“Bad Gas” Drives Repower Business

2020 - Volume #44, Issue #3, Page #23

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Jim VanDerEems gives poor quality gasoline the credit for the good business he’s built up repowering tractors. Over the past 20 years of working on tractors, bad gas is often the cause of engine problems.
    “It was bad enough when they took out the lead, but with ethanol, it’s worse,” says VanDerEems. “Repowering older gas-powered tractors with diesel engines is the answer. I draw up a diagram of what I need to do the job and take it to a local machine. They make exactly what we need.”
    The coupler is his trade secret. “We came up with a design that works with almost any engine,” says VanDerEems. “It lets me bolt the driveshaft to the flywheel. I have a flex plate in there and have never had an issue.”
    VanDerEems specializes in the Allis Chalmers brand. He prefers putting Cummins engines in larger tractors, such as a 100 hp. AC 190. He finds them easy to work with.
    For small tractors, he generally goes to a company in California that sells imported diesel engines on eBay. A typical 10-hp., air-cooled diesel for a garden tractor is just under $670. He has also used 2-cylinder Continentals in slightly larger tractors. Finding the right engine isn’t a problem.
    “I can get a complete new motor just right for the chassis I am working with,” says VanDerEems. “I’m currently working on an AC D10 garden tractor and have a couple more that will be coming in for repowering when I finish this one.”
    VanDerEems gives FARM SHOW stories credit for many of his repower ideas. He also credits his father, who was a mechanic, and his mechanically inclined son John for much of his success. He notes it is John who often handles the search for the right small engine.
    Many years of working as a mechanic in an Allis Chalmers dealership added to VanDerEems knowledge.
    “My son is laid off in the winter, so he helps me then,” says VanDerEems. “As I’ve gotten older, I like working with smaller tractors. I don’t have to climb all over them and manhandle parts.”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jim VanDerEems, 3345 Cross Rd., Watkins Glen, N.Y. 14891 (ph 607 535-2395).

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“Bad Gas” Drives Repower Business REPOWERED EQUIPMENT Jim VanDerEems gives poor quality gasoline the credit for the good business he’s built up repowering tractors Over the past 20 years of working on tractors bad gas is often the cause of engine problems “It was bad enough when they took out the lead but with ethanol it’s worse ” says VanDerEems “Repowering older gas-powered tractors with diesel engines is the answer I draw up a diagram of what I need to do the job and take it to a local machine They make exactly what we need ” The coupler is his trade secret “We came up with a design that works with almost any engine ” says VanDerEems “It lets me bolt the driveshaft to the flywheel I have a flex plate in there and have never had an issue ” VanDerEems specializes in the Allis Chalmers brand He prefers putting Cummins engines in larger tractors such as a 100 hp AC 190 He finds them easy to work with For small tractors he generally goes to a company in California that sells imported diesel engines on eBay A typical 10-hp air-cooled diesel for a garden tractor is just under $670 He has also used 2-cylinder Continentals in slightly larger tractors Finding the right engine isn’t a problem “I can get a complete new motor just right for the chassis I am working with ” says VanDerEems “I’m currently working on an AC D10 garden tractor and have a couple more that will be coming in for repowering when I finish this one ” VanDerEems gives FARM SHOW stories credit for many of his repower ideas He also credits his father who was a mechanic and his mechanically inclined son John for much of his success He notes it is John who often handles the search for the right small engine Many years of working as a mechanic in an Allis Chalmers dealership added to VanDerEems knowledge “My son is laid off in the winter so he helps me then ” says VanDerEems “As I’ve gotten older I like working with smaller tractors I don’t have to climb all over them and manhandle parts ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jim VanDerEems 3345 Cross Rd Watkins Glen N Y 14891 ph 607 535-2395

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