Back saving tractor fueling

TOMLESCOEQUIP · May 28, 2003

After lifting 5 gallon cans of diesel for years, I finally got smart.......here is a picture of my home fueling setup........Lo-buck approach. Drum pump (Harbor freight 1/2 price sale @ $9.99) fuel filter (TSC $20.00) hose and fittings (TSC $25.00) and a lever action 3/4" ball valve(local hdwe. store $7.99). I installed the ball valve on the tractor end of the hose.........Leave shut....place hose nipple in tractor tank, open valve and pump fuel...........When done pumping, allow hose to drain, close ball valve at tractor end of hose.........."NO DRIP FUELING" !!!!!!!!!!! Hose nipple stores in vent hole of drum.........Neat and easy........... Used Drum was free( local dist. also has new ones @ $15.00)........cleaned and re-labeled diesel only.........I fill it at my local bulk fuel distributor and transport sealed drum in my pick-up......Install pump at home...........Good to go.....No lifting !!!!!!!!!!! A drum usually lasts the mowing season.........TOM

dourobob · May 29, 2003

Great idea!! - as copying is the highest form of flattery, consider yourself flattered /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I've been thinking about a back saving solution for a while now and you've actually done it. Thanks

Bob

Anonymous Poster · May 29, 2003

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif That looks exactly like the setup we used to refuel our Caterpillars in the late forties and early fifties before we could afford decent fuel storage equipment. We were always aware of the ability of drums to collect condensate and as such we had a place where the drums sat on a steep angle so that the water would collect in an area that the pump stem could not reach. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif We went one step further and used a threaded pipe cap on the discharge nozzle to keep even the slightest amount of dirt out. You could consider putting a screw-on oil filter on the barrel vent to prevent any entry of dust particles, and then just hang the screw-cap protected nozzle on the pump itself. You just can't be too clean when it comes to diesel. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif The way our WWII army surplus tank refuling barrel pump worked, you could turn it backwards and slurp the hose dry after refueling. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Chief · Jun 11, 2003

Nice clean setup you made there! I may just try the same thing. Thanks for posting the info. & pics.

TOMLESCOEQUIP · Jun 11, 2003

Since my wife does most of the mowing, I had to come up with a more "wife friendly" fueling system............Previously we had been using the cans and the fueling was left up to me............I always like to fuel the tractor each time I put it away so running out of fuel is never an issue......... now she can do it............I also have her trained on the grease gun and power washer............It's rare for me to get much seat time in the summer..........But she'll let me plow snow whenever I want !!..........Hmmmm........Go figure...............TOM

Boomer33 · Feb 2, 2004

I'll try to post a photo of my fueling area next to garage. Buying fuel in bulk doesn't save any money, but it is convenient!

JerryG · Feb 2, 2004

Where is the attendant? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Junkman · Feb 2, 2004

What is the pedestal mounted pump attached to.... an underground tank or is it just for display? I would like to see a better picture of this pump.....

Boomer33 · Feb 2, 2004

Junkman: The pedestal pump is attached to a burried (or underground) 500 gal. tank. The tank is 14' to the left of the pump. The tank was originally intended as a fuel oil tank for a hot water heating system. I opted for electric heat before the house was completed and was left with an extra tank. By using oversize pipe (1- 1/4") from a reducing bushing on the tank (2"-1-1/4") to the base of the pedestal and a reducing elbow (1-1/4 to 3/4) to the pump riser, I have enough power and suction to put 8 GPM at the nozzle. I use this arrangement for diesel since it is environmentaly safe. The tank on legs is for gasoline. For many reasons you DON"T want to bury a tank for this fuel!!! Both tanks are fitted with electric pumps and both are made by Gasboy! They are easy to use and have both been in service for 17 years without a problem! The pump on the gasoline tank has a cabinet surrounding it, but the pedestal or remote pump does not. It was just a matter of availability at the time. If you are a large user of these fuels and are remotely located, I strongly advocate the bulk purchase option if your area allows it!!! In the unfortunate event where this country once again experiences "gas lines", you will have established an allowance quota with your supplier and will be ensured of recieving deliveries based on your quota history. Who knows for sure what supprizes the Mid-East has in store for us!

mjncad · Dec 4, 2006

TOMLESCOEQUIP said:
After lifting 5 gallon cans of diesel for years, I finally got smart.......here is a picture of my home fueling setup........TOM

Out of curiosity Tom, is that an MCC (Motor Control Center) or other electrical panel with the "NO SMOKING" sign next to your fuel station?

