VW Diesel Powers Ferguson TE20
Al Rutkoski bought a Ferguson TE20 with good tires at auction for only $500 because it needed an engine. He repowered it with a 1.6-liter VW diesel from a rusted-out Rabbit. He planned to use the Ferguson for cutting and raking hay, and the new engine had plenty of power.
“It’s a very fuel-efficient engine,” says Rutkoski. “It puts out about 48 hp at 4,000 rpm’s.”
The big challenge, as with most repowers, was matching the diesel crankshaft to the Ferguson transmission. He also had to replace the flywheel, as the VW flywheel would not accommodate a starter.
Rutkoski used a flywheel from a Ford 8N instead of the Ferguson. Its smaller diameter fit the Ferguson flywheel housing and accommodated the starter on the opposite side of the bell housing. He drilled holes in it to match the VW crankshaft and ordered special 1.0 by 12-mm bolts to mount the 8N flywheel to the VW crankshaft.
The engine positioning wouldn’t accommodate a standard tractor starter. Instead Rutkoski used a gear reduction starter from a forklift to engage the 8N flywheel.
A spacer plate was needed to attach the VW flywheel housing to the Ferguson bell housing. Rutkoski turned a 1/2-in. round plate to fit inside the Ferguson bell housing. He also bored a hole in the center to fit the crankshaft and drilled holes in it to fit the engine block. He then made a similar plate to match the tractor bell housing bolt pattern and welded the 2 plates together.
“I had to turn a new pilot bushing to fit the crankshaft and extend out to support the transmission shaft,” explains Rutkoski. Without the original cast block engine, he needed a frame to support the engine and the tractor’s front end.
“I used angle iron from the spacer plate forward to a point just ahead of the engine and attached them to ends of a steel plate,” says Rutkoski. “The front axle bracket was bolted to the front side of the plate.”
A short length of angle iron bolted to the plate serves as a support mount for the front of the VW diesel. Rutkoski used bolts so it could be removed to access the timing belt behind it.
The compact little diesel left plenty of room for the Ferguson radiator. Rutkoski installed an electric fan, as there was no fan drive on the diesel.
Needing live hydraulics for a haybine and other implements, he mounted a General Motors power steering pump on the side of the engine. He powered it with a belt off the alternator pulley. A repurposed lawn mower gas tank mounted above the engine serves as a hydraulic oil reservoir.
A new fuel tank was fabricated from channel iron. He mounted it between the steering box and the back of the engine.
“The Ferguson had an 8N hood, but I had to modify it to clear the air intake on the engine,” explains Rutkoski. “The intake curves up over one side to the air cleaner on top. I cut off the inside supports along the bottom of each side and bolted the front supports to the front-end frame. It tips forward when I need to do maintenance.”
Rutkoski says the VW/Ferguson works great for cutting and raking hay, including running a haybine.
“I even use it with my pto cart to pull a New Holland round baler,” says Rutkoski.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Al Rutkoski, 3441 Lamton Rd., Decker, Mich. 48426 (ph 989 325-1293; alsmachineshop1@hotmail.com).
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VW Diesel Powers Ferguson TE20 ENGINES Al Rutkoski bought a Ferguson TE20 with good tires at auction for only $500 because it needed an engine He repowered it with a 1 6-liter VW diesel from a rusted-out Rabbit He planned to use the Ferguson for cutting and raking hay and the new engine had plenty of power “It’s a very fuel-efficient engine ” says Rutkoski “It puts out about 48 hp at 4 000 rpm’s ” The big challenge as with most repowers was matching the diesel crankshaft to the Ferguson transmission He also had to replace the flywheel as the VW flywheel would not accommodate a starter Rutkoski used a flywheel from a Ford 8N instead of the Ferguson Its smaller diameter fit the Ferguson flywheel housing and accommodated the starter on the opposite side of the bell housing He drilled holes in it to match the VW crankshaft and ordered special 1 0 by 12-mm bolts to mount the 8N flywheel to the VW crankshaft The engine positioning wouldn’t accommodate a standard tractor starter Instead Rutkoski used a gear reduction starter from a forklift to engage the 8N flywheel A spacer plate was needed to attach the VW flywheel housing to the Ferguson bell housing Rutkoski turned a 1/2-in round plate to fit inside the Ferguson bell housing He also bored a hole in the center to fit the crankshaft and drilled holes in it to fit the engine block He then made a similar plate to match the tractor bell housing bolt pattern and welded the 2 plates together “I had to turn a new pilot bushing to fit the crankshaft and extend out to support the transmission shaft ” explains Rutkoski Without the original cast block engine he needed a frame to support the engine and the tractor’s front end “I used angle iron from the spacer plate forward to a point just ahead of the engine and attached them to ends of a steel plate ” says Rutkoski “The front axle bracket was bolted to the front side of the plate ” A short length of angle iron bolted to the plate serves as a support mount for the front of the VW diesel Rutkoski used bolts so it could be removed to access the timing belt behind it The compact little diesel left plenty of room for the Ferguson radiator Rutkoski installed an electric fan as there was no fan drive on the diesel Needing live hydraulics for a haybine and other implements he mounted a General Motors power steering pump on the side of the engine He powered it with a belt off the alternator pulley A repurposed lawn mower gas tank mounted above the engine serves as a hydraulic oil reservoir A new fuel tank was fabricated from channel iron He mounted it between the steering box and the back of the engine “The Ferguson had an 8N hood but I had to modify it to clear the air intake on the engine ” explains Rutkoski “The intake curves up over one side to the air cleaner on top I cut off the inside supports along the bottom of each side and bolted the front supports to the front-end frame It tips forward when I need to do maintenance ” Rutkoski says the VW/Ferguson works great for cutting and raking hay including running a haybine “I even use it with my pto cart to pull a New Holland round baler ” says Rutkoski Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Al Rutkoski 3441 Lamton Rd Decker Mich 48426 ph 989 325-1293; alsmachineshop1@hotmail com
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