Propane powered?

I've looked into doing a propane conversion on my generator. In the event my area has no electric and I'm outta gasoline, I wouldn't be able to fill up. I always keep at least 1 usually 2 full propane tanks on hand for the grill.
 
chieffan said:
I don't worry about any of that now, but where and how often would you go to get the tank filled ? ?
Click to expand...

I've been around a lot of propane powered forklifts. We have a 3 cylinder cat and it runs forever on a tank. I'm not sure how much is in there probably more than 35LBs but not too much that I can't lift it up on there myself.

Not saying its an awesome idea. But it would be fun to play with!
 
Don't forget that gasoline goes bang too. Gasoline tank much weaker metal. Propane tank wont leak if tipped over. 20 lb tank has excess flow built into the valve to stop propane flow if line gets cut off.

Noel
 
Last edited:
Clean fuel that stores forever and the oil stays clean for a long time however the Kits are pricey and if you are north and use it for snow removal they are a little harder to start.
Ideal for Generators and motors that are seldom used, I have also seen propane Weed Eaters no experience with those.
 
One nice thing about a propane lawn mower is that a lot households have a propane grill and the only thing the gas can is for is to fill up the lawn mower, I believe that a propane tank is safer than a plastic gas can
If I remember correctly Propane starts to boil at -40, I used to run a heating company and at about 30 below some of the furnaces would have a shortage of pressure and sometimes would lock out especially if the supply tank was getting low. shouldn't be fishing when it gets that cold anyway I guess.

The propane Ice auger looks like a nice idea unfortunately we don't get enough ice where we live now to trust walking on the ice. When we were in Wisconsin there were some really nice fishing shacks and deer hunting blinds, Some had solar panels, flat screen tv's and small bar built in.

The generator in our camper is propane, low maintenance but it seems to take a bit of cranking to get it started and if it is chilly out we need to start it a couple of times to get it running.
If we ever put in a stand alone backup power unit it would be propane or diesel although I don't think diesel fuel lasts as long as it used to. At this point we can use the camper generator to power up the house furnace and a few things so if the power went off for awhile we would still have power to run the essentials.
 
Arti said:
If we ever put in a stand alone backup power unit it would be propane or diesel although I don't think diesel fuel lasts as long as it used to.
Click to expand...
At one time when considering the purchase of another tractor, propane was a strong candidate. Ended up with a diesel Fordson Dexta as no propane powered tractors were available. We ran strictly propane powered forklifts at work and those engines lasted forever. They spent at least half of their time in the freezers. Except in severely cold climates propane is a great option and I would still consider a propane tractor.
 
I bought a 1954 Massey Harris 44 propane tractor my wife saw/found sitting out behind a barn.
It looks like this one except a NF. Massey called them Butane. The serial number starts off BR RC ######.
342754_opt.jpg


The farmer said it was a nice strong running tractor, said oil never looked dirty even it he changed it 4 times a year on his pepermint farm.
Asked him why he parked it and he said STUPID hired men. What does STUPID hired men have to do with it.
He said they would not check the fuel level in the tank, go out in th efield to work and run it out of fuel.
then he would have to take a tractor off another job and go out and tow it into the fuel tank to refill it.
He said he finally was able to afford a new bigger diesel tractor with a fuel gauge so even the STUPID hired men could see with ease it was low on fuel before going to the field.

It had sat so long when we found it it was seized. I made the attempt to free it up on the 2 hour trailer ride home. Have did it several times but this time I didn't double check my tie down chains to make sure they were loose allowing it to rock.
Kare told me later he had tightened the binders on it while I was putting the ramps in the truck.

:D Al
 
You can actually partially fill a propane tank back up off of a full grill tank by turning the grill tank upside down after you open the valve on the grill tank. The upside down grill tank pushes liquid Propane into the empty tank until the pressure's equalize in both tank and that takes a while if you are venting the vapor off the empty tank while filling with liquid. I had a Propane refill station at the shop/plant that we filled our own tanks with. We also had a D-14LP A/C that we bush hoged with and it would run out if one of the guys didn't fill up before going out in the field. I'd take one of my grill tanks and a connection hose I made up with male fittings on both ends to put Propane in the tractor out in the field.
 
My BIL did plenty of propane and natural gas conversions. Both his V8 Toyota Tundra and V8 4Runner burn natural gas. He picked up a pump for a song for refuelling the natural gas. All our taxis up here did run on propane at one time, not sure if that is still the case.

There is a fitting available for refilling disposable propane containers from your portable propane tank.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top