Small industrial diesels seem to be something that the US mainly didn't have. Very common in Australia.
I guess fuel price had a lot to do with it. In 1922 here petrol was 35c/Imp gallon, kerosene 22c and crude oil 5c.
So we saw a lot of these engines out of particularly England (Listers, Petters particularly)and even a few Armstrong Siddley air cooled (they came out in 1931 from the firm that made air cooled radial aircraft engines).
And there was a local industry as well, with the major brands being Ronaldson Tippet, Southern Cross and Kelly & Lewis. Ronaldson Tippets were license built German Guldners and used a cleistory head for the mechanical minded to marvel at. These used diesel for starting assistance.
Southern Cross was home grown and has an oil measure in the head. The oil bumped compression and did a temporary seal if worn. We still have a 1940 version in regular use on a bore pump. They got up to 40hp four cylinder ones. A tribute to their lasting abilities from a sawmiller - "They ran for years surrounded by sawdust and neglect" - even without an air cleaner on the early ones.
Kelly & Lewis might have had European connections (some metric threads) but I haven't been able to find any info. We have a mid-1950's 5hp one on another bore. Its starting aid is a removable felt pad that you soak in half petrol/half diesel and insert in the air intake for starting. Rattles a bit.
Starting on all isn't too bad down to about frost level if in reasonable condition.
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. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Third Brush Generators - by Chris Pratt. While I love straightening sheet metal, cleaning, and painting old tractors, I use every excuse to avoid working on the on the electrics. I find the whole process sheer mystery. I have picked up and attempted to read every auto and farm electrics book with no improvement in the situation. They all seem to start with a chapter entitled "Theory of Electricity". After a few paragraphs I usually close the book and go back to banging out dents. A good friend and I were recently discussing our tractor electrical systems when he stated "I figure it all comes back to applying Ohms Law". At this point
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
Oliver 550 Diesel runs like a watch three point hitch pto engine gone threw about two hundred hours ago nice clean tractor
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
