Propane/Natural Gas Kits for Gas powered equipment

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tomc585

tomc585

Member
Jul 3, 2012
107
Long Island, New York
If anyone is interested in converting yard equipment (generator, log splitter, snow blower, etc.) to natural gas and or propane or as a tri-fuel us carburetion is running a 50% off sale on fleabay for their kits with free shipping. Works on just about any engine even the Honda clones. I recommend the Snorkel style kit if they have it for your engine. You can rig a homemade setup but this kit for me was a no brainer, added the hose and regulator from an old BBQ and she is ready to go.
Note: If you plan on never running gasoline for a long time remove the needle and float so it doesnt get hammered bouncing around without a liquid fuel to cushion it.
The sale ends tomorrow Thursday Feb 19th at 12pm EST so hurry!
Search key word "Snorkel Propane"
 
Interesting.

What are the benefits? Other than a generator, where running it off nat gas seems like a no brainer, why would you ever want to run a log splitter on propane/nat gas?
 
One benefit is never dealing with the "old gas" issue. Propane doesn't have age issues like dino squeez'ins.
 
Like jags said, no storing issues of equipment and or fuel. Propane can be stored without any hassles and if you have natural gas at home even better yet. A quick connect like the ones used with a portable natural gas BBQ tap work great if its in a convenient location. If I ever get NG here I would even setup my splitter for it.
My next project might be my 27" 11hp snow blower using a 1lb propane bottle. I can do my driveway in about 10-20 minutes depending on the amount of snow and it only uses about a pint or so.

Sale is over but they may do it again since it was such a success. If I see it does I will post again.
 
tomc585 said:
My next project might be my 27" 11hp snow blower using a 1lb propane bottle.
Click to expand...

Be aware that during cold weather smaller containers simply don't convert from liquid to gas very fast. A 1 lb tank probably won't run an 11hp engine running at 3600RPM. You might want to research some of the conversion limitations before you go converting the snow blower to find out that you are lugging a 20# cylinder around.;)
 
Jags said:
Be aware that during cold weather smaller containers simply don't convert from liquid to gas very fast. A 1 lb tank probably won't run an 11hp engine running at 3600RPM. You might want to research some of the conversion limitations before you go converting the snow blower to find out that you are lugging a 20# cylinder around.;)
Click to expand...
Very true, I've been thinking of ways to combat the chilling propane effect. maybe a thermal beverage bag. I'm just building it in my head right now and nothing would be permanent.
 
The AMC has huts up high in the white mountains, they run commercial kitchens at each hut and have to plan for cold weather vaporization issues, they have racks of propane tanks all manifolded together to get enough propane to run the stoves.

There are various tricks folks use to boost vaporization that usually boil down to grapping waste heat from the burner and routing it down to the tank. Of course too much of a good thing can cause really bad things to happen.
 
I thought of utilizing the heat from the exhaust too but I think a thermal sock might be enough for such a short duration. Plus usually we don't have such cold temps after a snow fall here on the island...it was +2 feg F this morning.
 
Another benefit is you don't have the high carbon content breaking down the oil, so oil change goes a lot longer before changing oil.


Jeff
 
Most general small engines without a pressurized oil filter system recommend changing the oil every 25-30 hours when running on gasoline, LP and NG units are extended to 100 hours. Pressurized with a filter are good to 250 hours plus on gasoline.
 
tomc585 said:
Like jags said, no storing issues of equipment and or fuel. Propane can be stored without any hassles and if you have natural gas at home even better yet. A quick connect like the ones used with a portable natural gas BBQ tap work great if its in a convenient location. If I ever get NG here I would even setup my splitter for it.
My next project might be my 27" 11hp snow blower using a 1lb propane bottle. I can do my driveway in about 10-20 minutes depending on the amount of snow and it only uses about a pint or so.

Sale is over but they may do it again since it was such a success. If I see it does I will post again.
Click to expand...


1lb propane bottle is equal to about 4 ounces of gas plus with the cold weather you might have pressure issues.
 
So Im thinking that the single pounder isn't going to cut it for that size engine not only for volume but supply rate restriction.
BlackDog, That kit uses the old style adapter which requires (included) extending the carb studs and sometimes cutting the frame for clearance to reinstall the airfilter housing.
Look for the MSK, Motor Snorkel Kits which feature a thinner profile adapter.
 
tomc585 said:
Very true, I've been thinking of ways to combat the chilling propane effect. maybe a thermal beverage bag. I'm just building it in my head right now and nothing would be permanent.
Click to expand...

that will just make it far worse... a propane bottle "steals" the heat from the air to boil into a gas. you can't just stick in a thermos.

if your snow blower's engine has a lighting coil.... you can use that to power a small 12v or 24v strip heater... it might just be enough.
 
That makes sense. Its just a pipe dream right now. I'm still working on the generator conversion, kit is installed just doing some mods to it.
 
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