Hagen Brothers farms,Goodrich ND | My first 4 wd tractor was a 69 Versatile 125. That was the same as a 145,but with a 391 Ford gasoline engine. we ran it for a few years with the 391 replaced with a 406 complete with aluminum Offy portosonic intake and headers,plus RV torque cam and electronic ignition. It had really good power and not bad fuel economy for a gas tractor. Working summer fallow would use about 1/2-3/4 gallon per acre. After a few years we decided to convert it to a diesel engine. We found a great deal on a 6-71 ,inline 6 ,Detroit diesel although we really should have found a 6 V-71 (V 6). The engine compartment on that old versy was built to hold only a short V 6 or V 8 engine,so we had to add 10 inches to the frame and hood,plus move the radiator and hydraulic pumps ahead that 10 inches. Before attempting the diesel conversion,we talked to the engineers at Versatile to ask if they thought the trans and axles would stand the extra torque and horse power (240 hp/600ftlb torque),they said"go for it".
It worked well except for a top transmission shaft bearing. After aprox 200 hrs,the top front bearing was little chunks in the bottom of the Trans case. The second bearing was gone in about the same amount of hrs. A check at the dealer found that this single row ball bearing was replaced by a double row tapered bearing on late model 145's The bearing was a direct fit in that older Trans and ended the Trans problems. That old tractor was replaced by a new Steiger in 85,but continues to run today,having gone through the hands of several different owners in the area. It was a simple,reliable old machine that still brings back fond memories of Versatile . Thanks for sharing the pics. |
"Classic Versatile" pic
