old people pouring gas

jniolon

Member
I’m admitting it. I’m an old broke down guy. Been fighting leaves this week with a zero turn and a cyclone rake leaf vacuum. (Nearly 2 acres with 75 oak trees = many leaves)

My worst part is filling equipment with fuel. I’ve got bad shoulders... one surgery’d and the other needs it. Hoisting and holding a 30-35 pound gas can up above waist high is getting to me. I'm sure some of you 'seasoned' tractor guys have this problem also.

The holding of the can is the hard part... I know it gets lighter as it empties but it’s still a struggle. It takes 12-15 gals to fill the zero turn and about 1/2 gallon to fill the vac motor. but both inlets are high and it’s at an awkward position also.

I’m looking for a rack or tilting rack that will hold standard red plastic gas cans and allow for easy filling...I know I’d have to lift the can into the rack.. but then the rack could hold the weight during filling. I’ve seen the tilt racks for round 5 gallon cans but they are all too short. I can’t find anything on the net to suit.

This is a low buck project and I can't afford to spend several hundred on a fuel transfer pump and tank. I don't want to replace my cans with the ez-pour bottom spout cans. That would be about 150 bucks. I keep about 6-7 five gallon cans for the mowers.

Haven’t found an affordable pumping system that wasn’t too expensive, yet The cheap plastic ones behind Google all have bad reviews and most are for diesel or bio fuels.. Gasoline pumps are much more expensive.

I'm considering one of the fuel transfer caddies, but still have the problem of getting filled and unloaded at home. I'd hate to take a ramped trailer to the store every time I need gas. Then it needs to be above the tanks for gravity assist. An elevated tank isn't an option as my area is residential and no so rural. And access for bulk fill is very limited

Anyone built something like this ?? Or, have an affordable pumping system that works ??
 
Get one of those hand pumps for use with kerosene heater. Very low price and will do the job.
 
I heard Harbor Freight sells a battery
powered fuel transfer pump for around $10.
I have no personal experience with it
myself.
 
I would look into the simplest possible solution, only fill the cans half full, get more cans, maybe some smaller cans.
 
Funnel, a small gal gas can and a piece of wire to prevent bubbles in the funnel. Fill the small can-funnel by tilting the big can. OR get a jiggle syphon hose
siphon hose
 
One of the most useful items I use are the heavy plastic milk cartons, they stack very well. I take three of them stacked and wire them together, about 3 feet tall and very portable. I have put the gas can on them and (or added the fourth) then used a siphon or battery pump to transfer the fuel. Getting old ain't fun!
 
I set the 5 gal can on a short stand and pour into a 1 gal can. A couple gals out and
big can becomes tolerable..
 

I use an old WW2 Air raid Warden's stirrup pump . The foot fits down into the fuel can directly .

mvphoto27652.jpg




mvphoto27653.jpg


It doesn't take too much effort to transfer the 20 litres of petrol and is certainly easier than trying to lift it over the loader frame .
 
Find an overhead tank setup for gravity feed and have 100 or so gallons delivered twice a year.
The excess can always be used in your vehicles.
 
(quoted from post at 15:22:06 12/07/18) I evolved to two gallon Hydro-oil jugs for gas. I guess next will be the 5 quart motor oil jugs. gm
t is slow, maybe a gallon or two per minute, but you likely have the time......a cheap automotive electric fuel pump and a few feet of `3/8 hose. No can lifting required. Sometimes I don't even use a can, just straight from my truck gas tank.
 
I came across a couple of heavy duty plastic 15 gallon drums that were made to be pressurized--they have a dip tube that goes to the bottom and an air valve on top--I fill them at the gas station and then pressurize to around 10 psi, attached a small hose and fill the gas tanks.
 
Yes, I know about the "old people" part----I'm in my 80's, and still live on an acreage. And I
know how many leaves that oak trees produce. This fall I had a professional clean up $600 worth
of leaves on about 3 acres.
Concerning filling motorized equipment with gas-----I use 3 five-gallon cans. I usually don't put
more than four gallons in each can. Makes for a lot easier pouring into vehicles. And NEVER do
this inside a building.
 
I have the same problem, only live a mile from the gas station so I fill a 5 and a 2 1/2 gal. can and then fill out of the smaller can.
 
"Get one of those hand pumps for use with kerosene heater."

That's what I used. Just set the can down on the machine and siphon the gas out.
 
