The gas/diesel discussion comes up weekly on these forums, you can search through the archives if you have time. A gas will burn about 1/3 more gallons of fuel that costs 15 to 20 percent less per gallon. Almost any tractor newer than 1970 (44 years old now) will be a diesel.
How many tach hours will you put on the tractor per year? If you will use it 500 hours per year, then a diesel will have significant fuel savings. At 50 hours per year there's not enough fuel savings to pay off the normally higher price of a diesel. At low usage, which ever system you are more comfortable working on will probably be the better choice for you.
Gas requires maintenance more often, but it's simple and low cost. They are quieter and start without assistance. Diesel engines run longer between overhauls and require maintenance less often (other than starting difficulties, and bleeding the fuel system), but when maintenance and overhauls are required, it costs about twice as much as on a gas engine. Diesels are noisier. Diesel tractors have more prestige, like diesel pickups.
For a low use tractor, I would think tractor condition, price, tires, parts support and features like: power steering, 3 point hitch, live PTO, live hydraulics, speed selections, good brakes, tight turning and operator comfort are probably more important than gas vrs diesel engine.
The Nebraska Tractor Tests are one good source of technical information and specifications when you need to compare tractors. The tests do include the actual hourly fuel usage and fuel efficiency that were measured on a test track. Prices, maybe try Tractor House?
If there's no electricity handy, my own preference would be to stay with a gas tractor.
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Today's Featured Article - Grain Threshing in the Early 40's - by Jerry D. Coleman. How many of you can sit there and say that you have plowed with a mule? Well I would say not many, but maybe a few. This story is about the day my Grandfather Brown (true name) decided along with my parents to purchase a new Ford tractor. It wasn't really new except to us. The year was about 1967 and my father found a good used Ford 601 tractor to use on the farm instead of "Bob", our old mule. Now my grandfather had had this mule since the mid 40's and he was getting some age on him. S
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