'40 H Distillate Engine Parts

[Rich Perry]

My Dad's '40 H finally decided to retire after 76 years of faithful service.
I am going to rebuild the engine and do some other repairs it needs but I am confused over ordering parts. What is the difference between a distillate motor and a kerosene motor?
I was looking up engine parts and saw Gas, Distillate and Kerosene? Is the kerosene referring to the high altitude engine?
Any one have a suggestion on the best place for parts. I have been on several sites so far and would like some input as to your experience.
Thanks,
Rich

 

[D Slater]

In 1940 IH used a different head with and valves for each fuel type. Gasoline type was rare in that time period though. Without looking it up I'm thinking 18000 + serial number was the first official tractor with a gas head. Although they tested one at Nebraska before that. Most of 1940 also used a head with smaller manifold attaching studs than later ones. Distillate and kerosene also used a manifold with a adjustable butterfly to heat the intake fuel mixture. Tractor came with cast iron pistons in the engine.
Don't know how many original parts you have left? Unless wanting original see what number head is on the tractor now. Should find it on the top side under valve cover or to side. If its a distillate or kerosene head and you plan to reuse and burn gasoline, find the thin wall piston and sleeve set that will give the most compression and run a gasoline manifold if it doesn't already have one. Also a gasoline head wouldn't hurt. But it and manifold is optional for a just a nice running tractor.
Grew up on the farm with a 1941 H gasoline tractor. It had flat top cast iron pistons and a magneto. later got a 43 that someone put a distributor on with other things the same. It was a little more peppy but not much. So close it could be just a difference in tractors. Later on got a 50 model gasoline, with fire crater kit and the distributor it come with Compared to it the other two seemed sluggish and the 50 will pull field stuff a gear higher in 1 threw 4.

 

[D Slater]

Didn't think to add the 41 and 43 still had 3-3/8 pistons.

 

[Rich Perry]

Thanks for the reply.
The engine is pretty much original. The only thing that's been done to the engine was my Dad used to remove the head every few years and clean the carbon out of it. Dad's been gone a long time now so I have no idea why he did that. I put a Magneto, new water pump and radiator on it about 10 years ago. Yeah, it still has the distillate manifold. I am surprised that it gave up on me so suddenly. It was running fine the last time I used it and the next time I went to start it she was locked up tight as anything. Took the plugs out of it thinking maybe it had blown a head gasket and filled a cylinder with AF. No such luck. Tried turning it over at the pto but it won't even try to budge in either direction.
Never had any trouble with it running or the amount of power. Ever since the unleaded gas came along Dad and I have put a lead substitute in the gas plus in more recent years I've added a little Stabil and Marvel Mystery oil. Since we got 76 years out of the distillate set-up I'll probably just go back that way.
The serial number of my H is 13280.