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400 diesel vs gas

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Steve Santini

10-14-2006 13:14:57

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Hello Farmall Folks,
I need some advice. I have always been pulled toward MDs and 400ds. My question is are they more trouble to keep in shape then they are worth? I know a few on here have owned or do own gas start to diesel type tractors.
Are the heads prone to cracking? If a person takes proper care of that motor can they be expected to give a good run? Or would it be better to go with a straight gas tractor for trouble free running and work? Thanks for any input. This tractor will do field work on about 20 acres. (and be my main larger tractor) Steve

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Steve Santini

10-14-2006 22:14:07

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Re: 400 diesel vs gas in reply to Steve Santini, 10-14-2006 13:14:57

Hi Hugh-I stopped by our local welding shop yesterday and it still sits on the counter patiently waiting! He must think if it sits long enough it will just fuse itself back together. We have had a couple of pretty good freezes and I think the guy is pretty good so I will have to wait him out-claims he can repair it.

Tractor Vet-thanks for sharing that-just how hard are the parts to get? Is it bad?!

Josette- Very nice tractor-not for sale tho I am sure. Steve

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Jossette

10-15-2006 05:11:29

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Re: 400 diesel vs gas in reply to Steve Santini, 10-14-2006 22:14:07

everything is for sale. I'm just afraid if I sell it, I will get a lemon and have to start all over..

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Jossette

10-14-2006 19:44:50

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Re: 400 diesel vs gas in reply to Steve Santini, 10-14-2006 13:14:57

never have any trouble with my gaser. Although, sometimes I wish I had a D just for economy. If you play with the carb, you can get pretty close. Mine runs about 2 1/4 gal P/hour at 3/4- 7/8 throttle..Never had it wide open, just use a lower gear.

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Jimmy King

10-15-2006 02:42:33

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Re: 400 diesel vs gas in reply to Jossette, 10-14-2006 19:44:50

I had a 400 Diesel and on a 7 ft. Roam Offset plow wide open it would use 2 Gal per hr.

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Jossette

10-15-2006 05:05:17

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Re: 400 diesel vs gas in reply to Jimmy King, 10-15-2006 02:42:33

something like that, a gas would go 3 gal or more an hour. lot of difference between a D and gas for economy...

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the tractor vet

10-14-2006 19:33:07

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Re: 400 diesel vs gas in reply to Steve Santini, 10-14-2006 13:14:57

Well if the parts were not so hard tto find as they stopped maken them years ago and what is left is all that there is and the parts don't come cheap when ya can find them i would run one as i used them in the field as my main tractor . I bought one back in 1968 it was a 58 model 450 D narrow ft. with fast hitch and like all my tractors that i have had she did not run well when she came home and after spending a lot of time and talken to the experts i learned and was the first tractor that i realy worked on , i had worked on cars trucks and construction equipment and was working at a Chrysler Plymothe dealership as a mechanic. We had the older I H construction equipment when i work for the const. co. but real never got into the engines other then putting in a set of spark plugs or changing oiland fuel filters . Did more work on the Cat's and the shovels and pans so i never called myself and expert on the I H's When i bought the 450 it had a miss on the diesel side and did not start on the gas side the starting problem was a pice of cake to fix but that darn miss took alot of work and trial and error before i found it , it tured out to be in the injection pump . I worked the snot out of that tractor then like a dummy i sold it and replaced it with a 460 Farmall and plum hated that tractor . Now i have moved up to the 06 seires and 86 seires. IF someone would start maken parts for them again would i have one YES.

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Hugh Mackay

10-14-2006 18:56:57

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Re: 400 diesel vs gas in reply to Steve Santini, 10-14-2006 13:14:57

Steve: How did you make out trying to rebuild and weld the cultivator lift frame?

I'm with you on the diesel, start em right and let them cool down right,it will last you a lifetime.

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Steve Santini

10-14-2006 15:05:57

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Re: 400 diesel vs gas in reply to Steve Santini, 10-14-2006 13:14:57

Jim and Geoff,
Thanks for the replies. You answered exactly what I could never have known without owning/using one. Yeah, I do really have a thing for the old diesels. My farming is not big enough to be a bizness, so the economy of field isn't that big of a make or break for me. Are they going to be that much more difficult to work on with common sense and proper manuals?
Thanks for the input Steve

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Janicholson

10-14-2006 14:44:49

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Re: 400 diesel vs gas in reply to Steve Santini, 10-14-2006 13:14:57

I have owned both M, and MD, and been in the field for hunderds of hours with a 400 the 400D will be more expensive to repair, but will be more economical in the field. From my experience, the gas version will run through 25 - 30% more fuel per task. The Gas start D run tractors start easily in cold wether, and are not prone to rebellion. Let it run at Idle for 2-3 minutes on shut down after it is up to operating temperature. (I go with the D) JimN

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Geoff NY

10-14-2006 14:21:46

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Re: 400 diesel vs gas in reply to Steve Santini, 10-14-2006 13:14:57

I have 400diesel, an MD, and a WD 6. So I may be a bit prejudiced. The heads cracking was from abuse. Let "em cool down and they"re fine. Power wise about the same. Costs? Well no real comparison. The gas versions are the winner, hands down. Parts are more redally available and much cheaper. So, if you just have a thing for the old diesels, good. If you"re looking for realistic maintainence costs, I"d say go gas. One other thing, the 450"s have a bit more power.

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