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Is it posibble to run fork lift from BBQ grill tank with OPD

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
I'm looking at my options on fueling my new forklift. I'm hearing some places will rent them to you and I'm going to look into that. But can I run it on a those small green throw away tanks or a 20LB tank if there flipped up side down (drawing liquid)?

I don't plan on using it much so I would hate to deal with the certification BS.
 
I have propane tractors and run them all on vapor only, so answer is probably yes, the smaller tanks will work if you can get fittings to fit, then, no need to turn them upside down. Vapor runs them just fine.

I have been told that years ago when guys ran LP tractors for their main farm power, they opened the liquid valve when they were really pulling the guts out of the tractor. Mine are used for lighter farm work, thus, most of the liquid valves have been replaced by plugs to prevent leakage of my propane.
 
I wouldn't try it myself they are supposed to run on the liquid side and a grill tank is set up fer the vapor side. I'm not saying it won't work just that I wouldn't try it
 
No. The liquid is required in order to get enough fuel to the mixer to ensure proper Horsepower. I had a tractor on LP (wish I still had it) and it ran on the liquid withdrawal only. The liquid goes to the vaporizer, which has hot water going through it to prevent it from freezing up, where it is converted to vapor to be mixed with air for combustion.
 
In colder climates a lot of LPs won't start on v apor only because motors atre too cold. But start fairly good on liquid. So a neighbor tells me.
 
If you run on vapor and your tank is nearly full, you won't run very long before you run out of vapor especially is cold weather. The space between the liquid and top of tank is where vapor is. If full tank you have not much space for vapor. The vehicle will use more vapor than can be produced from the liquid. Sooo if you don't have storage you will run out of vapor and your engine will quit even with a full tank. That is a reason to have a vaporizer and run liquid to it.
 
You could try it on vapor and see if the tank frost up. That would tell you if it is using it faster than it can evaporate. I wouldn't turn one upside down because the pressure relief valve would be releasing liquid if it would happen to dicharge.
 
Aloha,
All the forklifts that I have seen, runs on liquid lp. How far will you get on the green tank??? Yes, you could use the BBQ tank but you would have to run it upside down to pump liquid. Get the real thing so you won"t run into problems. TIA

Mahalo,
doogdoog
 
Grill tanks and lift tanks are different. The main connection may look the same, but its not! Using anything other than an approved lift tank will require you to change, or make connectors or adapters to use them. A small "green" tank will not have enough pressure to run the lift. (Dont guess too many here are on forklifts everyday!)
 
I ran a small LP farm tractor when I was a kid. Was always told to start it on vapor and after it warmed up to change to liquid. Well, you know how kids are, I would forget and run it all day clipping pastures on vapor. I never really could tell a difference in power when changing to liquid. That's just my experience. Bigger tractors gulping larger amounts of fuel may be different.

slim
 
BTW, to answer the original question, I have seen LP tractors run off of grill tanks. The tank was NOT turned upside down.

slim
 

Don't the new grill tanks have a "check valve" of sorts in that over-fill-protection system that would block flow running up-side-down?
 
I ran my small forklift on a BBQ tank (old style )just have the tank upright and draw off the vapors.
 
Just take the 33lb. tank off of the tow moter and have it filled at a welding supply,tractor supply,truck stop,RSC Tool Rental,camper sales and service and I almost forgot, LP Dealer.
 
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