Harbor Freight Liquid Transfer Pump (Stick) failures

[jjp8182]

Have been using one of these:

FILL-RITE 12-Volt 12 GPM 1/6 HP Portable Fuel Transfer Pump with Standard Accessories RD1212NH - The Home Depot

The RD Series Portable Fuel Transfer Pumps are reinventing the way people fuel their equipment. With the RD Series you get a flow rate of up to 8 or 12 gallons per minute, the flexibility of mounting it or holding it by hand, and quick connect DC power, you have the ability to fuel just about...

www.homedepot.com

- for last 1.5-2(?)yrs. Got it while trying to make the best use of a grocer's fuel discount program since it combined with multiple gas cans let's me I'll buy 30-35 gallons of fuel (usually at steep discount given how much I'm spending on groceries per month) and then pumping it into my pickup.

Have it paired with a Dakota Lithium battery pack. It's not the cheapest setup, but being able to use the discount for the max 35 gallon purchase per transaction for the last couple years has already recouped the cost of the pump and most of the battery pack.

When I was looking Fill-Rite was one of the few manufacturer's of fuel transfer pumps that I found that actually manufactured their products to be compatible with most fuel types (that I know of) and also not require lubrication with another oil/additive.

Saw a lot of ....stuff on online retailer websites that claimed to be fuel transfer pumps, but the fine print indicated it wasn't compatible with gasoline - or required the gasoline to be mixed with oil.....

Have been happy with how it's worked thus far as it'll drain the 5 gallon cans I have faster than they can be poured through their nozzles -- at least with a power source that can supply enough electrons.

 

[Hughman]

Amazon.com

No batteries required, works for both diesel and gas.

 

[Alan46]

Get one of these....

OMT 12V DC 12GPM Electric Fuel Transfer Pump Kit with Nozzle & Hoses For Diesel | eBay

1 x Nozzle with Trigger. suction and 32'10" max. lift, making on site oil transfer a breeze. Heavy-Duty Hoses. Input Power: 12V DC. The dust covers on the inlet and outlet of the pump body prevent dust, debris, and other contaminants to ensure clean oil transfer.

www.ebay.com

Empties a 5 gal can in about a minute! I have mine a few years already, no problems at all. I made a cart to hold the pump, battery, and 5 gal can.

View attachment 882871View attachment 882872

Nice job! If you let me work in your shop for a couple of days you won’t be able too find anything!
You are very organized bro!

 

[dieselscout80]

Amazon.com

No batteries required, works for both diesel and gas.

I dropped mine in my 55 gallon drum.

It also seemed to drip diesel off the hose.

 

[2manyrocks]

I wonder if the market for electric fuel pumps increased simply because the present fuel cans are so terrible at pouring gas?

 

[Gopher Baroque]

a) Not clear from cursory read of the thread if this is the failure mode, but I have an old HF manual version of the siphon pump that did not work reliably until we sealed the joints on the pump part with silicone goop.
b) Regarding the latter comments, my Canadian Scepter fuel containers have been great, with old style plain tube filler. Downside is that the dealer can't shipped across the border, I drive up and pick up locally. Not a problem for privateers to send in the mail, as you can see by the Ebay listings. I have a fleet of their 2 1/2 gal size, much easier to pick up than traditional 5 gal size.

 

[Alan46]

a) Not clear from cursory read of the thread if this is the failure mode, but I have an old HF manual version of the siphon pump that did not work reliably until we sealed the joints on the pump part with silicone goop.
b) Regarding the latter comments, my Canadian Scepter fuel containers have been great, with old style plain tube filler. Downside is that the dealer can't shipped across the border, I drive up and pick up locally. Not a problem for privateers to send in the mail, as you can see by the Ebay listings. I have a fleet of their 2 1/2 gal size, much easier to pick up than traditional 5 gal size.

I would like a couple of freebies, or I will turn you into the gas can Police!

 

[newbury]

I had a background as a youth in a lot of working with aquariums, draining and refilling, using only clear plastic tubes. To get it started I learned stick the tube in deep, seal the top of the hose (put my thumb over it usually), pull it out maintaining the seal, get the hose end lower than the fluid level, unseal, let it flow.
During my 30's and 40's I brewed a lot of beer, often I would then use my mouth to start the flow. But that's not so nice with gas or diesel.
Example
Consequently I keep a lot of clear plastic tubing on hand, it's cheap and lasts a long time.

 

[Gopher Baroque]

I would like a couple of freebies, or I will turn you into the gas can Police!

Ha, I just show US customs the receipt and they let me through no problem.

My amusing story: I finally bought a new tractor, so needed to accommodate diesel fuel. I ordered the containers on-line (DS Tactical) and planned a day trip to include lunch at an awesome Thai Fusion place nearby. As we got close-ish to the border, I stopped off for gas in Bellingham. Opening the center console hatch to get to my notebook for recording fuel consumption, I realized our Nexus cards slid forward into the bowels of the console on our Expedition. So close but so far! That turned into another hour to drive back home, check the internet for the trick to get into the console (secret screw on left side, wiggle panel free, dink around tiny opening to fish the cards out.) Now that it was mid-afternoon, it was just me running solo back to Canada. No fun to eat out alone. Blitz through customs thanks to the Nexus card, quick drive to the store in Vancouver to get the fuel containers waiting for pick-up, then back on the freeway to get back across the border and on to home. Hardly an hour in Canada!

