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measuring fuel level

D

Dave DeForest

New User
Anyone found a reasonably simple way to have a small inkling of how much fuel you may have left in a tractors fuel tank (for me its never easy to just look in the tank to guesstimate,unless of course its bone dry!)? Using a Cockshutt "30" on the "back 40" even with a 15 gallon gas tank you forget how much you been using the tractor until it starts to sputter when you're going uphill! Been on the internet but my lack of expertise on that hasn't found any solution, is there a fuel stick (wood/metal that may work (on level ground)? Thanks, Dave
 
Have always used a piece of Romex- you can wind it around something to stow it on the tractor between measurings.
 
I think some gas shut off/sediment bowls have a neat feature you may not be aware of. If you only turn them one or two turns, it takes gas about 1 inch off the bottom of tank. When you run out of gas, turn the shut off valve all the way out, you then take gas off the bottom of tank. That should get to back to the barn. So the gas shut off valve gives you a reserve fuel feature. If yours doesn't get a new one, mine does.
 

I made one out of a old broken wooden yard stick. A Sharpie permanent marker will mark it without washing off in the gasoline. Just drain the tank and mark your stick at that level. Then add two gallons or what ever and make another mark....etc. You will need to wait until the gasoline has dried from the stick to mark it - so use a pencil or take measurements then make your final marks. I sprayed the finished stick with a light coat of clear Krylon so it would not soak up so much gasoline.

As others posted, an option would be to fit a sediment bowl with reserve feature. My tractor does have a reserve and I have used it in the past. However sometimes it is handy to check how much fuel you have before you go to the field.
 
Wooden 1/2 dowel works great. I replace the sediment bowl shut off assembly with ones for an 8-N Ford, to give you a reserve.
 
I use my ever present tape measure. Downfall is the fuel is awful hard to see on the tape without catching a reflection in the sun. It eventually takes the paint off the tape too.
 
I have used a stick. Marked it as I fill it from empty. marked it each 2 gal. On a Road Grader I put a tee in the line at the bottom of the tank, and ran a clear rubber tub up the side of the grader higher than the top of the tank. Level in tub is the same as level in the tank.
 
I use a stick or square piece of 3/8" pine. When I show about an inch on the stick, it's time to get another three or four gallons. I usually get $10.00 worth in a can, so amount varies with price/gallon.

Larry
 
I have a dowel I use for the old Farmalls. For the riding mowers I use a paint stirring stick. I'm a VERY neat person - I always wipe the stick or dowel on my shirt first. My pants are always too dirty.
 
My dad always runs out of gas with the farmall M. I wounder why? you see he onlys puts 5 gallons in it and it is a 16 gallon tank. YOu see when you start it up it burns close to one gallon plus he brings it back to the house. Which means he has a hill to go up and that is when he gets out of the gas. He does not use the stick I had made up because it is always reads empty.
 
A wooden hammer handle (a tractor toolbox HAS to have a hammer) with notches whittled in 5 gallon increments.
 
(quoted from post at 22:46:49 10/11/14) I have a dowel I use for the old Farmalls. For the riding mowers I use a paint stirring stick. I'm a VERY neat person - I always wipe the stick or dowel on my shirt first. My pants are always too dirty.
Click to expand...
Now that's funny! LOL I use a paint stick on my Fords too.
I have an old piece of 1/2 inch garden hose in the toolbox on my JD.
Not sure where it ever came from, may have came with the tractor.
It's as straight as an arrow and just as stiff. Works fine.
 
I read that on Burma Shave signs back in 1955, on way to Florida... I was 13 and thought it was very funny.
 
Actually I use whatever is clean and handy, but usually a short piece of 3/8 in rebar. bought an Allis CA a few years ago , that has a small brass elbow soldered to the bottom of the gas tank, and the same thing on the right top side, of the tank. There is a clear plastic hose between the two fittings, and the hose has small black O rings on it as graduated markings. A simple solution!
 
I installed a J.C. Whitney fuel sender and gauge on my 35 Ferguson. I still use the paint stirrer stick I keep velcroed to the top of the tank though if I really want to know. :) TDF
 
(quoted from post at 02:35:49 10/12/14) Anyone found a reasonably simple way to have a small inkling of how much fuel you may have left in a tractors fuel tank (for me its never easy to just look in the tank to guesstimate,unless of course its bone dry!)? Using a Cockshutt "30" on the "back 40" even with a 15 gallon gas tank you forget how much you been using the tractor until it starts to sputter when you're going uphill! Been on the internet but my lack of expertise on that hasn't found any solution, is there a fuel stick (wood/metal that may work (on level ground)? Thanks, Dave
Click to expand...

Generally those small diameter metal round electric fence posts. Not hard to see and easy to clean completely off. I don't mark it because it's easy to guess. The flat part that goes in the ground comes off on its own, found they are basically useless for electric fence anyway. Also, the flat metal strips that a person screws on a wall to attach shelf brackets, the small ones work. They have lots of holes in them, pull them out of the tank and the fuel is easy to see on them. They bend easy.
 
(quoted from post at 03:09:02 10/12/14) Just fill it each time you go to do a job. It costs the same to burn the top half as it does the bottom half.
Click to expand...

Been telling people for years, keep the top half full and the bottom half never runs dry!

Rick
 
I installed one on my Jubilee and IH C. It reminds me of the first VW's imported. No gas gauge, just a small reserve tank. Some of our old JD's has a small tank too. You would start them on gas, then switch over to some kind of diesel. BTW, all were 2 cylinder cranks too.
 
The one on the left I made the one on the right say's That good gulf gasoline for Ford cars. It lists round tanks square tanks and oval. I don't know why I got pictures and don't know how to delete one.
a171330.jpg

a171330.jpg
 
I pickup anything around that is handy. You are not measuring a crankshaft diameter.
 
flembo, Thanks! Not that patient to make a stick to the appreciative degree that you were able to, so where do you get one like the Gulf one? Thanks again Dave
 
Oh boy that was a flea market find I have never seen another like it. But there are a lot of easy ideas here.
 
WOW! Hope this gets to everyone that responded to me on measuring fuel? Want to say a BIG THANK YOU to all who responded close to 30 the last count! Great ideas and loved the humor. Liked the tube idea with increments. Use to have a home gas tank at edge of driveway so it was easy to fill up but now with having to fill with five gallon jugs, not easy. Some may remember "buy clean fuel keep it clean" written on the fuel caps and that's why am not keen on the stick idea being the type of person that leans a little towards next of kin to "Pig Pen" in Peanuts. Thanks again
 
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