Pullin' For Soy Diesel

Pullin' For Soy Diesel ENERGY Alternative Fuels 20-6-20 Here's a prize-winning, hard-pulling tractor we spotted at the Outdoor Farm Show at Burford, Ontario, earlier this fall. The 1971 Deere 4320 equipped with stock 404 cu. in. engine is one of two tractors in the Southwestern Ontario Tractor Pull Association that runs on soy diesel. Burning the fuel requires no special engine modifications and it cuts emissions by about 50 percent. It obviously hasn't hurt pulling performance. Owner Norm Craigie took first place last year and tied for second place this year in the association's 9,000-lb. out-of-field class. The class limits modifications that can be made to the tractors. In this case, only the injection pump was reworked and larger fuel injectors, turbocharger, clutch and 24.5 by 32-in. rear tires were used. The work on the fuel system more than doubles the tractor's off-the-assembly-line power, from 116 to 300 hp. He burns a blended fuel that contains 20 percent soy oil. Craigie is sponsored by First Line Seeds, Ltd., of Guelph, Ontario. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Norm Craigie, Rt. 1, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1H 6H7 (ph 519 856-9436).

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