School me on lp. gas

I bought a lp fork lift. When you go to start it after sitting for 3 days it cranks a long time before starting. After starting it runs very nice. If you restart it, it pops off very fast. You can shut it off and restart it ten times a day and it will start so fast you can't hardly release the key fast enough. But if it sits for 3 or more days you have to crank so long the battery wears down. What do I need to do?

My memory is a bit foggy on this, but does your regulator have a button in the center, some did and I believe that was for priming the carb. like I said memory a bit rusty. gobble

Is it an older unit -- need more info -- Brand / year ect. Roy

When you shut it down for the day. Turn gas off, let tractor run until it runs out of gas. Turn key switch off. Next day when you get ready to use it. Turn the Vapor valve on, pull the choke out, crank engine about two or three rounds and stop. Push coke in and then crank it, should start right up.After warm up, turn vapor valve off, and turn the liquid valve on.

Like tomturkey says. I have an old TowMotor. Yes, look for a BUTTON.

It is a Datson with Datson motor. Don't know vintage. Maybe 70s.

Thanks, I will look for button tomorrow.

Wow I'm going to really have to look this thing over and educate myself on it. Don't think it has a vapor valve or a choke or a liquid valve.

look for a choke, all mine has one.
caseman-

Without seeing the system, a lot of guess work. Some of the early models do have a primer or choke.

Do a good visual inspection for loose connections, vacuum leaks, anything unusual. If you smell propane with the tank on, there is a leak. If it has a leak, and you turn the tank valve off, each time it's turned back on there will be air in the line. The leak needs to be located and repaired regardless. That may solve the hard start.

The fuel tank, is it vertical or horizontal? If horizontal, it needs to be positioned so the dip tube is on bottom. There is a hole in the side of the valve guard that aligns with a pin on the mount bracket. Be sure that hole is located down when the tank is mounted.

I'm assuming the hard start is caused from lack of fuel, but wouldn't hurt to look the ignition system over, check the spark at the plugs after it sits and is doing the hard start. Should have a 1/4" spark to ground at each plug wire. A new set of plugs just to say you did. Check the points (if equipped).

If all checks out, could be a problem with the lock off valve or regulator. The lock off valve stops fuel flow when the engine is not running. It delivers fuel to the regulator. You can crack the line after the valve, turn on the ignition or crank the engine through to see if fuel flows. This valve may be built into the regulator, if so it's hard to test.

The regulator is a very sensitive device. It normally stops all fuel until it senses air flow into the engine. Since very little air is drawn in while cranking, it takes a critical adjustment to safely achieve this.

Since it runs well after the first start, my guess is it is not the regulator. This component is best left alone unless you have the correct procedures in place to service and test it. Set it wrong and it can leak fuel when not running, very dangerous situation.

If you do not have a vapor, you will just do the other one.

I don't think that forklift is going to have a choke. There is going to be only one valve on the tank and it is liquid only. The liquid gets converted to vapor by the combination vaporizer/regulator. This device will have a coolant line coming to and leaving it. It will be the size of a heater hose on an automobile. Like some others have said, there will be a button in the center of the regulator. If you push this button propane vapor will be admitted into the carburetor. Hold in on this button for about three seconds and then try the starter. Don't keep pushing on this button over and over. You will force gas past the pistons and rings and in to the crankcase. Upon ignition this gas in the crankcase will ignite and an explosion will occur. You might have to hunt your oil stick up and you might have to replace gaskets. I have seen both things happen.Back to the regulator or vaporizer or converter, it is all the same. Look for a hose going to the carburetor. It will be about one inch in diameter. It is usually pretty thin and has a wire coil made in to it to keep it from collapsing. These can a small hole in them and will leak. This hose is under a small amount of vacuum when the engine is running. The hard starting problem is usually a hole in this hose or a dirty regulator. But usually the dirty regulator makes an engine run bad until the water gets warm enough to melt the gooey stuff that collects inside the regulator. This may be more information than you wanted, but everything I said is from many years experience. Good luck. If I can help, let me know.

One more thing. If the propane system was installed correctly, there should be a pushbutton near the instrument cluster that says"primer." If it has this then there should be a solenoid mounted over that button on the regulator to push in the button there. I hope I am making this clear.

Hold the go pedal all the way down.