Propane question

87rockzuk

New Member
Joined
May 5, 2006
Location
Laurinburg
After getting my spark problem figured out, I was disgusted to see that now my propane doesn't seem to want to cooperate.

I know a lot of you guys are running propane so I hope someone can be of assistance. I'm running Impco stuff that I got from Acme Alternative Fuel Systems. Everything is new.

I have propane from the tank to the lockout (vacuum lockout) and I think I have fuel from the lockout to the regulator. I cracked the line after turning it over and had pressure. I don't have anything from the regulator to the mixer. Anybody know what might be going on.
Do I have a bad regulator or am I just missing something? I have turned it over (a lot) so I figured I have given the system time to push any air out of the lines. Who's got some troubleshooting tips?
 
chirp, chirp, chirp............

I'll contact Acme tomorrow to see what it could be and maybe get them to send me a new regulator. I pulled the vacuum line to the lockout and supply line to the regulator loose this morning. When I put some vacuum on the line, propane exploded out of the fuel line so I know for sure that the lockout is OK, but no vapor in the line to the carb.
 
It`s been many years since I`ve worked on a propane system. The systems I worked on were on forklifts and used engine coolant to keep the converters(regulators) from freezing up. Frozen converter would equal no fuel delivery to carb.
 
Thanks.

I know it sounds like a frozen regulator, but the vehicle has never ran with propane before. There hasn't been any flow through the system to freeze the unit.
 
We went thru this a few weeks ago with another member, you had ignition issues correct ?

what plugs are you using ? hopefully NOT platinum plugs.

CHANGE the plugs, propane can fuel foul plugs, quickly and with out indication.

if you are getting 'pane to the regulator, it should be flowing thru, what set up are you using ?

lockoof, regulator, mixer? numbers please. also knowing what engine it is on might be of help.

One thing to try, and I really don't like to suggest this, try a small shot of starting fluid WHILE cranking, ( this takes to people) the added vacuum of the engine pulling while running should be enough to get things flowing.

I usually have to do a small shot when I change a regulator on a lift truck ( about once a month )

what is your setup ?
 
I called the guys at Acme Alternative Fuel Systems today. Rick walked me through a few troubleshooting items and the damn thing started this afternoon. I can't hardly believe it. It may have been a small vacuum leak at the vapor line, but I tightened everything up and held the gas pedal down and turned it over.....it stumbled a little then fired up. I got the idle set enough to run a couple of minutes before it got dark on me. I'll get the timing set tomorrow and get everything adjusted enough to break the engine in some.

BTW

It's a 22r
Impco Lockout
Impco cobra regulator / vaporizer
Impco 200 mixer

Thanks for the advice.
 
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