Propane Generator - hard starting question

thatguy · Jun 3, 2016

I have 2 EU2000i Honda generators that I converted to run off propane using the US Carb snorkel kits..

Today was maintenance day so i fired them up to get the oil hot before changing it..

It took +30 pulls before it fired the first time using propane. The last time they were run it was with propane as well.

Im guessing that my issue is that the generator suction is what is pulling the propane to the carb and its just taking a while for the propane to fill the 12' of hose, regulator on the generator, and to get to the carb..

is there anyway to help speed getting the propane to carb? The manual said to NOT use the 'primer' button on the regulator or it will flood the engine..

Any thoughts or suggestions

Brian

C4Ranch · Jun 3, 2016

My genny came with propane and it specifically calls to hit the button couple times when starting for first time.

bigtiller · Jun 4, 2016

Can you crack the line open near the carb for a second to let the propane push any air out of the line?

thatguy · Jun 4, 2016

bigtiller said:
Can you crack the line open near the carb for a second to let the propane push any air out of the line?

I will have to look - i know that would require moving the side panel at minumum to get to it..

thanks

b

Rocky J · Sep 30, 2016

On my floor burnisher I have to remove the tank out of the building when I am done using it.So I have to purge it everytime. It is a 13 HP Honda. It has a small vacuum hose that opens the regulator to let the propane come through. It is a safety thing, basicly it shuts the gas off if it dies or not running by means of no vacuum.I do not have a primer button but I remove the small hose and suck on it to open the valve in the regulator and engage the electric starter, it starts I pinch the hose to hold the vacuum and quickly shove it back on the vacuum fitting.It is only 2 foot of hose to purge but I think I could burn up the starter with time if I dont do this. I also have the same Regulatory on my Toro GM72 with the Continental R 4 cylinder, I have to push the throttle to the lowest RPM setting to build the most vacuum to open the regulator to start, most times it is about two turns of the crankshaft. I believe most generator conversions are based on removing the air cleaner and adding a 3/4 inch tapered venturi and replacing the air cleaner with longer bolts. So it is on the outside of the choke and would not help at all turning it off and on.If you could figure a way to restrict the air from getting into the air cleaner it would increase the vacuum on the regulator and fuel the carb. Similar to using the choke when running gasoline set ups . I also have a Case Scatback Loader with a Wisconsin V4 on propane.

Larry Caldwell · Sep 30, 2016

thatguy said:
I have 2 EU2000i Honda generators that I converted to run off propane using the US Carb snorkel kits..

Today was maintenance day so i fired them up to get the oil hot before changing it..

It took +30 pulls before it fired the first time using propane. The last time they were run it was with propane as well.

Im guessing that my issue is that the generator suction is what is pulling the propane to the carb and its just taking a while for the propane to fill the 12' of hose, regulator on the generator, and to get to the carb..

is there anyway to help speed getting the propane to carb? The manual said to NOT use the 'primer' button on the regulator or it will flood the engine..

Any thoughts or suggestions

Brian

Did the person who wrote the manual speak English? What happens when you "flood" an engine is that you suck unvaporized gasoline into the cylinder where it ruins the air/fuel mix. You have to let the gasoline evaporate or force it out with the throttle wide open for the engine to start. With propane, there is no unvaporized fuel, and the cylinder will clear the first time the engine turns over. If the primer button will purge air out of the line, use it.

Pirate · Oct 1, 2016

Thought I read somewhere that only way to start propane genny was to have electric start. Does you manual address this/

Larry Caldwell · Oct 2, 2016

Pirate said:
Thought I read somewhere that only way to start propane genny was to have electric start. Does you manual address this/

Nah. I have a 6 kw propane portable with either electric or pull rope start. The pull rope works fine, but you have to choke it or it will never start.

aczlan · Oct 2, 2016

Pirate said:
Thought I read somewhere that only way to start propane genny was to have electric start. Does you manual address this/

It depends on the kit. Most (all?) use vacuum to open the propane valve (to let the propane vapor into the intake). Ones with electric start will generally have a solenoid that also needs power to let the propane in.

Aaron Z

Deere Dude · Oct 2, 2016

I have a 10k electric start generator that starts after approx. 3 seconds of cranking. Earlier this year I used it and I turned off the LP and let it run until it quit, to see what would happen.

Generally I would leave the LP on and just switch the key off and then shut the LP tank off.

But then the next time I needed to run it, it cranked and cranked and cranked. It finally started after a dozen or more 5 second bursts of cranking.

Now I just shut it off and then turn the LP off. Makes no sense to me why it does that but it does.