This question is for all you propane freaks out there:

I am trying to get my 350 to run on propane. I've disassembled a spare converter that I had and found that the gas is not getting though to converter due to the shut-off lever inside not having enough pressure to open. I see how the diaphragm would push on the lever to open it but don't see how the diaphragm gets any vacuum. There are one or two places that vacuum could go into the converter that I see but, if I ran a vacuum line to them, they would just suck propane through with them. Is there suppossed to be a vacuum line ot the converter? I went to that WPS site and it says nothing about it, other than for the lockout solenoid with a feedback system, which I don't have.

Also, on my model E converter, what are the little electric hookups on the top? They lead to a small tube on the outside of the caonverter that looks like I should hook a vacuume line up to it, but again, it would just suck propane???

HELP! I have one hour to get this thing running before I don't see it again for a very long time!

J. J.

There are two (That I know of) types of lock outs...vaccum and electric..which do you have? (Got a Pic?)

I have an electric lockout but that isn't the problem. The liquid is getting through the lockout.

If I open the front cover of the converter and push on the lever by hand, gas comes through like it should. The problem is that the diaphragm in the converter isn't pushing the lever that I pushed by hand. If there were vacuum there it would, but I don't see how the applied vacuum wouldn't suck gas out with it.

J. J.

Come awn, Lance, Dug, or one of you other propane-heads! I KNOW you KNOW!

J. J.

Sorry, I missed your reply yesterday....

The systems that I used to work on had either an electric lock out or vaccum lock out. The converter did not have any vaccum lines to it...it only ran water lines thorugh it and then the propane lines...there were no gates or valves or anything to stop either the water or propane from flowing through it.

Are you sure that you don't have both lock out styles there? Maybe you are using an electric style then mated to a vaccum style? If so, pick one style and didtch the other.

There is no vaccum on the vaporizer/regulator:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/propane/Image003.jpg

The lockout allows fuel to flow to the vaporizer (should be BEFORE the vaporizer/regulator):

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/propane/Image002.jpg

The one in the photo is vaccum, there are electric ones.

I've never taken apart a vaporizer, so I don't know what your problem is. :(

Lance, you have the same converter/vaporizer that I have. Inside of it is a diaphragm that pushes on a lever that opens and closes the pathway for vapor to get though to the fuel hose side of the mechanism. What actuates the diaphragm in your case? I hooked mine up to a vacuum source and it works a little better, but still not getting enough fuel.

That ribbed hose fitting that you have attached to the front of yours is the vent for the diaphragm. It's leads to the non-vacuum side of the diaphragm and returns it to atmospheric pressure when no/less vacuum is present.

Does your model E have 2 electric wires attached to plugs near the top with a small nozzle going into them? If so, put power to them and a solenoid will open that allows vacuum thrugh that small nozzle. I'm not sure if I need to put power to it or not, but that is where I am hooking up my vacuum line to get it to get a little fuel to the engine.

Forget about lockout valves. Mine is electric and I have tested it to make sure that it is working. It is. You are running nearly the same setup as me. I don't have 2 lockouts or anything. I have the one lockout before the converter, the converter, and fuel hose.

I appreciate the input so far. Any more ideas?

J. J.

ummm, i think you reading too far into this, u might just need a rebuild on the vaporizor then, i dont have any electrics on my system at all. jiMMy

my system goes as follows, tanks/high pressure line/fuel lock(vacume)/high pressure line/vaporizor(heater hoeses)/low pressure line/ mixer/ POWER!!!!!!!!!

jiMMy

Originally posted by patooyee
What actuates the diaphragm in your case? J.

Fuel Pressure! There is no vaccum or electricity going to the canister. Sounds like yours might need to be replaced/rebuilt...

Hey Jimmy...

post a couple more pics of how your low pressure line flows into the intake... Mine goes in thetop of my air filter... it's a PITA for clearance... how does yours hook up?

I couldn't get enough fuel in my old regulator...replaced it with a spare I had and the rig fired right up.


Doug

u have a mixer like lance use to have, the 300 a model , i have the 425 . it uses the standard air cleaner element and the low pressure line goes right to teh front of the mixer.

i dont have any pics, my cameras bats are dead, and the crusier is tarped up(hence im too lazy to go un tarp it)

jIMMy

He's got a 425 mixer, it loads at the bottom, instead of the top like the 300a

cool... do those 425's work on only a Qjet intake pattern, or do they work on a square bore or 2bbl setup?

Doug

they bolt to a holley throtle body base plate

Damnit, I was hoping not to have to rebuild. :(

J. J.

So....

If I was running a ford 302 2bbl intake is there an adapter or link to a list of adapters that might help me?

I'm pretty interested in switching.

Doug

theres all kinds of adapters, you can even get a mixer for a 2bbl intake. but i dont know of any place online. jiMMy

www.propaneguy.com

whats this closed loop opel loop mixer crap :confused: