Stalling issue. Please help!!

[George55]

Hi all.

I am from a gliding club that runs a winch to launch gliders into the air. This is essentially about a km of lightweight synthetic line with a glider on the end which is reeled in at high speed in order to launch it into the air. We operate a LPG powered chevrolet v8.

This engine is started, ran at idle until warm and then put under quite a lot of load for a short period of time (maybe two minutes) and then ran at idle again, being turned off and started again throughout the day.

It used to be running fine but has now developed an issue. When used under load after maybe the tenth time of being used in the day, it will stall almost every time when going back to idle and will struggle to start again unless left for a long period of time.

We serviced the engine in December to try and rectify the issue. Carbs were cleaned, spark plugs done etc. This doesn't seem to have fixed it. Is there any ideas as I'm at a loss.

Thanks, George

[stevieturbo]

You mention carbs, so is it stalling on LPG or petrol ? LPG does not use carburettors

Is the idle still at the normal engine speed it has always been ? Closed throttle position the same as it has always been ?

Any odd weather issues that might playa role ? things icing up ?

[George55]

Hi, thank you for the help.

There is nothing that has changed that I am aware of with the set up, we have been operating it for a number of years and haven't had any issues yet.

Weather wise, it seems to be worse in cold weather but only occurs after some use, when under load and running at its normal temperature.

I've attached some photos with the set up that we have, is there anything that we should look at?

[Ian Anderson]

Proviso….I have never had an engine on LPG nut numerous other things running from cylinders.



Is the gas cylinder / regulator freezing up?

Leaving for a long while to restart would point me in this direction as everything returns to ambient temp.

Perhaps a change in supplier of your lpg supplier and their gas is a slightly different mix of butane and propane in the cylinder?

Ian

[stevieturbo]

That's what I was thinking with the cold weather.

Although not sure it would be as much an issue with a static engine ?

Although LPG Vaporizers by design would get very cold. I think they usually have a heating feature from the engine's hot water ? When it is stalling, is there any visible icing ?

Would adjusting the idle speed for a slightly higher idle, throttle blade open a little more be something you can try ?