TRACTOR PARTS Allis Chalmers Case & David Brown Farmall & International Ferguson Ford & New Holland John Deere Massey Ferguson Massey Harris Minneapolis Moline Oliver & Cockshutt Kubota / Yanmar

TRACTOR MANUALS

Allis Chalmers	Case	Farmall IH	Ford 8N,9N,2N	Ford
Ferguson	John Deere	Massey Ferguson	Minn. Moline	Oliver

Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum

400 Gas or Diesel?

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register

Author

David

04-07-2004 13:27:35

Report to Moderator

I'm looking to buy a 400. I have to sell a tractor yet but I'm putting my feelers out.

From what I am seeing, a 400 diesel can be had for not much more money than a gas model.

I am thinking about going ahead and getting the diesel. Does anyone know much about these 400 diesels.

This is an older diesel than I have ever dealt with.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Aaron

04-08-2004 07:14:33

Report to Moderator

Re: 400 Gas or Diesel? in reply to David, 04-07-2004 13:27:35

Yes, the early farmall diesels were prone to head cracking. Parts can also be hard to find. I don't think you'd really have to worry about the head however if you don't overheat it. Also since diesels were less common than gas tractors at the time, I imagine the collectors value may be more.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

MD Karl

04-07-2004 20:56:35

Report to Moderator

Re: 400 Gas or Diesel? in reply to David, 04-07-2004 13:27:35

It is true that the start on gas diesels are more expensive to repair than the gas version. I completely rebuilt a 1951 MD and if I had to do it over again I would. I love that diesel engine. It is a very unique engine and often will turn heads. You won't get the horsepower out of the diesel that you would the gas. My tractor is however putting out around 50 hp, which in my opinion is pretty good. Proper care and operation of the diesels is important, especially warming up on gas as well as cooling the engine down by running on gas when you are ready to shut it down. I would not try and use one of these engines in a pulling tractor. I use mine for farm work and occasionaly show it. I really enjoy plowing with it and I have attached a photo of my MD with a 3-14" plow.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Ken Koch

04-08-2004 22:28:33

Report to Moderator

Re: Re: 400 Gas or Diesel? in reply to MD Karl, 04-07-2004 20:56:35

MD Karl - I have a 1950 Farmall MD and a 3-14 Little Genius plow and plowed some mighty tough ground last fall. Blue clay! Had to brake the land wheel to keep from getting stuck BUT I never got that kind of smoke from my MD! Is my pump going bad or is it not set up right? Would like to hear any comments or answers. This is my first experience with a diesel. My dad had all gas Farmalls including a gas M on the farm but didn't get a diesel until I left home and that was a Farmall 856.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

David

04-07-2004 21:10:27

Report to Moderator

Re: Re: 400 Gas or Diesel? in reply to MD Karl, 04-07-2004 20:56:35

I was under the understanding that the engine in the 400 diesel does not crank on gas like those in the MD tractors. Is that the case?

PS, nice looking tractor.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Aaron

04-08-2004 07:08:18

Report to Moderator

Re: Re: Re: 400 Gas or Diesel? in reply to David, 04-07-2004 21:10:27

Yes, the 400's and 450's started on gas. Not until the 460, and 560 did they adopt glo-plug starting.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Geoff NY

04-07-2004 18:42:31

Report to Moderator

Re: 400 Gas or Diesel? in reply to David, 04-07-2004 13:27:35

I have a 400-D and I love it, they are a bit more work and money than the gas jobs.. oh well. Of course some folks talk them down, but I grew up with an MD and we never had problems with it. To each his own.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

big fred

04-07-2004 18:00:34

Report to Moderator

Re: 400 Gas or Diesel? in reply to David, 04-07-2004 13:27:35

I pretty much grew up on one. Start on gas, switch to diesel. We never had any problems with ours. I'd love to have one, but with 5 acres of mostly forest, it's kinda hard to justify, even if I could locate one within 500 miles of here.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Dave

04-07-2004 16:40:40

Report to Moderator

Re: 400 Gas or Diesel? in reply to David, 04-07-2004 13:27:35

I too had the want for a 400 Diesel ( I pull a 400 gas now). After doing a little research on the diesel version, I lost my enthusiam for one. From what I was told, they were a economical running tractor, stock hp was 1-2 less than a gas, diesel was prone to head cracking if engine got hot at all. You had to start the tractor on gas, let it warm up a little, then convert over to diesel. This told me that you would have the expensive pleasure of keeping both a gas and diesel system operational. Also was told that diesel parts were very hard and expensive to come by. Good luck.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

[Options] [Printer Friendly] [Posting Help] [Return to Forum] [Log in to Reply]

TRACTOR PARTS	TRACTOR MANUALS

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 ]

Home | Forums

Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
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.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy