propane tractors

herk · Mar 27, 2011

Hello I have seen several propane tractors for sale how hard are they on fuel?? I would use it for round baling, planting, rakeing none of the heavy tillage, the tractors I have seen for sale are 3020 4020 720 deere 706 806 IH and 670 moline any info would be great. Thanks Bryan

Coloken · Mar 28, 2011

for me it would be:
If diesel use 3 GPH
then gasoline use 4 GPH
and Propane use 5 GPH
YMMV

Heat Houser · Mar 28, 2011

A month ago or so, I looked at the Nebraska test fuel burn data (JD4010) and calculated fuel cost between Diesel, Gasoline, and LP. Using the prices of fuel at that time, LP and diesel costs for the fuel burn were within a couple of pennies. Gasoline was the highest. This was assuming max load burn, gallons per hour at maximum horspower.

Other than the pain of handling it, LP should be OK.

TMo · Mar 28, 2011

My dad uses a John Deere 3020 propane tractor. We have always been happy with it. It was convenient for us for refueling because we would refuel it from a 1000 gallon propane tank. I can't say specifically how hard it is on fuel though because I haven't used a diesel to compare it to. I would say it was more efficient than a gasser we have used.

Mike (WA) · Mar 28, 2011

Would burn a little more than a gas tractor, but propane is still $1.99 a gallon around here and taxed gas is pushing 4 bucks.

The bigger issue is, how much of a pain is it going to be to refuel it? I think you need a fairly large home tank, because to fuel it, you're equalizing pressure, and source tank has to have quite a bit more fuel in it than the destination tank. And of course, you wouldn't be able to refuel it in the field, which is a problem if you're farming all over the place.

Stephen Atkins · Mar 28, 2011

A long time ago(summer of 1956)the farmer I worked for had a MH44 and a MMUB on propane. The most I could put thru the U was 3gal./hr.The 44 a little less. And the MH55 diesel somewhere in between.

I would not hesitate to buy a propane fuled tractor if it was in decent condition and what I wanted.

Stephen

greenbeanman in Kansas · Mar 28, 2011

Haven't a clue if it is even allowed any more, but we had and used two 500 gallon nurse tanks mounted on trailer running gears to refuel from. One tank if dad and I were working in the same field otherwise we each took a tank to the field.

Our fields were scatter in several directions from home with the furthest being 7 miles away. ]

Other farmers using LPG tractors had smaller nurse tanks, a 125 and a 250 both come to mind.

When in open country you can bleed off vapor to lower the pressure in the tank being filled so that fuel will flow.

Ken Macfarlane · Mar 28, 2011

It doesn't really need to have that much more pressure, you vent the vapour in the tractor tank as the liquid fills it.

herk · Mar 28, 2011

Thanks for the info so far, I have a 500 gal propane tank that would be used for refueling so part of the refueling is covered. Thanks Bryan

RayP(MI) · Mar 28, 2011

Be aware that you will need some special equipment on your tank to fuel the tracror. contact your supplier to see what's involved.

propane tractors

herk

Member

Coloken

Well-known Member

Heat Houser

Member

TMo

Member

Mike (WA)

Well-known Member

Stephen Atkins

Member

greenbeanman in Kansas

Well-known Member

Ken Macfarlane

Well-known Member

herk

Member

RayP(MI)

Well-known Member

Similar threads