Forklist carby stuff Questions`

Nobody?

Do I look like I have a Forklifts-R-Us sticker on my forehead?

Tried alt.rec.crafts.propane.forklift.carburettor.repair yet? (Must be Brit-based. ;)

I think I'd look at two areas. (1) what does the primer do that allows the thing to run and (2) where does that vacuum/pressure line connect to at the engine end. From that you ought to be able to figure out what is going on and correct it.

Doggonit I'm a "carburetor modifier" even and I have no-idea what you're talkin' about, G. :/

Alvin in AZ

What...I didnt make it clear? My forklift has a carberator..and a pressure regulator (normally called an evaporator). It has what is called a "lockout" in it. This lockout keeps the evaporator from giving any fuel to the carby..unless there is suction on a port on the body of the evaporator. Just a few ounces of suction opens the evaporator and allows it to supply fuel to the carb. The suction is provided by a connection from the carby to the evaporator via a short hose..so when you crank the engine..a little bit of the suction that happens in the carb is also applied to the evaporator through that hose..letting propane flow into the carb..and then starting the engine.

What I have is no suction on the carborator port..and ..and..when I apply suction to the evaporator..nothing flows. Only if I apply PRESSURE to the evaporator does fuel flow. Blow into the suction (vacuum) line..and it opens the valve and voila..fuel.

There is a button on the evaporator unit that is a "primer". When you press it..it does something inside and it allows fuel to flow into the carb without suction. So you dont have to crank it for 10-15 seconds before the engine starts. Press the button..it pushed out propane directly to the carborator. Kinda like a choke or gas shutoff override (which it actually is)..it floods the carb with a big blast of propane so it doesnt have to crank very hard before it starts.

So when I press the "primer" button..and hold it..the engine starts right up, but the moment I let it go..the engine dies because the evaporator stops allowing fuel to flow to the carb.

So I have something wierd with the evaporator/carby..two things...it requires pressure to allow gas to flow out of the evaporator. when it should be a vaccum......and the carby isnt supplying any vaccum..or not enough.

Many of these engines dont have an evaporator with a "lockout"...that vaccum line that allows propane to flow only if there is suction on that port. They use a electrically operated valve. Turn on the key..and it opens up the line from the propane tank to the evaporator..which allows fuel to immediately flow through it.

The evaporator btw...does several things...it takes the 380 psi from the propane supply tank..and regulates it down to about .5- 1.5 pound pressure...and because there is a very cold liquid flowing through it...has radiator coolant running through the back of it to keep it warm and not freeze over. When the coolant gets hot..it heats up this evaporator pretty good...and make the change from a liquid to a gas even better.

Is that clear enough now?

Shrug...best I can tell you.

Gunner, on his way to LA

I talked to a friend about this the other day. He asked if you had a picture of the unit. That they are usually real simple to work on but that adjusting them without a good water column gauge is a PIA. He asked if yours had ever been adjusted?

He did mention that a good replacement if yours is bad would probably be a Beam T60.

The evaporator is an IMPCO Mod J. A buddy in LA gave me one today and Ill hook it up this weekend and see if it fixes it.