Gas vs. Diesel revisited

I posted a question a few days ago about whether I should buy a gas vs. diesel tractor for brush-hogging, snow plowing, maybe some hay work, etc. I'm not a hardcore farmer. Everyone seemed to agree that gas was the way to go. I'm torn because not too far from home a guy has got a nice looking diesel IH 574 for sale. One thing that I was thinking about is that if I went and bought a new JD tractor (not as familiar with red) for my needs I couldn't buy gas - everything is diesel. So how bad can diesel be? Would you turn away a good, used, local tractor just because of it?

Thanks.

Jason

Personally speaking, I like a Diesel tractor. However I also have a gas tractor and don't have anything against them. While the choice of fuel is important in your purchase if you've found what you're looking for then go ahead and get it. The chances of finding exactly what you're looking for are probably pretty slim. As long as you don't go into it dead set on saving money with a diesel then you shouldn't be disappointed. I just bought a diesel pickup, I reckon it'll cost me more than a gasser might however I wanted a diesel pickup and therefore I am happy. Hope that helped. Sam

Jason: If you buy a diesel, check it out good. Getting a tractor that needs an engine rebuild is never good, even worse if that tractor is diesel. a 50 hp gas tractor needs a rebuild every 5,000 hours, diesel every 10,000 hours. The diesel rebuild will cost 50% more

I bought my first diesel in 1963, a Farmall 560. I couldn't believe how simple the maintenence was. Second one came a few years later in a 656 diesel. Both of those tractors each went 10,000 hours before requiring any service other than oil changes, filters, etc. I bought 6 more diesels after that, some of them trucks. Of the 8 diesels only one of them let me down prematurely. When I say prematurely, I'm talking under 10,000 hours. In my lifetime I've owned 13 gas tractors, all bought either new or relatively new. They have to be rebuilt every 4,000-5,000 hours, and 1 out of those 13 gassers let me down, however the gassers require a lot more maintenence. Bear in mind my gassers were all under 45 hp and my diesels all over 60 hp. I liked the diesels on heavy work, wouldn't think of trying heavy work with gas. I also liked those gassers on light work. I dare say if I did a detailed analysis, my cost per hp was the same, gas or diesel. I think the gas-diesel trade off is around 40 hp.

I run 3 gassers today, all under 25 hp, however, I don't do much anymore.

I like diesel better than gas myself, If its a good deal, I would not pass it up... Larry

Don't forgot, your diesel will gel up when its cold outside. You must use No1 fuel, or a good blend, or anti-gel. First cold snap, you'll be sitting on a dead horse, wishing it was a gasser.

"First cold snap, you'll be sitting on a dead horse, wishing it was a gasser."

Or, perhaps, wishing you had been "on the ball" and put winter fuel in AHEAD of time.

Up here near the 49TH parallel you only make that mistake ONCE!

Hi Jason, Re 574 Diesel, it has a German build D-239 engine in it which is a great engine will run past 10,000 Hrs without rebuild if proper maintenance has been performed. These engines don't like to idle around. They run much better being worked hard. For cold starting below 0F it will require a recirculating tank heater. Even at -15 to -25F plug it in for 30 to 60 minutes and you are good to go.
Weak points of tractor are the parking brake and the foot brakes. The parking brake is left on by the operator (there is an idiot light on the dash) and the tractor is driven causing the parking brake band to be chewed up. Unfortunately the parking brake band and drum are inside the transmission and the band bits get into the hydraulic oil causing clogging of other hydraulic valves. The foot brakes are wet hydraulic disks and they have problem with leaky seals and air getting in the system.
Before buying check parking brake for holding and check foot brakes for being "spongy".

good luck
JimB

We get to sub zero quite often and we run Diesels, as long as you have winterized fuel and a a block heater no problem.

If your going to work that 574 in the field much in a utility model they are hot to use. Your setting right on the transmission housing and it gets hot from the oil running through the lines front to back and in the transmission with the gears turning. I would opt for a 300or 560 if in the field. Otherwise a good tractor for tight places. There is a heater that will go in the bottom radiator hose that works good for winter starting. As for the fuel unless you get a big supply in the summer and don't use it before winter the blend thing will already be done by the fuel supplier long before you get it. Dad bought that model new in 1972 and it is still on the farm with a loader on going every day.

Should you pass up a good local tractor just because it's a diesel and everyone told you that gas was a better choice for your purposes?

No. Of course not.

If you get a good diesel, it's highly unlikely that you'll EVER need to do much of anything to it except proper routine maintenance. You won't put enough hours on it to wear anything out in your lifetime.

The only caveat is that on an old tractor anything can go at any time, and on a diesel that can get expensive. Conversely speaking, it's not a matter of if on a gasser, it's a matter of when.

I am sick of gas tractors. They are however a tinkerers dream. For years on the farm we didn't even own a gas tractor. Now I have several and there is always something wrong with them. I fight vapor lock all the time. add to that points, plugs, wires, and stale gas and you see what I mean.