8N cylinder deactivation idea?

[Jacobsen1450]

Hello! I recently fouled out a spark plug from someone leaving choke closed while operating tractor. In process of finding while plug was fouled I unplugged each wire one by one until I got the tractor running on only 1 cylinder. It starts and idles like a charm and I?m wondering if I could set something up where I could flip a toggle on dash to deactivate 3 spark plugs and have a ?fuel saver mode?. I suppose I would need some apparatus to eliminate the updraft from carburetor otherwise I will just be dumping gasoline out the exhaust. Any ideas of how this would be possible? By no means is this practical, but I have a tractor that I simply like to experiment and play around with so I?m open to any ideas.

 

[L.B,]

Ok if the gas goes out the tailpipe you lost power and carry over--------and you will get some into the oil pan. Cadilac tried something like that at one time and you dont see those around. If you keep your engine tuned, right oil weight and unrestricked air supply with ratio to gas that is much easier. Do this put just one gallon of fuel in the tank and see how much work can be done you will be very surprised, and you will never think about cylinder deactivation idea again. Gas is cheap

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 06:36:15 03/11/20) Cadilac tried something like that at one time and you dont see those around.

Bssst!!! Cadillac pioneered a technology that is very much alive today. Cylinder deactivation (AKA variable displacement) is being actively used by just about all current car and truck manufacturers. Of course that technology is well beyond the reach of an L-head engine design.

TOH

 

[Dean]

Not a good idea for multiple reasons.

Dean

 

[Tony in SD]

Since you already know this is impractical. Let?s get on with it. First I would eeplace the original cam with an electronic cam. As you may know the electronic cam can be programmed to hold any valve open or closed. So by having the exhaust valve held open and intake valve close on the 3 cylinders of your choice that would solve youR updraft problem. However you will have to convert the 8N to a 12 VDC positive ground system for the electronic cam to work. Also you can replace your distributor with a 1 in 4 spark adaptor that is capable of only firing 1 cylinder or it can be programmed any way you wish. This distributor is also run by the computer and can be synchronized with the cam. It also can be programmed to rotate the use of which cylinder is firing at any given time. Hope this is what you where looking for.
Order parts here

 

[JMOR]

I believe that modern day 'cylinder de-activation" works by electronic valve train control which closes both intake & exhaust valves on de-activated cylinder(s). What is lost on compression is regained on expansion & the cylinder is not washed down by raw/un-burned gasoline. Not as simple as killing the spark.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 10:10:31 03/11/20) I believe that modern day 'cylinder de-activation" works by electronic valve train control which closes both intake & exhaust valves on de-activated cylinder(s). What is lost on compression is regained on expansion & the cylinder is not washed down by raw/un-burned gasoline. Not as simple as killing the spark.

Just to add a bit of detail - commonly accomplished with hydraulic lifters that are collapsed on pushrod engines and double rockers (one follows the cam and the other actuates the valve) that are hydraulically decoupled on OHC engines. Lots of high speed electronic engine management needed to make it work at RPM.

TOH

 

[Ultradog MN]

If you wanted to something like that you would need some substantial computer control of your engine. I'd say if you want that much computer control buy a new John Deere or some such that has a lot of computer control of things.
But then you couldn't fix it yourself.
Several lawsuits going on right now by farmers who are suing John Deere for the right to access the computer systems on their own tractors. Click the link for an interesting video about it.
By the way, if you've managed to get your N to start and run on one cylinder you must be pretty good at tune ups. Kudos.
Hacking your tractor

 

[Den N Ms]

Tony in SD, That's a good one,Very Funny!

 

[HFJ]

(quoted from post at 12:54:17 03/11/20) Tony in SD, That's a good one,Very Funny!

:lol:

i once saw an interview with chuck jones, who expressed his opinion on what one could infer from the coyote's continued patronage of the acme novelty company of walla walla washington - a company which, iirc, he described as one with "a dubious reputation."

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 11:15:30 03/11/20)

(quoted from post at 12:54:17 03/11/20) Tony in SD, That's a good one,Very Funny!

:lol:

i once saw an interview with chuck jones, who expressed his opinion on what one could infer from the coyote's continued patronage of the acme novelty company of walla walla washington - a company which, iirc, he described as one with "a dubious reputation."

All the stuff he got from the Acme company worked, Wyle E. was the one that always screwed it up somehow.

 

[HFJ]

well, cary, since chuck created wile e. i will subscribe to his take on it

 

[HFJ]

ps: i wish i could find that interview online - was good stuff.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 15:58:58 03/11/20)
ps: i wish i could find that interview online - was good stuff.

Perhaps the ACME Novelty Company specialized in items of a (ahem) personal nature?

TOH

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 12:58:06 03/11/20)
well, cary, since chuck created wile e. i will subscribe to his take on it

Chuck may have created him but I don't think he was the genius that Wile E. thought he was. Thus, he always screwed up his Acme stuff.

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 13:40:01 03/11/20)

(quoted from post at 15:58:58 03/11/20)
ps: i wish i could find that interview online - was good stuff.

Perhaps the ACME Novelty Company specialized in items of a (ahem) personal nature?

TOH

 

[Tony in SD]

Thank you lol

 

[jimtrs]

(quoted from post at 23:19:59 03/10/20)
In process of finding while plug was fouled I unplugged each wire one by one until I got the tractor running on only 1 cylinder. It starts and idles like a charm.
I'm wondering if I could set something up where I could flip a toggle on dash to deactivate 3 spark plugs and have a fuel saver mode

As stated, impossible to do on these engines without causing damage.

ALSO.....
Just cause you got it to idle on one cylinder does not mean it will do anything else. It will have no power. Doubt it would even move on flat ground, never mind uphill or with any kind of load.

 

[Bruce(OR)]

Your age is showing.
Research Cadillac V8-6-4.

 

[Den N Ms]

Jacobsen1450,
Get it to run on One cylinder that is funny ( Wyle ) every one else on here wants to get them to run on all 4 cylinders.Some folks even want more 6 cylinders,
8 cylinders even 12 cylinders with a V12 Lincoln flat head. lol