KMC Transformer - Kerosene Conversion Carburetor

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: KMC Transformer - Kerosene Conversion Carburetor
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nick Stanley on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 10:24 pm:

This past year I acquired a kerosene conversion for a Ford from California. It is NOS near as I can tell, and I plan on putting it on my 1918 TT to evaluate its performance.

The conversion was made by the Kerosene Motor Co., of Peoria, Ill., and is called the KMC Transformer. It was apparently developed, and patented, by George McFarland. Stamped on the back of the manifold is "PAT 12-11-17". This date corresponds to US patent no. 1249647. The patent can be found at http://www.google.com/patents/US1249647 .

The kit as I received it, included a KMC manifold, dual fuel carburetor, gasoline starting tank, a bit of 1/4" copper line, an old Victor head gasket, and a head shim of .112" thick carbon steel. This shim was presumably included to decrease the compression ratio.

Also included was the original parts list, with testimonials on the other side. I will try to scan this and post it here. See the pictures of the unit below.











The carburetor itself looks crude. It has two float bowls, one for gasoline and one for kerosene, with a plug valve to switch fuels. It is an auxiliary air valve type carburetor, with no separate idle circuit. The small globe valve is for water supply, and it is curiously not mentioned in the original datasheet. The only comment in the instructions is to not use "too much water". I have thought this may be to avoid a suit from Secor-Higgins who had a patent out about this time for the water injected kerosene carburetors used on Rumely Oilpull tractors of the era.

I have already installed the carb & manifold. The existing Ford studs were too short by 1/4". I did not install the head shim yet, as I think 4:1 compression should be low enough already, especially with water. I am working on the plumbing now, and will continue to update this thread as I get farther in.

Nick Stanley


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nick Stanley on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 10:30 pm:

There is a note in Motor Age, Vol. XXXI, Jan. 4, 1917 No.1, that "Kerosene Motor Co. formed. The Kerosene Motor Co., Peoria, Ill. has been formed with a capital stock of $100,000 to manufacture kerosene transformers. Work has been started. George McFarland is president, E.M. Smith vice president, F.H. Bush secretary-treasurer."


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 10:37 pm:

The kerosene they sell now is not near as good for fuel as it once was. We used to run our sawmill power unit on kerosene. A DE Case power unit built in 1950.
You will notice even with good kero a reduction in hp.
The new stuff, will hardly run the engine well enough to cut thru a pine log in our application.

What I feel you should be warned about is a engine running on kerosene will make it's own oil so to speak.
The oily portion of kero will get past the rings and thin the oil. In a T that is poorly oiled in the first place this could be a bad thing.
I hope others will chime in and help explain or hopefully for the sake of your experiment,debunk my words.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 10:38 pm:

Nick, I have a complete unit with manifold and a extra carburetor. I would REALLY like to get a full size copy of the literature from you to go with my setup.

Here's mine that I posted here back in 2009 under Accessory Of The Day. I believe it's never been on a car.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/117684.html

Looking forward to your updates on the installation and operation of the unit. Thanks for your post!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 10:40 pm:

The kerosene they sell now is not near as good for fuel as it once was. We used to run our sawmill power unit on kerosene. A DE Case power unit built in 1950.
You will notice even with good kero a reduction in hp.
The new stuff, will hardly run the engine well enough to cut thru a pine log in our application.

What I feel you should be warned about is a engine running on kerosene will make it's own oil so to speak.
The oily portion of kero will get past the rings and thin the oil. In a T that is poorly oiled in the first place this could be a bad thing.
I hope others will chime in and help explain or hopefully for the sake of your experiment,debunk my words.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 11:01 pm:

Nick

Nice find. Will be interesting to know how it works on your T!

Here is adv found in FordOwner Aug 1918, there was a follow up adv with only copy, smaller in Sept. 1918, none after that.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nick Stanley on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 11:17 pm:

Kerosene is still obtained by fractional distillation of crude oil at a given temperature range. I've heard that it is somehow "different" than "old fashioned" kerosene, and I'll definitely find out if it is.

Distillate was the "cheap" fuel for tractors of the 30s-40s-50s. I have a 1947 Allis-Chalmers B that is dual fuel, but it was designed for distillate or "tractor fuel", not kerosene. It would knock itself to pieces on kero. Apparently distillate is a step above kero, but below gasoline.

However, earlier tractors, especially the big prairie tractors of the teens & 20's, Rumely Oilpull, Aultman-Taylor, etc., were DESIGNED to burn kerosene, and nearly all used some form of water injection to prevent pre-ignition. Many Aultman-Taylor tractors even used the Kingston 5 ball carburetor. Some later tractors such as John Deere GP's and McCormick-Deering 22-45's, etc. had water injection.

