propane for gardentractors

Az Jim

Member
Does anyone have any experience putting propane on
small engines, garden tractors in particular, Ive seen u-tube for constant speed engines.
I'm tired of dirty, ruined carburetors due to
sitting a couple months, even with Arizona's low humidity, and gas treatment, I get lots of water, and what looks like slug slime, it gets to be a mess.
Thanks Jim
 
I bought a new generator 15 years ago equiped for gasoline OR propane. I ran a line from the 1000 gallon propane tank that we use for house heat. It is a single cylinder Briggs , 8hp I think.

Works great, no stale gas - just turn on the valve, purge the line and give her a pull.

Surely there are conversion kits available.
 

Use premium gas and Star-Tron additive and no more fuel problems. It sits inmy machines for a year and no issues.

I used to use Stabil but had problems since switching to Star-Tron no more problems.
 
There is a group called either Metro Lawn or Southern Propane that does a presentation on lp fuel conversions for commercial mowers at every Kawasaki service school I have attended in the last 3 or so years.

I would think the same conversion could be done to any Kawasaki equipped mower, and I know Husqvarna uses Kawasaki engines on their commercial mowers and some of their better tractor style mowers.

Surely they are on the Internet. I would look them up, or call them and find out what dealers in your area are doing the conversions.

The dealer may only want to convert a new mower/engine, however.
 
It can be done to any engine. But, it's going to be quite pricey.

I see so many complaints about gas gone bad...

Strange... I just don't see it in my world! Not doubting anyones word, but I violate every code of ethics there is about storing gas, and don't seem to have the same problems. Makes me wonder what the difference is? Is it regional additives? Climate? Something "growing" in the tank?

I live in an emission controlled county, which means the gas is 10% ethanol, and has the winter/summer blends, whatever that is... You would think if there were going to be a problem, it would be with this type fuel with all the additives.

Theory: Fuel going bad must be directly related to evaporation. I was in the attic a while back, found a long forgotten Coleman lantern, still had unleaded gas in the tank, probably hasn't been used in 15 years. I opened the cap and that gas smelled and looked just like new gas. I didn't try to light it, but I bet it would! The difference I see is that it was sealed all those years, no evaporation.

Any thoughts?
 
I think todays gas degrades rapidly. My theory is that it's the stuff in the fuel, the additives, conflicting with one another. You store a gallon of gas in an air tight container and open it in a year and see what you have. It doesn't smell or look right IME.
 
Yes it can be done but you have to decide on two issues first.

1. is the cost to do the conversion worth it for you?

2. Figure out where you are going to mount a 20 LB propane tank on your tractor where it won't be in the way of one thing or another.

I agree that propane is a superior fuel. Carb issues are almost non-existent.
Oil contamination from raw fuel will not happen.

Cleaner burning, longer engine life, easier starting because a choke is not needed. Flooding is no longer an issue.

Check out the link below.
Run Propane
 
(quoted from post at 14:45:08 05/03/14)
It will still be fine if you added Star-Tron to it.

That's not the issue. The issue is that it seems to degrade and we shouldn't have to add anything to it, at least IMO. I haven't tried Star-tron yet but hear good things. Sad we have to add more money to already expensive fuel.
 
The slug slime is the ethinol in the fuel. I HATE that stuff. Us STARTRON in your Hi-Test gas!!!! Should fix your headaches. I have played with a couple of LP units and the kits for small engines are in the $300.oo range. Mount the tank on a STONG bracket behind you. Could be a neat project but not cheap.
 
(quoted from post at 08:08:37 05/04/14)
(quoted from post at 14:45:08 05/03/14)
It will still be fine if you added Star-Tron to it.

That's not the issue. The issue is that it seems to degrade and we shouldn't have to add anything to it, at least IMO. I haven't tried Star-tron yet but hear good things. Sad we have to add more money to already expensive fuel.

It is the issue if you want to keep gas in good shape for up to a year and have no more gummed up carburator problems.
It is sadder to have expensive fuel go bad and mess up your carb.
 
Just bought a bottle yesterday and it was around $7.oo. I cannot tell you how many problems the stuff has solved!!!!!! You only need a little squirt after the first dose. It will even remove snail snot because the enzime works on it. You can get a little tiny bottle of the stuff and try it. PLEASE try it!! Jeffcat
 

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