Automatically refill tractor diesel

[Charlesaf3]

SO I can't find this by searching, but I'm sure someone has dealt with this before. I just bought a 20kw tiger pto generator from messicks as a result of the latest power outage. Been thinking of it for years, and taking a look at the local electrical infrastructure we are definitely going to lose power again.

Going to run it off the b3030' which sips fuel, even at pto speed. Still, only a 5 gallon tank, which I don't really want to refill twice a day. Any thoughts on how to automatically refill it from a transfer tank or a barrel?

One thought I had was simple fluids - take a wide transfer tank, and put it so the fuel level is under the height of the b3030 tank cap. Then run a hose from bottom of transfer tank to b3030 tank. Theory is that the wide tank would feed the narrow tank for a while - I'd guess 100 gallon transfer tank would run b3030 for a week and a half. Would work through fluid finding it's own level etc, and would run it through replacement cap with gaskets etc. For rain.

Anyone have a better idea? Or a critique of mine? I'd rather not pour diesel everywhere while experimenting for various reasons...

 

[dodge man]

Can you put a tee in the fuel line and shut off in your fuel line on the tractor? When you run the generator, just shut off the fuel to the onboard fuel tank and run the tractor off your transfer tank. You might have to run some kind of fitting off the bottom of your tranfer tank for a fuel line, and the transfer tank would have to be higher than the tractor.

 

[brin]

I too have a PTO generator and it will run for 8 hrs. before I need to add diesel...but I would want to check my tractor even before than 8 hrs. to check the gauges etc. and make sure everything is operating as it should be...there is a lot that can go wrong with a tractor running other than running out of fuel. If, however, you are determined..I don't see why you could not mount a separate tank of diesel a little higher than your tractor and run a fuel line out of the bottom of the tank to a "T" connection in your tractors fuel line with a shunt and then you would have an axillary tank and as long as you opened the shunt your diesel would flow....Good luck...Just my opinion.

 

[Charlesaf3]

Interesting idea. Worth investigating though I wonder how accessible the connection would be.

Raising the transfer tank is no problem, planned on that. Figured I'd raise it on forklift, and support the forks with timbers

 

[Charlesaf3]

Yeah, I'm a fan of frequent checking, but would rather not be slave to a particular schedule. And the idea of running tank dry is painful. Also, I think the tractor is probably the most reliable part of the whole setup - kubota diesels run a lot of gensets

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Can you put a tee in the fuel line and shut off in your fuel line on the tractor? When you run the generator, just shut off the fuel to the onboard fuel tank and run the tractor off your transfer tank. You might have to run some kind of fitting off the bottom of your tranfer tank for a fuel line, and the transfer tank would have to be higher than the tractor.

That would be my vote and you could put quick connects on the fuel line to keep it ez and clean.
Rick

 

[Charlesaf3]

As an aside, I have quick connects on my big tank, and they work great

 

[SandburRanch]

There are fluid level controllers made for situations like this.

Mounted free standing at the elevation you want to control the liquid and plumbed to your fuel line, your tractor tank will always be full to that point when you go to use it.

Try researching fluid level or oil level controllers. REN is one brand name that comes to mind.

 

[Charlesaf3]

Thanks, I thought somebody must have invented something like that

 

[Soundguy]

living in florida my entire life.. and thru dozens of hurricanes and such.. so far I've never found the need to run 'emergency power' 24-7

filling the tank when it gets low lets me check stuff out.. chek oil.. check temp.. etc.. etc.

if I had something that needed 24-7 power.. like life support.. etc... I'd get a dedicated stationary genset on a automatic switch with a dedicated tank.. etc. not a pto setup...

just my .02

i have seen neighbors that see the need to run power 24-7.. it gets annoying during a fuel crisis.. and no one around them can sleep at night.. especially since we have windows open for ventilation and air flow.. and don't want to listen toy their genny at 3am.. etc..


just sayin...

soundguy

SO I can't find this by searching, but I'm sure someone has dealt with this before. I just bought a 20kw tiger pto generator from messicks as a result of the latest power outage. Been thinking of it for years, and taking a look at the local electrical infrastructure we are definitely going to lose power again.

Going to run it off the b3030' which sips fuel, even at pto speed. Still, only a 5 gallon tank, which I don't really want to refill twice a day. Any thoughts on how to automatically refill it from a transfer tank or a barrel?

One thought I had was simple fluids - take a wide transfer tank, and put it so the fuel level is under the height of the b3030 tank cap. Then run a hose from bottom of transfer tank to b3030 tank. Theory is that the wide tank would feed the narrow tank for a while - I'd guess 100 gallon transfer tank would run b3030 for a week and a half. Would work through fluid finding it's own level etc, and would run it through replacement cap with gaskets etc. For rain.

Anyone have a better idea? Or a critique of mine? I'd rather not pour diesel everywhere while experimenting for various reasons...