My solution was under the hood of my 2000 Silverado. Bought an adaptor for the Schrader valve on the fuel rail and quick disconnect fitting. Found the wire that goes to the fuel pump, added a relay and switch so I could run the fuel pump with the key off. Now all I have to do is connect my hose (1/2 inch clear plastic) to the quick disconnect and turn on the pump.

I's a little slow but works great and I can go get 34 gal of gas without having to worry about breaking the law.
 
I have one of these and it works great. I had another one similar and pumps hundreds of gallon of gas a diesel with it, but over the summer it grew legs so I bought the harbor freight one. The only problem is the hose is only a couple foot long so I set the can on a short ladder
 

3X the siphon pump that they sell for kerosene heater. I have been filling most of my stuff that way for over twenty years.
 
(quoted from post at 17:43:38 12/07/18) My solution was under the hood of my 2000 Silverado. Bought an adaptor for the Schrader valve on the fuel rail and quick disconnect fitting. Found the wire that goes to the fuel pump, added a relay and switch so I could run the fuel pump with the key off. Now all I have to do is connect my hose (1/2 inch clear plastic) to the quick disconnect and turn on the pump.

I's a little slow but works great and I can go get 34 gal of gas without having to worry about breaking the law.
hat works real good! done it many times.
 
get one of those Dock Tanks they use on the Lakes. Its 20 gallons or less and is on wheels . some have hand pump some have 12 volt electric
pump you can hook to your tractor or equipment batteries.
 
Beat me to it ! I had a 500 gal tank at the farm -on legs - outlet about 10' above ground - local guy filled it once, said it was to far to come to make any profit - 13 miles uphill all the way on a dirt/gravel road, and he wouldn't come back. The juice lasted 2 years with my 60 JD and generator (no hydro). Anyhoo, I refilled it with 45gal drums from the pickup and a rotary pump -ONCE. The cute part is; I painted NOSMO KING on the end of the tank. Ha, Ha.
 

I had a acre lot with about 20 full grow oaks I sold last year I spent
all the week ends of November and a few in dec. getting leaves up 32 YEARS of it DON'T MISS IT AT ALL...

ITS NOT A LITTLE ITS A lot...
 
(quoted from post at 11:16:49 12/07/18) I heard Harbor Freight sells a battery
powered fuel transfer pump for around $10.
I have no personal experience with it
myself.
have one and they are great. They do have to be close to the level of the tank you are filling as does the Tera that was in the link above.
 
Have you tried using smaller gas cans?

How many gallons of gas do you run through the mower in a year?
 
(quoted from post at 00:36:01 12/08/18) Have you tried using smaller gas cans?

How many gallons of gas do you run through the mower in a year?
verybody seems to be ignoring the simplest solution. The tset port that he poster mentioned on his 2000 Silverado. It is on almost all FI gas vehicles, including your minivans. You don't even need to rewire anything , just connect the hose to test port, start the engine & let it idle and you transfer gas. Duh?
 
I have a high output electric fuel pump with hoses long enough to let gas can set on ground. I have a long
cord set up to use battery power or a good battery charger with an inline switch.
 
(quoted from post at 21:56:08 12/07/18) everybody seems to be ignoring the simplest solution. The tset port that he poster mentioned on his 2000 Silverado. It is on almost all FI gas vehicles, including your minivans. You don't even need to rewire anything , just connect the hose to test port, start the engine & let it idle and you transfer gas. Duh?

My truck will not run with the fuel hose connected, not enough pressure to the injectors. The relay and switch was easy to install all under the hood. I used a relay because I was afraid the switch wouldn't handle the current. Think I have a photo someplace. If I find it I will post it.
 
This is showing the fuel rail adapter and quick disconnect.

mvphoto27685.jpg


I found the quick disconnect on eBay for a good price with both male and female pieces. This is the best I could come up with in a recent search.

https://www.coleparmer.com/i/cpc-co...valved-1-4-npt-m-thread-1-4-flow-size/3140300

The fuel rail adapter is here.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/CEI-107133

Used a right angle 1/4 NTP to 1/8 NTP fitting to get the disconnect out from under the plastic intake cover.

This is my switch and relay, used what I had laying around. Just about any switch and automotive relay should work.

mvphoto27687.jpg


Finding the wire to the fuel pump was just a matter of finding a wiring diagram for the truck on the internet and seeing what color the wire was that went from the fuse box to the pump.
 
Forgot to add to the above...

