Running generator on Natural Gas

sharp3 wrote:
I need some advise from some one who knows about LPG/NG conversions.
A while ago I bought a small 1.2 KVA gasoline generator and had it converted to run on LPG/Natural Gas by a mechanic. He drilled a hole in the carburetor midway between the existing gasoline inlet and carburetor's filter end (where choke is located), inserted and sealed a small metallic tube in the hole and then connected it to a demand regulator. This way he said that i will be able to run it on both gasoline and NG/LPG. He also gave it a test run in the workshop on LPG and it started and ran fine for a while.
After that i brought it home and tried to ran it on Natural Gas but it never starts (runs fine on gasoline though). They only thing i can do is start it on gasoline, turn off the gasoline knob and then when it start to die, turn on the gas. This way it continues to run on NG but keeps hunting and surging. With trial and error i figured out that when i move the choke almost halfway it stabilizes. Still, it only runs under very light load (say 10-20%). As soon as i increase the load further it dies.
My concerns are following:
1- Is there something wrong with the Demand Regulator?
2- Is there something wrong with the conversion mechanic did?
3- Are there any adjustments on the generator or carb that needs to be fine tuned?
4- Any other problem.
Is there any way i can run it smoothly on NG? I hope some one could help me out with this issue.

Pretty darn scary. :E

1 YES, there is a problem not just with the demand regulator but the whole setup.

2 YES, this "conversion" is just plain wrong.

3 NO, do not "adjust" anything, it WORKS on gasoline so the carb adjustments are correct.

4 YES, what you have is a down right dangerous "conversion" basically a backyard or shade tree mechanic. I would suggest you get your money back and do not use this "conversion". Your NG gas company along with your home owners insurance most likely will not be happy with you if this conversion causes a fire or a dangerous condition.

Your mechanic tested it on PROPANE (IE LPG) which has different properties AND PRESSURES than natural gas.

The correct way is to by a ready made "conversion" kit from US Carb, you will get all the correct parts including either a conversion "block" which goes between the carb and intake or you can have your carb PROFESSIONALLY converted (this ruins use of gasoline though). You also get a "load block" and proper demand regulators for both NG and LPG (IE PROPANE).