Problem Starting Forklift

ronwood · December 06, 2003, 08:52:27 PM

I bought a ACP50 Allis Chalmers forklift this summer. Completely overhauled the F160 continental engine and installed new carburator. Engine runs on propane.

Engine starts well when it is cold and runs quite well. If I try to restart the engine after it is warm and I am not able to start it. Let it set a couple of hour and it will start. I thinking that I either have a electrical problem or maybe something with the fuel system that is effected by the heat of the engine.

Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

isawlogs · December 06, 2003, 09:01:37 PM

Ron...
Have you checked if the sparkplug has fire ?

DanG · December 06, 2003, 09:16:33 PM

Sounds an awful lot like a vapor lock, but I don't know if propane engines can do that. ??? :P Is there an adjustable regulator? If so, have you tried opening it up just a bit? Keep us posted. :P

etat · December 06, 2003, 10:06:48 PM

Bet it's got something to do with the propane system. My brother drives a propane gas truck and last year he had some kind of problem or other, seems like it was something to do with the propane freezing up, or not mixing right or not regulating right or something. I'll try to call him later and see what he says. Sorry I'm not more help.

ronwood · December 06, 2003, 10:18:37 PM

isawlogs,

I haven't check the sparkplug fire recently. It runs great when its cold. Maybe that there is something in the ignition that could be causing. When I rebuilt the engine I replaced the coil. It has an electronic ignition. Wondering if it could be causing problems. When I am using the forklift for a while it runs well when warm. Problem occurs when I try and start it.

DanG,

I will take a look to see if the regulator is adjustable. When I overhauled the engine I did not replace it.

Cktate,

Thanks for the help.

Corley5 · December 07, 2003, 07:58:31 AM

If you hadn't said it has electronic ignition I'd have said said that the condensor was bad but that's not it ;D What about the whatchamacallit thing that turns the fuel into a vapor from a liquid? We've got an M Farmall that runs on propane and on it coolant is ran through the contraption to provide the heat to vaporize the LPG. This tractor also has two valves on it. You open one valve on the top of the fuel tank to start the engine. This valve lets vapor out for starting. After it has warmed up a bit you open the bottom and close the top to switch it over to liquid. I don't know if I've helped any or not :

.
I really don't like the M. I prefer gasoline ;D

ronwood · December 07, 2003, 08:13:26 AM

Corley5,

I have a what they call a convertor (2 stage water jacket vaporizer-regulator) that vaporizes the propane. It has engine coolant lines that runs through it to assist in the vaporization of the propane. I will have to look to see if I have two values.

Thanks

Den Socling · December 07, 2003, 08:33:23 AM

We have a Clark fork truck that does the same thing. The problem is a solenoid valve that sticks closed when it's hot. So it starts cold, runs fine but, if you shut it off then restart, sometimes it would refuse. I got into a habit of listening for the solenoid valve when I turn the key. If I don't hear it click, I turn the key off & on a couple times. I should take the valve apart and clean it but this works for now.