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Run lp tractor from grill tank

J

Joneil

Member
I ran my 4020 out of fuel and decided to replace the tank valves. This is turning into a bigger task than I expected and need to move it to the other barn. I rigged up a grill tank without a regulator. I can't get the engine to fire though. Do I need an old tank without the safety flow valve? If I open the valve fast I hear a click. After about a minute I hear it click again.
 
Another thing with grill tanks. If you open that valve fast you can Freeze the regulator. If the tank is laying over it will shoot out liquid LP and the liquid LP acts like a refrigerant. Takes a while to thaw thus the second click. My opinion but I have seen the compound hi to low regulators freeze up like that. Don't know enough about tractor set ups but that is what happens with tent heaters and cold weather auxiliary heat systems for buildings. Temporary heat situations. Just thinking.
 

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Since I don't use my tractors that run on propane any more. I don't have a good supply of propane, so I hook up a BBQ tank to move them. My tractors have a regulator, so it doesn't make any difference on the supply tank. Your tractor should also have a regulator. Stan
 
I have run them from the small bottle with a hose on the end of the torch to the intake. Control with the torch valve. I screw the burner off the brass pipe and put the hose on.
 
I suspect the safety check valve is closing.

Try opening the valve very slowly. Then crack the line fitting at the regulator to see if fuel is being delivered. It may be closing again as soon as it senses flow.
 
If I open the valve slowly I can hear it fill the line and it doesn't click. I have the tank bolted vertical to the frame so it shouldn't be getting liquid. I think for now I will get someone to help tow it to the barn. And look for an older tank later.
 
I agree on the safety valve if a new small tank that has one....triangular knob. Tricky getting the tank valve open on the gas grill with the stupid things, much less trying to operate a tractor on it.

Back when I had a JD 4020 LP I had a "tag along" nurse tank on wheels that you could take to the fields with you. It had a wet line that fed liquid fuel to the fuel tank. Liquid, 91k BTU/gallon was then fed to the onboard regulator from the fuel tank. I think.

Point here is that besides a valve if the tank has one, you may need to invert it to get liquid to the tractor's regulator to have enough BTU available to run the engine. It's not that the engine requires the btu to develop hp, the regulator valve in the regulator needs it to function properly.........I think.

I just looked up hp-hrs for 1 BTU and you could run 10 hp (tractor hp requirement at idle) on a (wet) gallon for 3-4 hrs.

It was my first big tractor and my first and last LP!
 

My Cockshutt 30 had an aftermarket propane system. Propane delivery out here is a pain at best, so I used a BBQ tank. IIRC I bought an adapter that let me plumb into the supply line to the mounted tank and I could hang a 20lbs BBQ tank off the side of the tractor. I used nothing but the new style tanks with the safety valve, but I had to open the tank valve with the supply line to the tractor closed and let the pressure equalize or whatever it does and then after 30-45 seconds I could open the tractor side. I have to do the same thing with my big propane weed burner or the tank valve locks up. Never had a problem after that.

Mind you, this is a 30 hp tractor. Your 4020 might need more flow than the BBQ tank can supply, but considering the flame out of my weed burner, I think it should at least be able to move around the yard.
 
You are probably already aware that your 4020 has some definite settings to tow it without damage. A Syncro-Range transmission must be shifted into the TOW position. A Power-Shift transmission has a drive line disconnect near the operators feet close to the seat. The info should be in your owners manual.
 
I knew about towing syncros. This is my first power shift and looked up the instructions in the manual.

Dad came up and helped get it moved. It was all my 420 could handle pushing it up into the other barn. Now I can get things cleaned up and painted with air tools.
 
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