propane tractor question

glennster · Dec 10, 2021

how did they fill the old propane tractors back in the day? i have a 1000 gallon propane tank for the grain dryer. did they just equalize off the wet line, or was some type of pump involved?

rockcreek4630 · Dec 10, 2021

Most just equalized I know back in the day guys with a fleat had pumps.

DeltaRed · Dec 10, 2021

There are a few propane tractors in the area.The owner's just equalize.Pumping systems were available,but few farmers would spend the money.

Dieseltech · Dec 10, 2021

Some used pumps, some just bled off some tractor tank pressure so it was lower than the storage tank pressure so the liquid propane will move to the tractor tank, like filling anhydrous ammonia tanks.

David from Kansas · Dec 10, 2021

Been doing this since the 1950's. In no way an expert on LPG. I think it took about 15 minutes to fill a 42 gallon tank on the old Case LA tractors I ran for my uncle, and also MM U tractors I ran for a neighbor. I have a couple of JD LP tractors, 730 and 70, that I fill from a 125 gallon tank. Real simple to do once you have done it a time or two. Don't fill more than 80 per cent was the rule but my uncle would fill to more than that, probably 85-90 per cent if he was going to use the tractor immediately after filling.

used red MN · Dec 10, 2021

Farmer we did some farming with in the 80s had propane tractors. On a hot KS day with a hot tractor you had to bleed a lot of vapor off to move much liquid. He had a piston pump with two cylinders connected by a common rod. The vapor pressure was used to cycle the piston back and forth in one cylinder and the second cylinder would pump liquid. Think of it as sort of 2 hydraulic cylinders hooked together if that helps. The cylinders were different size, I think the larger was driving it with the vapor and the smaller pumped liquid.

woodbutcher · Dec 10, 2021

I've had three JD tractors that were LP- 2- 3010's and a 720. I always equalized unless I happened to be at the house when the truck was delivering propane. I would get him to fill the tractor, too, because he could pump it in.

Butch

danofarming · Dec 10, 2021

Yep, Just vent the vapor off of the empty tank and the pressure in the full tank will push the liquid. I liked my LP MF 35.

buickanddeere · Dec 10, 2021

Most vented vapour from the tractor due to being cheap, penny wise and pound foolish.
They never added up the cost and danger of all that LP they paid for, going to atmosphere rather than powering the tractor. Vs the cost, speed , safety and convenience of a pump.

tomNE · Dec 10, 2021

I always hooked them up in the evening and the change of temp overnite would fill the tank on the combine!

glennster · Dec 10, 2021

how much are those propane pumps and do they still make them? there is an ih 400 propane for sale pretty cheap, but i dont know if i want the extra hassle involved in filling it.

MMDan · Dec 10, 2021

I have a pump but don't know if they are still available or not. It looks like a York AC compressor driven by a B&S gas engine. Hoses pump from the vapor return on the tractor back to the supply tank. If the tractor you are filling (the tank) is cool you can fill it in 10-15 minutes by just bleeding vapor from the 80% stop fill valve. Have done it for years and you are not wasting enough propane to amount to anything. I would guess that a pump if you could even find one would be over $500.

glennster · Dec 10, 2021

thanks dan, you made up my mind. im gonna pass on the tractor,

super99 · Dec 10, 2021

A guy in the tractor club has several LP tractors. He has a hand pump set up for filing them, If I remember correctly the pump sets on the ground with a long handle that you move back and forth. It's a young mans job to fill the tractor!!

ss55 · Dec 10, 2021

Is the pump similar to the pumps used to fill 20 and 100 pound propane tanks?

Gambles · Dec 10, 2021

Ive got an Oliver 770 propane that doesnt get a pump. Dont be in a super hurry and youll be fine. My 1000 gallon propane tank comes with a fill tube already in it. Just add the hose, valve and fitting. I was also a mechanic at a factory that had about 20 propane forklift. This factory used a pump to fill the tanks. One thing I want to stress with propane is to use the proper PPE. I always use thick leather gloves and a fill face shield when working with propane. There was one time when I had a disconnected fill hose shoot about a two second shot of liquid propane on my face shield that put a thick sheet of ice on it. I shudder to think what would happen if that would hit my eyes.

Texasmark · Dec 10, 2021

Wet line. You could fill off your propane tank feeding the house if it had one or use a horizontal Nurse tank that you drug to the field with you. You fill with liquid. I had a 69 4020 LP, my first JD. What an initiation. Couldn't wait to get rid of that sucker for a diesel.

Side note, after the purchase, I found out what the little (weep) holes were for along the side of the block...$1k in parts and a whole lot of work to change the wet sleeve seals and a couple of new sleeves plus the normal OH parts and labor. I don't know how long the seals had been in there but they were certainly not OEM. The birdbrain that did the previous OH put the orange and black seals in the wrong places which was the problem...one is coolant resistant and the other petroleum resistant. Since one is at the top of the sleeve and the other at the bottom

NIK OWEN · Dec 10, 2021

DONT GIVE UP...U JUST NEED THE BLEEDER, 4 IN LONG, SCREWS IN VAPOR OUTLET...BLEED TANK WHILE FILLER CONNECTED...NUTTIN 2 IT, CHEAP...SCREW BLEEDER SLOWLY...BE BLESSED, GRATEFUL, PREPARED...

Ted in NE-OH · Dec 10, 2021

Worked on a farm the summer I was 16 (1959) Farmer had an IH 350 propane. To fuel it you hooked up two hoses and worked the hand pump. Nice tractor.

RedGreenGuy · Dec 11, 2021

Had a MM670 Super LP. 1000gal nurse tank had outlet out bottom. Return tee'd into top. Hooked bottom (liquid) hose to liquid intake on tractor and nurse tank vapor to tractor vapor. Opened bleed cock on tractor tank to know when tank was 80% full of liquid. Both hoses from tank ran through a John Blue bump powered by the vapor side. Took about 10 minutes to fill tank. Wear HEAVY GLOVES as it will instantly freeze your hands and fingers if vapor or liquid makes contact with them.

J.Wondergem · Dec 12, 2021

I helped the neighbor one spring in the 50's. He had a MM U propane. Each time before I went out, I had to hook up 2 hoses, open the valves, and flip the electric switch, until it was full.

Alvin 41 · Dec 12, 2021

I used a n Oliver 770 LP for over 30 years on 3 Knight feed mixers Simply connected to 1000 gallon tank outside and vented the smaller connection for the pump . Took about twice as long as a gasoline or diesel pump to fill .

propane tractor question

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