This quick disconnect seals off the port when it is disconnected, no need for a plug or any kind of additional valve. If you go to the link then scroll to the bottom of the page you will find the barbed male end for the hose. Pretty expensive but better than lifting gas cans.

After a while the O-ring gets dry from the gas which makes it a little hard to get into the fitting. I just squirt it with a little CLP Break Free and it's good for another few months. I keep Break Free around for other uses, guessing just about any lubricant would work, at least till the gas washes it off.

When it gets disconnected it does leak a few drops of gas but it evaporates quickly and hasn't been an issue. It seals off both fittings and fuel will remain in the hose if it isn't blead. I just push the end of the fitting to let air in and drain the hose into whatever I am filling.
 

In three days last week I ran close to 15 gallons of gas thru ztr and the leaf vac.

during grass cutting time I usually cut every two weeks depending on rain and run 5-7 gallons a cutting. But no matter , it's still painful every time ! Going to look into the siphon pumps next week and see what they will do. They are cheap enough to experiment with.

thanks guys, for all the suggestions... I've research a lot of them and found the tank mounted 'serious' pumps are too expensive for this project... the battery operated all have bad reviews and actually look dangerous with leaks and such... the siphon types seem to work pretty well albeit slowly and I don't know about longevity and I haven't come up with a rack solution I like yet. The 'aerial' tank on a stand is a good solution but not in my neighborhood and bulk filling wouldn't be very easy for where I am. The search continues


john

john
 

My truck will not run with the fuel hose connected...

It must be a large tap I never have that problem unless there is a issue with the pump...

For those that want a quick plug and play switch google

Replacement Small Spade Relay for IPA 9036/ IPA 9038 Kits

I am not patent enoufh to wait on it to fill a jug unless I just have too...

Don't stick anything in a fuel pump relay socket unless its the correct terminal it will burn the connector up from high amp draw...
 
(quoted from post at 09:57:24 12/08/18)
My truck will not run with the fuel hose connected...

It must be a large tap I never have that problem unless there is a issue with the pump...

For those that want a quick plug and play switch google

Replacement Small Spade Relay for IPA 9036/ IPA 9038 Kits

I am not patent enoufh to wait on it to fill a jug unless I just have too...

Don't stick anything in a fuel pump relay socket unless its the correct terminal it will burn the connector up from high amp draw...
robably because he used such a large hose. I just used an old air conditioning test manifold hose....probably omly about 1/8'.
 
Ya, the plastic hose is I believe 3/8 or 1/2. Wanted it to flow as fast as possible using the truck fuel pump. I didn't connect to the truck fuel pump relay, I connected directly to the wire that goes from the relay back to the fuel pump where it exits the fuse/relay box under the hood.

Only issue I have had is coming close to running the truck out of gas by not paying attention to how much gas was in the tank. This truck is only used for a lumber or equipment go getter and in the winter when we need a 4x4.
 
(quoted from post at 13:35:53 12/08/18)
First time I read that it appeared to be "old people pooting gas".
e do that, too! I can't prove it though, because I can't hear or smell.
 
My dad had the same problem and went to putting only 3 or so gallons in the can and said it made a big
difference. You can also siphon the gas either into your machines or from a full can to another can to
partially empty the full one till it is manageable.
 
I had some sticky fingered dudes relieve me of 3 freshly filled 6 gallon (non-replaceable in today's environment), plastic gas cans from the rear of my
parked truck...you go to the grocery store, gas up whlle the better half starts shopping, park the truck, never had a theft problem, go in and do your
part and all.....today, it's a different world.............

They don't know it as they did me a favor. I replaced them with 1 and 2 gallon plastic containers for gas. I find them much more convenient for lifting
and pouring, especially for small tanks. E bay sells plastic vent plugs you can put in the rear of the tank for fast venting and life is good.
 
Back to the original question, since you can't find something to set the cans on to pour from, why not BUILD something? 2x4's and screws are cheap and easy to work with. Tear up an old pallet and the wood is FREE. Surely you have a saw, and a rechargeable drill/driver to run screws in.

You're looking for low-dollar. It can't get any more low-dollar than that.
 
(quoted from post at 22:23:59 12/10/18)
Diesel fuel in gasoline jugs will point out the culprits.

Diesel is expensive and they may smell it first.

I would be more tempted to fill the can 3/4 full of water.

Dump half a gallon of gas in, it will stay on top of the water and look and smell like the real deal when they go pour it into their tank. :D
 

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