Propane Edger overview (converted Troy Bilt 515)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 พ.ค. 2024
- I got rid of the gasoline fuel system on this Troy Bilt edger, and replaced it with an Impco on-demand LPG regulator. Now it runs a lot cleaner and smoother. Build details coming in another video.
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Your running a liquid regulator. I've never seen a small engine run except on a vapor regulator. Are you sure it's not suppose to have the bottle pointing up. I like it very clean set up.
Nice job. I think I will try one of those regulators. my beam t-60 requires additional vacuum port as a safety shutoff. This safety is not necessary for these small outside power equipment. It would make the conversion simple. I also like the aerator valve to control mixture. I hope it holds up to the lpg. I once used a air hose from compressor and the propane degraded the hose in less than a season of mowing.
did you have to add a restrictor in the air box?
I'm pretty happy with this regulator. I purchased mine via Ebay for $48, including shipping. Search for "Impco model J" on Ebay. I agree the fuel lockout isn't necessary for our small engines. I didn't use a restrictor plate because I gave up on dual-fuel compatibility, so I didn't feed the propane into the airbox. Instead, I pipe the propane into the hole where the main gasoline jet previously resided. That is exactly in the middle of the venturi constriction of the carb, giving a strong vacuum. The valve I got seems to be made of Low Density Polyethylene which should be inert to propane. If not, it is cheap to replace since I got 20 for $8.57 at Amazon, LOL. Search for "aquarium flow control valve". Also, the tubing is silicone material, so that should be chemical resistant too. Do you have any ideas on what you'll convert next ?
auxpowerunit I have a 3" water pump. I designed an adaptor and had it 3d printed. I also have a hf motor that powers a gm alternator that I want to convert.
That will be fun. I don't remember if I asked you previously - have you ever tried one of those pre-assembled propane carbs from Ebay ? They are listed as "dual fuel carburetor", and are only about $22. Since the Harbor Freight motors are clones of Honda engines, you'll be able to get a dual-fuel carb as a bolt-in replacement for the existing carb. All you would need to add is a first-stage 1/2psi (bbq) regulator. BTW, I've run out of things to convert because I gradually replaced most of my other garden tools with battery-powered ones. But ultimately, I'd like to make a propane powered chainsaw.
auxpowerunit I bought one of these dual fuel eBay carbs. bolted up to my lct brand engine. Hooked up to bbq tank with bbq regulator. started up first pull and ran for over half hour without issues. I ordered 2 more.
Fantastic ! I'm enthusiastic about getting one now. But unfortunately, the only thing I have left to convert is an 1800 watt generator. It looks like they don't make a dual-fuel carb which will fit the 99.3cc generator engine (probably Honda GX100 compatible). So I'll just do a spud-in on my existing carb. BTW, how many cc's is your LCT ?
I really like the " Regulator "! Please make a Video showing the " Building Concept ". Although I know how to do it, but it will be interesting Video to see :). Maybe add some info why you are converting. I know a lot of People would benefit from it. People like you and I having hard time with " Breathing Fumes "!
I'd love to make the instructional video on gas conversion. But unfortunately, I've been swamped by multiple work and house remodeling tasks, so it may take a while to get back to video-making. I recall that you were interested in modifying a snow blower. The good news is that many of those machines use engines which are some variant or copy of a Honda small engine. So you can search for "dual fuel carburetor" on Ebay to get a bolt-in replacement carb which has both gasoline and propane inputs. Depending on the engine size, they range from $17 to $38. I've never used one myself, but reviewing the features, it appears to need a 1/2 psi propane input supply. You can get that from an old bar-b-que grill regulator. The carb has an on-demand regulator built-in, so you'll only need to do some flow-rate adjustments to get the rig working.
+auxpowerunit - I have read that the Conversions would handle up to 50HP.... More than enough for what I need. It has a " Safety Feature " built in. Also, it has a " Primer " built in as well, which will be needing to start the Engine easily. My favorite thing is that, it supply Gas on Demand.... So if your Engine Shut-Off... The Valve automatically closed, which is the big plus, as in safety.
What is that needle looking thing in the carb, I couldn't make out what you said it was.
That is an "Aquarium Fish Oxygen Air Line Tubing Flow Control Valve". I got 20 of those from Amazon for $9.15. Here is the link: a.co/bkRShE8
It is just a plastic needle valve which has a 90 degree bend. The plastic seems to be polyethylene, which is very chemical resistant.
auxpowerunit would a table top gas grill regulator work?
auxpowerunit I'm going to convert a 4 stroke weed eater into a trolling motor
That is what I used for my first project, a lawnmower conversion. Those regulators are simple and inexpensive. The output of that type of regulator is about 1/2 psi, so it keeps flowing even while then engine is already turned off. You'll need to have a manual shut-off valve on the output. The regulator I have on this newer project is an on-demand type. The output is -1/2 psi, meaning no gas flows unless there is a slight vacuum applied on the output. Of course, the vacuum comes from the intake of the engine. The advantage is that no manual shut-off is needed. Hence, it is much safer.
That will be a fun project. There are 4-stroke weed eaters which are basically the same engine which you see here, so you can modify it in the same way I did mine. If you are able to get a slightly larger engine which is based on a Honda design, there are dual-fuel carburetors available on Ebay for as cheap as $19 (including shipping). Many small engine makers copied the Honda size specifications, so those are bolt-in replacements. I haven't personally used one, but have corresponded with someone who did. The dual-fuel carb has a demand regulator built into it. I think the input should be 1/2 psi from a barbeque regulator.
Very interesting setup. I guess your engine is a 4 stroke ?
How much was the regulator ? Do you think it would work for a 5 hp engine ?
Thanks.
Yes, that is a 4-stroke engine. It looks like MTD designed it for some type of handheld machine, then adapted it to this little edger. Despite being only 29cc, it has plenty of power for edging. The Impco Model J regulator was $48 via Ebay, including free shipping. The J regulator is meant for forklift trucks, so it can flow enough propane to support 100hp engines. That is over-rated for this tiny engine, but the smaller demand regulators are actually much more expensive. Notice that I have plugs in the ports on each side ? Those ports are used for engine coolant circulation. The coolant is used to heat up the regulator, so it will vaporize liquid propane faster. That isn't necessary since I have relatively low flow. I'm pretty sure the 3/16" aquarium tubing will provide adequate flow for a 5hp engine too. I was previously using 1/8" tubing for a 3.5hp engine. Search for "Impco Master Catalog" to find specifications on the regulator.
Another thing I forgot to mention. The original Model J regulator doesn't have a primer button. Only the copied regulators have the primer. That button is absolutely needed for small-engine applications, since it is the only way to get a rich starting mixture. Will give more details on another video this weekend.