Kerosene will definitely thin the oil. Farmall H tractors, for example, into to the 40's had petcocks in the oil pan for checking the oil level, just like a Ford. The manual specifically mentions, and gives an interval for, draining the oil down to the lower petcock, and adding fresh when burning distillate. Our 30-60 Aultman-Taylor has petcocks that drain the thin oil down to a certain level out of each crank sump also.

Fresh valve job, no carbon, we're good to go!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By keith g barrier on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - 07:47 am:

Nick, I believe you are on track. Tractor fuel was between diesel and gas. Also kerosene sold most places now days is K1 which is a low sulfur fuel. KGB


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jared Buckert on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - 12:35 pm:

I'm interested to see what kind of performance you get, Nick. If nothing else it would make a good scientific experiment. Looking forward to hearing your results.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - 12:43 pm:

At least the manifold is easy to install. You don't need 3 hands.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nick Stanley on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - 12:52 pm:

I imagine it'll be a 20% power loss, at least. The combination of the lower energy content of the kero, and the highly preheated (less dense) intake charge will take steep toll. More so if I have to install the head shim to keep the knocking in check.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Schrope - Upland, IN on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - 10:37 pm:

Why do you think kerosene will have less power.

From what I can find, gasoline has 114,000 BTU's/gal, & Kerosene has 128,100. Diesel has 129,500. Another interesting thing: Ethanol has 76,100.......and we're supposed to love it!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nick Stanley on Friday, June 27, 2014 - 12:00 am:

I am apparently mistaken. You are correct about the energy content of kerosene being higher than gasoline.

Manifold is installed. Now I need plumbing and a throttle rod.



Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris Olsen on Friday, June 27, 2014 - 03:34 pm:

Would there be any way to make a video of when the switch to kero from gas is made? I'd love to hear if it sounds any different.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Friday, June 27, 2014 - 05:03 pm:

NEAT!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Friday, June 27, 2014 - 06:39 pm:

I'll bet it SMELLS different!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Saturday, June 28, 2014 - 07:56 am:

The price of kerosene dropped in the late teens - 1920's as electric lighting replaced kerosene lamps in big cities, thus causing a reduction in demand for kerosene.

A lot of very smart folks tried really hard to make kerosene usable in automobiles. It will be interesting to hear how that conversion works. If it had worked well they would have sold millions of them.

Kerosene works fine in diesel trucks, and of course it is sold as "Jet A" for aircraft use.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nick Stanley on Monday, June 30, 2014 - 11:46 pm:

Took a drive around the yard and up the road today. The unit runs better than I expected. Even the original float valves don't leak. Low end torque is great, but it seems a little weak at high speed, probably as a result of the small carb throat.

When accelerating in high gear, I had to drop the timing back about 30%. I have not run water yet!

In switching from gasoline to kero, I waited until I had temperature showing on my motometer, and turn the valve. If hot enough, it will pick up and not miss a beat. When running, the carburetor gets hot enough such that one cannot switch back to gasoline, as it will vapor lock.
Same the applies when shutting down. I switch back to gas and let it sputter a bit then throw the ignition switch off.

I'll try some longer trips here shortly and report back. For reference, I have a stock 1918 block with Ford .0025 OS pistons, with some out of round in bore. Original cam & spur gears, modern stainless valves, stock head, and Champion X plugs running on coils & mag. No water pump.

I'm sure there will be some reliability compromises.

Royce,

The only thing I can't decide on is whether I should go with a Mack Bulldog radiator cap (tacky), or if I will need to get permission the FAA for a transponder on board. Will the RFI from the ignition foul up my transponder signal? Besides, I don't think my tie wire would pass muster with an A&P.

Jay, did you get the literature?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jared Buckert on Tuesday, July 01, 2014 - 08:05 am:

That's so cool! I love seeing accessories like this put to the test. There are so many oddball things out there for the Model T. Surely some of them must have sort of worked like they were advertised.

Can't wait to hear more results, Nick. Keep up the good work!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Tuesday, July 01, 2014 - 05:46 pm:

Neat stuff! Thanks for the literature!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris Olsen on Tuesday, July 15, 2014 - 01:54 am:

How goes the kero running? I has been a couple weeks, wondering how things are.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By keith g barrier on Tuesday, July 15, 2014 - 08:34 am:

Nick, with tractors the pistons were different to give more compression with fuel. The old Oliver I used to have had much more power on tractor fuel than on straight gas. KGB


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