Just tractor talking

Brent Zappe · Oct 10, 2013

Yesterday I went to meet up with some guys to see about getting as differnt job than what I have been doing for the last 26 years. We started talking tractors and a question pop up about glow plugs? They knew that I had old tractors but what they did not know was that back in those days we did not have a glow plug in the diesel. Instead we had a pony cranking engine that warm up the diesel and till it would finnaly fire up. What is it with the newer generation don't they understand that some times they have it to good. They all thought that I was B.S ing them got word that they did not belive what I said so I am still back at my old job. ( Cleaning classrooms). My hobby still stands restoreing tractors.

2badlybent · Oct 10, 2013

Back in the day some of the diesels were started with an electric starter. Many of the old cletrac and allis chalmers could be coaxed into starting by pulling a plug on the intake manifold and placing a flamming torch near the openning. It might still work on some tractors today.

Mike (WA) · Oct 10, 2013

You used a propane torch to heat up the manifold real good- then hold the torch at the opening and hit the starter- the flame would immediately be sucked out, but the propane going into the manifold would act as a starting aid. In combination with the air warmed by the hot intake manifold, a couple repetitions would usually get 'er going.

The Oliver diesels, and some others, had pre-heaters in the manifold to perform the same function. Others had an ether can that you activated with button. As far as I know, only 2 cyl John Deeres and old Cats used the pony motor.

rrlund · Oct 10, 2013

The old IH's started on gas,then you pushed a lever and changed over to diesel after they warmed up.

This Fiat built Oliver of mine has a manifold heater that burns diesel fuel. You hold the starter knob clockwise until you hear a little rumble when the fuel ignites,then you turn it farther and it starts while the fuel if burning.

mazemeister · Oct 10, 2013

mike, i think the multifuel used in the deuce and a half had a similar fuel fired manifold heater. anyone know about them?

gwstang · Oct 10, 2013

Say, that must have been a fat pony to pull that tractor around 'till it started! All kidding aside, it really is amazing how people use to get by with so little back then. I'm not sure this newfangled generation would survive if we were to have to go back to the old way...lol...heck I'm not sure I'd survive.

FBH44 · Oct 10, 2013

Peole just don't know unless you tell them. This afternoon my 17 year old son was amazed that there used to be a windmill here on the place.

JD Seller · Oct 10, 2013

rrlund: Watch that fuel preheater on that Fiat real close. They are known to not stop putting fuel into the intake and the fuel will not burn when it is running. You can put a lot of unburnt fuel into the oil real fast with them. Then you find out when the rods start knocking. Most of the guys around here that had them blocked the fuel line to the preheater.

The AC 160 used a similar system. They caused trouble too.

ShadetreeRet · Oct 10, 2013

I have never understood why people will not believe you without researching what you tell them! If you have ever dealt with any kind of machinery you know that it has evolved throughout the years. I am not going to question what someone tells me about how it "used to be" until I check it out.

Just tractor talking

Brent Zappe

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2badlybent

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Mike (WA)

Well-known Member

rrlund

Well-known Member

mazemeister

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gwstang

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FBH44

Well-known Member

JD Seller

Well-known Member

ShadetreeRet

Well-known Member

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