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John Deere Tractors Discussion Forum

John Deere LP tractors

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AJK

08-14-2003 18:12:57

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I am thinking of buying a lp tractor. I do not know much about them. Any info is great,are they harder to work on,run and so on. Andrew

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Ellis

08-15-2003 11:36:41

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Re: John Deere LP tractors in reply to AJK, 08-14-2003 18:12:57

We started using butane/propane conversions on 2 and 4 cylinder tractors in about 1950 and I presently have a 520 & 730 with factory LPG. A little info about PROPANE; it weighs 4.23#/gal. compared to gasoline at 6.1. BTU/gal of P is 91,690 and G is 123,830. By weight it requires about 4% more air for a correct mixture of Propane as compared to Gasoline. Octane No. of Propane is 125 which means an engine can have more compression than with most gasolines without fear of detonation. If a gasoline engine is converted to propane it will deliver less power. With factory LPG and with increased CR there is probably not much difference. In fact for a G900, MM, 425 CI the Neb. test gave 97.81 HP on Gasoline and 97.57 on Propane and all other similar tests were about the same.
Personally, I think Propane is safer than gasoline, especially when one considers the gasoline tank and filler neck is directly over the exhaust manifold on the poppers.
The way I fill mine is to park and hook it up with all fill valves open late in the afternoon and depending on weather conditions and how much is in the nurse tank it could have 70-80% in it by 10 PM without bleeding any off.
I'll tell you of a peculiar thing I discovered about 50 years ago while filling by the bleed off method. While filling, and like most teenage boys, I would put my finger over the bleed off and seems like at a certain position it would sort of suck on my finger. Curosity caused me to put a DIME over the hole and sure enough it would not blow it off and in fact you had to pull on it to get it off.

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Phil

08-15-2003 10:57:29

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Re: John Deere LP tractors in reply to AJK, 08-14-2003 18:12:57

I grew up on LP tractors, and am trying to collect one of every Deere model. Currently looking for a 430W. I somehow ended up with 3- 630LPs. I have also researched and written articles on propane, so I know just enough to be dangerous. LP tractors of the same displacement usually have more power than their counterparts, because propane is higher octane than gasoline, so can be higher compression. But LP has less BTU's per gallon, so you will burn more under load. But my experience is that idling around, LP fuel economy is good. I have a fill hose to connect a 20 lb gas grill cylinder (5 gallons) to the vapor port on my tractor tank, and I will challenge anyone that I can dump in 5 gallons of LP (into an empty tractor tank) faster than 5 gallons of gasoline. And with no spills on that new paint job. And connected to a farmstead 500 gallon tank, you can usually get the tractor tank about 40% full without bleeding off vapor. Don't leave it connected over repeated day vs. night heat-cool cycles, as it can overfill the 80% guideline. I wear gloves and goggles as a precaution, but I consider LP safer than gasoline if you know and respect the properties of LP.
Ethyl mercaptin (sp) is added to LP to give it an oder, and this draws flys.
Propane liquid/vapor temp is about -42 degrees, while Butane is about 30 degrees. That is why you can not start a tractor on butane in cold weather. The LP fuel system relys on the engine manifold vacumn to open the fuel valve in the regulator/vaporizor. So if you don't have proper vacumn, you will not get fuel. Water in the oil bath aircleaner can restrict enough to prevent opening the valve. I like the fact that I can leave a tractor sit for several years (if my tank valves don't leak) and I don't have to worry about gas turning to varnish, stuck needle valves, rusted gas tanks, etc. I have never had to rebuild an LP carb. And the regulator is relatively simple to repair. And LP is currently about 60% of gasoline price.

