosene head. I'm assuming the kerosene head is just flat.

If any of my wording makes sense..
 
Dont have one setting around to look at but I think the kerosene head will have a noticeable larger combustion chamber than the gas head
that you have now. Enough deeper cavity that I think the kerosene and distillate heads have valves that are shorter than the gas head valves.
 

I don't know about the Farmall, but other ones have a different head and manifold. Dad used to run power fuel in the ones he used, and started it on gas, then switched over after it warmed up.
 
(quoted from post at 01:57:19 05/16/22) I think the kerosene head will have a noticeable larger combustion chamber than the gas head

Is this picture attached a kerosene head or a gas head?
 
(quoted from post at 16:18:41 05/16/22)
Is this picture attached a kerosene head or a gas head?

mvphoto92189.jpg
 
Flip it over, and get the part number casting. Looks like a kero head to me, but that number will tell for sure. I have to ask,
since i didnt see it mentioned, do you have a good kerosene manifold, along with all the other parts needed to run keorsene?
 
Ryan, go near the beginning of tractor talk, johnny
popper found a kero head but he doesnt want it.
Compare the number shown with what is on your
head... you either found one to buy or yours might
already be kerosene.
 
(quoted from post at 16:28:55 05/16/22) Flip it over, and get the part number casting. Looks like a kero head to me, but that number will tell for sure.

Yes, I have all of the kero components. I will attach a picture of the head code. It appears to me as 362533-RN
mvphoto92194.jpg


This post was edited by RyanKve on 05/16/2022 at 05:50 pm.
 

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.

Back
Top