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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

E85 in Antique Tractors

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andy Kavanaugh

06-19-2006 10:52:34




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I have a 1936 JD B and a Farmall Super C. I was wondering if it is safe to burn the new E85 in them. I heard some say it is and some say it isn't thanks.




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Jay in MN

06-21-2006 19:03:27




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 Re: E85 in Antique Tractors in reply to andy Kavanaugh, 06-19-2006 10:52:34  
Thanks RustyFarmall, you are the first one I have noticed not condeming E-85. With a stock engine if you run E-85 in the winter the ONLY thing that will be different is you will need to run the choke a little more. In the summer, fuel delivery will be an issue. Need to get more E-85 into the motor vs. gas. E-85 has a octane rating of 102. It will burn more completely in the cylinder than gas (any octane). E-85 however does not have the umphhh as gasoline. Straight E-85 should not do ANY damage to any motor. Any who says that it will does not know much about E-85. My father has a 54 JD 70, last 2 years only E-85. My 49 MM UTU I run about 20% in it (need the umphhh, pulling tractor). I pull against a MM ZA, MM UTS, JD 70, JD 720, & JD 620 that have used E-85 for 2 yrs of pulling. It will clean crap out of everything. Sediment bowls may need to be cleaned out a little more often. It will also loosen up everything in the fuel tank.

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Fordfarmer

06-20-2006 07:12:06




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 Re: E85 in Antique Tractors in reply to andy Kavanaugh, 06-19-2006 10:52:34  
I don't have any experience with straight e85, but I've been mixing e85 and regular gas (to approximate e10) for about 3 or 4 years with good results. The e85 acts like a BIG bottle of Heet to get the moisture out of the gas, which is why I started using it. Run my Jubilee about 100 hours a year, all seasons, on this. Bought a 850 and 950 last fall and have been running them on it too.



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dhermesc

06-20-2006 07:02:20




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 Re: E85 in Antique Tractors in reply to andy Kavanaugh, 06-19-2006 10:52:34  
On the C you might need to dig up an old distillant carb set up to get it to run right. E85 is 100+ octane and doesn't combust as easily as 87 octane gas especially considering the low compression engines in tractors of that vintage.


E10 will run just fine - unless your fuel system if full of grime. I've been putting it in my 350 and 656 for several years (20+ on the 656).



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85_Ranger4x4

06-19-2006 20:43:21




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 Re: E85 in Antique Tractors in reply to andy Kavanaugh, 06-19-2006 10:52:34  
On my 46 JD B when we put E10 in it, condensation seperates the gas and alcohol out, and the tractor ceases to run because the alcohol being heaver settles to the bottom and it doesen't have enough compression to light it. E85 has about 100 octane (the higher the # the slower the burn) which is about twice the amount gas had when these things were made. I only run straigh 87 in mine, nothing but problems with E10 and I don't like standing there draining alcohol out of the bowl with a 10 % mix, I ain't even going to bother with a 85% mix.

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MarkB_MI

06-19-2006 20:12:28




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 Re: E85 in Antique Tractors in reply to andy Kavanaugh, 06-19-2006 10:52:34  
Um, why would you want to do this? Those tractors are perfectly happy burning regular unleaded.



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Leland

06-19-2006 19:10:12




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 Re: E85 in Antique Tractors in reply to andy Kavanaugh, 06-19-2006 10:52:34  
You will pit the cylinders bad in them and the alcohol will wash all the oil off the walls , I have saw this when old tractors were torn apart that used alcohol back in the 30's .and you would have to drill the jet way out to gain power since you really need to dump lots of the stuff in engine to produce power . Just stick with gas it's still the best bang for the buck



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Bus Driver

06-19-2006 14:18:01




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 Re: E85 in Antique Tractors in reply to andy Kavanaugh, 06-19-2006 10:52:34  
For my use, I see nothing to be gained by trying to use the E85 in my old tractors. I have other things to do.



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RN

06-19-2006 12:57:56




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 Re: E85 in Antique Tractors in reply to andy Kavanaugh, 06-19-2006 10:52:34  
E85 in tractor? ICH put metal float in carb early for alchohal fuels. E85 will probably clean all the crud build up in fuel system quick- will need to clean carb. On JD- does it have 'hot' setting for distillate? - You will probably need preheat for the fuel/air to help vaporise the fuel. New E85 car engines with injectors have fine spray tips, hot thermostats. Old carb conversions noted to use heat exchanger -radiator hose to fuel line- or oilcooler on aircooled engines - to get alky to mix/vaporise in carb. Will need gasoline primer/gas tank until engine is warm. Tractors are running low compression and moderate voltage ignition. C could be setup with high compression pistons, electronic high voltage ignition to run E85 effectively. How much do you want to spend?RN..

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RustyFarmall

06-19-2006 11:03:37




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 Re: E85 in Antique Tractors in reply to andy Kavanaugh, 06-19-2006 10:52:34  
There is nothing in the fuel systems of these old tractors that can be damaged by the use of ethanol, and there is nothing in the engine that can be damaged. The problem you may encounter is that the E-10 and E-85 does not have as much energy in it as straifgt gasoline, so the tractor may not perform as well. Some simple modifications to the carburetor that will allow more fuel to pass through should solve the performance issue. Just my opinion, for what it's worth. I will be experimenting with E-85 just as soon as it is available in this area.

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