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Larry

08-14-2003 19:21:20

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Re: John Deere LP tractors in reply to AJK, 08-14-2003 18:12:57

LP tractors are pretty much like gassers, only more of a pain in the A$$ cause you can't haul propane to it in a 5 gallon can. Having said that, I have one I dearly love...a 4020LP..Its been a really good tractor. I overhauled it this spring, spent around 2000 on it, but boy oh boy does it run sweet now. I disagree with the other guy, I think propane tractors are somewhat less in the horse power range, but easier starting in the winter, the oil looks like you just poured it in, and I think the might burn more fuel, although I've never really kept track of mine. I have a tank on a trailer (I bought with the tractor) so I can keep the farm fuel seperate from the house. I'd say this...I'd buy another one in a heart beat...(but I'm a hobby farmer....albeit a hobby farmer wanting to make this farm pay its own way)
I'd love to have a 630LP, I grew up on one. Filling an LP is scary in my books. You're running liquid propane in the tank and letting the vapor escape into the atmosphere (which is not the correct way to do it). I keep a pair of welding gloves and big channel lock pliers by the nurse tank for doing it...ALWAYS keep the tractor shut off...and remember the vapor is Highly explosive...I have a seperate fitting to keep the spiders out of my fill hose....(don't ask me why, but spiders will get into it...and blow flys will come from no-where while you're filling your tractor...let it set a few minutes after you get liquid out of the vapor fitting, fire it up and go to work....Its really pretty neat...you've (mine anyway) got 40 gallons of fuel and you can sure do alot of work on that amount. If you do happen to get one and have any troubles, post up on here and I'll try to help. As far as the carb. or anything, I've never had a nickels worth of trouble with mine.

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CLW

08-14-2003 22:38:14

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Re: Re: John Deere LP tractors in reply to Larry, 08-14-2003 19:21:20

Larry, The 630LP is 45.8 HP at the drawbar as gas is 44.2 HP. The 730 is 53.0 gas, 53.7 diesel, and 54.2 LP. We used the same tank in a trailer setup with our 60. I had never tied the flys to the propane but you may be right on. Just never put the two together. Didn't have a spider problem. Couldn't you give them a short burst and freeze them and send them into space at the same time?

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Kerry

08-14-2003 19:20:22

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Re: John Deere LP tractors in reply to AJK, 08-14-2003 18:12:57

Don't forget, if you get a tank to fill it up you'll neet to tell the gas company to get you a tank with a dip tube so you can draw liquid from the bottom of the tank. Most tanks for houses use vapor from the top of the tank, you can't fill the tractor up like that.

If you don't use it much, you can usually talk the propane guys to fill it up straight out of the truck for you. Don't ask them to make a special trip, they don't like to do it for less than 100 gallons, but if you ask them to just drop by when they're in the area for another delivery they won't usually charge you a delivery fee.

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CLW

08-14-2003 18:57:15

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Re: John Deere LP tractors in reply to AJK, 08-14-2003 18:12:57

AJK, it's all in what you get use to. A factory LP will have a LITTLE more H.P. than gas or diesel. They burn very clean. Cleaner oil and plugs. They have just a little different sound than gas. Your LP dealer can help with some parts and Deere has parts. There are suppliers that have any part you should ever need. You will need a tank and hose to fill it if you don't already have a tank. I drove a 60LP growing up and have a restored 630 now. (If you would like to see it look under "Tractor Photos" and search "630". It is listed "John Deere 630LP". and my name is Charles Webb. It may be the only 630LP listed.) I think you will like the LPG. CLW

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Walt in Jaxn Tn.

08-14-2003 20:33:04

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Re: Re: John Deere LP tractors in reply to CLW, 08-14-2003 18:57:15

Here's another twist, i used to work for the phone co. We used a LP powered briggs stratton blower to ventilate manholes. every time i worked around one i got a headache most of the next day. We also had minneapolis moline tractor on our farm that used LP and when i spent very much time around that tractor i would get a headache the next day. any one else have that problem?

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Dave_D

08-15-2003 13:35:11

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Re: Re: Re: John Deere LP tractors in reply to Walt in Jaxn Tn., 08-14-2003 20:33:04

Diesel give me a headache. :)

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Wayne in Tn.

08-15-2003 08:05:16

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Re: Re: Re: John Deere LP tractors in reply to Walt in Jaxn Tn., 08-14-2003 20:33:04

I noticed that I broke out in a rash while sanding and preparing the Lp tank on my 420 for paint.??? Also I believe the manual for the 420lp says it has a little more horses than the gas and all fuel models. I like mine, runs great and burns clean and will start anytime in any weather without choking. Also I had all the valves and components rebuilt by an Lp company, don't have any leaks at all and keep it stored in an enclosed building. I do leave a couple of windows up just for safety.

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