If so I can just picture the local fire marshal having a heart attack if he saw that.

I'm not out to pick an argument, just concerned for your safety.

MadReferee · Dec 4, 2006

Do you realize that you are replying to a post that is almost 3 years old?

rdln · Dec 4, 2006

Somebody has to Mad, lbrown59 is all caught up!

mjncad · Dec 5, 2006

What can I say, it's late at night, and I don't always catch the dates and times on the posts.

patrick_g · Dec 5, 2006

I hung out at a farm auction and bought a 300 gal overhead tank on a stand. I had to replace the broken nozzle and the deteriorated hose. The tank was $75 and the hose and nozzle another $50 at TSC plus a filter water stopper thingy I don't recall the price but the cart has lasted for years.

Now until there is no more diesel delivery and or the law of gravity is repealed I have a simple fueling arrangement. In theory I could take 5 gal cans of diesel up a ladder and pour them in the tank. Been there done that... O N C E just to get the thing in operation but only about 30 gal. Get fuel delivered now when ever I need a refill. Since I give ample notice that I want fuel they wait till they are making another delivery near here and they don't charge extra for the small volume.

Other delivery services charge extra for small deliveries and trust me, 300 gal is a small delivery by their standards. I have never had to wait over a week and usually less as I am only a milie or so from the intersection of a couple highways and their trucks go by fairly frequently.

Pat

LBrown59 · Dec 5, 2006

patrick_g said:
I hung out at a farm auction and bought a 300 gal overhead tank on a stand. I had to replace the broken nozzle and the deteriorated hose. The tank was $75 and the hose and nozzle another $50 at TSC plus a filter water stopper thingy I don't recall the price but the cart has lasted for years.

Now until there is no more diesel delivery and or the law of gravity is repealed I have a simple fueling arrangement. In theory I could take 5 gal cans of diesel up a ladder and pour them in the tank. Been there done that... O N C E just to get the thing in operation but only about 30 gal. Get fuel delivered now when ever I need a refill. Since I give ample notice that I want fuel they wait till they are making another delivery near here and they don't charge extra for the small volume.

Other delivery services charge extra for small deliveries and trust me, 300 gal is a small delivery by their standards. I have never had to wait over a week and usually less as I am only a milie or so from the intersection of a couple highways and their trucks go by fairly frequently.

Pat

The 3 Suppliers here will fill my 30 gallon drum any time they are in my area with out an extra delivery charge.

patrick_g · Dec 5, 2006

LBrown, Sounds like you are not quite in as remote area as I am. Even though we are near a highway intersection the community at the intersection is under 400 and there are no businesses in the town proper just gas/convenience stores out on the highway.

I'd probably be using a drum or two on a stand if I had your level of service. I got the tank to more easily mesh with suppliers.

Pat

LBrown59 · Dec 5, 2006

patrick_g said:
LBrown, Sounds like you are not quite in as remote area as I am. Even though we are near a highway intersection the community at the intersection is under 400 and there are no businesses in the town proper just gas/convenience stores out on the highway.

I'd probably be using a drum or two on a stand if I had your level of service. I got the tank to more easily mesh with suppliers.

Pat

2 Of the suppliers are within 5 miles of me and the other one is prabably about 8 miles away.

Dusty · Dec 6, 2006

I have at least 6 or 8 oil delivery companies within 15 minutes of my home, and none of them will deliver 30 gallons of fuel for any reasonable amount of delivery fee.

DieselPower · Dec 7, 2006

You could alway's buy a portable gas station on a pallet.

Self Contained, Movable Service Fueling Station

I buy almost all of my petroleum pumping, storage and dispensing equipment from this company. Nice people to deal with. John M. Ellsworth Co., Inc.

patrick_g · Dec 7, 2006

Dusty said:
I have at least 6 or 8 oil delivery companies within 15 minutes of my home, and none of them will deliver 30 gallons of fuel for any reasonable amount of delivery fee.

I have less selection but similar problem. Only one company seems happy to deliver under a thousand gal. Any premium is in the price per gal and I am blissfully ignorant.

Pat