 

[Tinhack]

The one I got off Amazon lasted three years. I'd still be using it if I hadn't left out in the sun. The hoses just crumbled to the touch after that. I really liked it--It had auto shutoff. It was ok for the tractors and ZTR but too much flow for small engine tanks. It also came with fuel can adaptors to fit most any can. The replacement was 4x the price, but it has an improved control panel, longer fill hose and a hand control valve on the end of the filler hose.

 

[5030]

Your not the only one. I have went through 4 in the 5 years that I have had my tractor. Gotta be a better,economical way.

Gravity and the no spill EPA mandated spout that leaks. That is the better way.

FYI, the HF battery pump is on sale all this month for 6 bucks and change. I'll buy a few extra ones just in case. 6 bucks is chump change even if they only last a short time and I have to say, the last one I'm using has lasted over a year now.

 

[5030]

Amazon.com

I don't think so,. not for 80 bucks when the HF pump is 6 bucks. Interestingly, that one looks just like the HF pump but with a longer hose. 80 bucks ain't gonna happen.

 

[kickback]

I have the worst experience with these things. I've probably had 6 or 8 in the last 4 years. I never even have to change the batteries in them before they fail.
Is there a more reliable option?
I store 20 gallons of diesel and 20 gallons of gasoline all in 5 gallon cans, and I fill my equipment 5 gallons at a time (1 can), so I don't need anything large or elaborate, just something reliable.

I filled the mower this morning with gasoline which worked fine, set the pump aside to drain while I got the 5 gal can of diesel for the tractor, about 5 minutes, and the pump completely died in those 5 minutes. I checked the batteries, they were fine (1.46v) and I changed them just to be sure, nadda, dead! I use Energizer batteries.

Any options?

Junk
View attachment 882799

Try TERA Pump. Makes all types of transfer pumps and not china junk. Decent quality and made in S. Korea (not US but at least our ally). I shop it on a site called PublicSquare.com. It's a good site and tries to maintain conservative values.

 

[5030]

I have a Fill Rite as well and I use it with my pickup truck transfer tank when I need to fuel in the field. I try to limit that as much as possible however. My truck tank also has a Fill Rite manual diaphragm pump on it as well. On road diesel in the truck, off road diesel in the tank. EPA gas cans today are the pits. Even the yellow diesel cans suck, just not as bad.

 

[5030]

I'll keep on buying the HF 6 buck cheapy pumps. Hard to beat 6 bucks when on sale. I just keep a couple at all times, just in case.

 

[Jaygyver]

As @USN2TN mentioned I have two of those.
Gas and Diesel compatible, AC/DC, DC has battery alligator clips so you can fuel up when the wife runs out of gas mowing. I had four or five 5 gal tanks but the stick only fit a couple of the openings. I've had mine for 2 years and probably put 200+ gal thru each one.
They have a pretty long AC cord and the hose is pretty long also. Not the strongest looking hose but haven't had any issues yet. I do treat them with a little care just in case. Manual trigger so no auto off. I originally thought the diesel residue might contaminate the small gas tank on the gas pressure washers, etc, if I just used the one but I ended up keeping my 2 gal can for those and the hose's do drain out really good so moot point, but I do have a backup in case one dies.
Do not leave them out in the rain as the electrical plugin will corrode. I have one for the wife to use for watering her outdoor plants and she left it out and there is slight corrosion but still works after a year.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MT94QA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8
I ended up buying 4 of these tanks, two for diesel and two for gas, my thinking was as one gets empty I can fill the other one the next time we go into town. I do use gas/diesel treatment.
The down side of using this setup is you have to lay the tanks on their backs to use these stick pumps. The tanks have wheels and the wife has no problem using them. If the wife fills the tank she just slides them in the tractor bucket to put them in the shop. She's in her mid 60's so she does pretty good.
The tanks do come with a fairly long hose and nozzle, BUT, the nozzle handle is also a hand pump, think "Popeye" arms, or you can throw it in your bucket for a gravity drain. I took them off and have them for spares.

 

[deserteagle71]

I have the worst experience with these things. I've probably had 6 or 8 in the last 4 years. I never even have to change the batteries in them before they fail.
Is there a more reliable option?

Mine isn't the Harbor Freight brand - got it off Amazon - but it looks identical to the ones in your pic. But...mine is 4 years old now and has never failed me. Works great.

 

[mike5511]

I've had one for several years and it is still working.......probably quit tomorrow now that I posted this! HF brand.

 

[2515R Dude]

More than a year ago, ( I want to say two but don't remember exactly), i bought one at HF. It stopped working after the first run. HF would not accept the returns, they said to call HQ. I called them and they returned my money without need to ship it back.

So, now i had a free toy to play with:
1. I opened it up, the red tube unscrews from the motor and i could access the contacts.
2. I figured that when i connect 3V power directly to the motor it works just fine.
3. Soldered 2 wires( one red and one black) red to the motor ->switch
4. Drilled a little hole in the red tube and put two wires - The black from the motor and the red from the switch out after screwing the tube back to the body of the pump
5. Glued a 2AA battery holder to the outside of the red tube
6 Connected the wires to the holder.
7 Installed 2 rechargeable AA batteries
8 Enjoy free gas pump for over a year.

If i could do it, you definitely can

 

[5030]

For 6 bucks, I can landfill it and not get excited. Next one fails, I'll have to dissect it as well.