Re: Need information about LP tractors

Posted by Kerry on October 15, 2002 at 15:47:20 from (207.53.229.42):

In Reply to: Need information about LP tractors posted by Garry on October 15, 2002 at 06:49:46:

They do run cleaner, and the engines last forever because there's no gas to wash the oil off the cylinders. I have a 1955 JD 50LP and have had pretty good luck with it.

Let me also say that I've used propane tractors since I was 11 yrs old, so I'm not starting from scratch...

You need to be careful fueling them, the propane comes out of the tank in liquid form and will give you frostbite in just a second. You can freeze a coke in about 10 seconds (I did that back when I was a kid and I was immortal, not knowing how stupid it was). The tank has to have a dip tube, a pipe that goes to the bottom of the tank. That way you're putting liquid into the tractor's fuel tank, just putting vapor off the top of the tank into it won't work. You can't use the tank connection where you would hook up your house because it's only vapor.

Something else peculiar to LP vehicles is that, when you fuel them, they attract flies, and sometimes bees! I guess they like the smell or something...

To fill it up, you turn on the valve at the propane tank, crack the valve at the end of the hose for a second to purge the air out of the line, then hook it to the tractor's tank. It has a big valve that works like an over-grown valve stem on a tire so you have to be quick to keep from letting it out and freezing your hand. Don't even think about trying it without a good heavy pair of gloves.

Once you get the hose hooked up, you open the valve at the end of the hose to let the LP start flowing into the tractor. It will only flow until the pressure is equalized, so you have to open the bleeder port on the top of the fuel tank. It will sit there and hiss and let out LP vapor. When it lets out a white fog, it means the tank is at 80% and you need to close the bleeder port and shut off the valve on the fuel hose. You need to stop at 80% so the LP will have room to expand in the tank when the sun hits it, if you over fill it you might blow up the tank.

When you unhook the fuel hose, you again have to be quick to keep from freezing your hands.

I've also used an additional bleeder port that screws into the vapor port on the side of the tractor's fuel tank, it lets out a LOT more gas, but sometimes in hot weather it helps to get the pressure down so you can get the liquid in.

Sorry for such a long note, if you have more questions (or corrections!) just drop a note. I've had two 50's, a JD 720, and an M Farmall on propane and never had any problems other than once the water line stopped up and the regulator froze on the M. There is a water line running to the regulator to keep warm water in it so it doesn't freeze.

One other think, you start the tractor on vapor, then after it's had a few mins to warm up you switch to liquid. If you start on liquid, sometimes the regulator will freeze, but then you just have to wait a few minutes for it to thaw out and try it again.

Fuel is available anywhere, especially in rural areas where there are more houses that use propane for heat. The price fluctuates, but it's usually a little cheaper than gas, if you get it in the summer it's around 85 cents here in NE TX. My tank rental is $65.00 per year, or you can buy your own.

Have fun,
Kerry

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