FUELING FRUSTRATION

[SeymourBota]

You need something like this:
American Wick Si75 Kerosene Battery Operated Syphon Pump - Amazon.com

Extend the plastic tubing and set your 5 gal tank on something to elevate it to the approximate level of the fuel fill opening and it will empty the 5 gal tank in 4-5 minutes.

 

[Soundguy]

I have a 28 HP tractor and a 300 gallon gravity tank. I bought it off CL for $50 and put a new filter and hose setup on it.

Chris

nice deal!

 

[JDgreen227]

I have NEVER fueled my JD 4210 with the hood down...and since I only use it 100 hours a year, 5 gallon cans of diesel work well for me. I made a fueling aid from a plastic tray with wood blocks screwed underneath it to make it level when I place it over the engine compartment. Set the can atop the tray, open the spout and vent, cover the spout hole with a finger and tip the can forward into the filler neck. Almost no spillage at all as it empties, and you don't have to hold onto it. The wood blocks can be added under the can as it empties.

Just make sure your tank will hold the contents without overfilling !!!

 

[Ron JD670]

I used to have a 12 volt fuel pump from an old Volvo I picked up for parts. Added a long lead with alligator clips. Worked great and wish I still had it. You might checkout a salvage yard.

Because I don't need to refuel all that often given my use I just top it off at the end of a day I've decided the 670 needs a bath. I refuel fro the 5 gallon container, power wash it, then do a pre flight for the next project and park it.

Good luck
RoN

 

[cttractor]

Thanks to all for your suggestions and describing your own fuel transfer systems! This is a great site for tractor owners!

It looks like the most convenient approach for me is going to be to get a tank or barrel in the 15 - 55 gallon range with a hand or electric pump. A hand pump is probably enough from the perspective that I only need to pump a few gallons at each fill-up. The loosy-goosy part is that it can be hard at times to hold a nozzle in one hand without spilling while pumping with the other. An electric pump with a conventional trigger nozzle makes that problem go away, but the cost is higher, and it's even more money to get a 120VAC pump. Regardless, this appears to be the most problem free, drip free path and I'm going back to investigating what's available in the area.

I've looked at Northern Equipment, but have heard conflicting comments about the quality of their products. Can anyone share their good or bad experiences with this company? Are there any other suppliers of fuel tanks/pumps I can consider?

Thanks again, guys, for all your help!

 

[Soundguy]

northern is basically selling same stuff harbor freight sells.. just fooling people into thinking it's better due to store name recognition.

that said.. plenty of good chinese tools out there.. just got to pick and choose.

 

[swick1]

northern is basically selling same stuff harbor freight sells.. just fooling people into thinking it's better due to store name recognition.

that said.. plenty of good chinese tools out there.. just got to pick and choose.

Not to mention northern's higher prices for the same stuff. Conversely, our local tractor supply sells kawasaki tools for the same price as harbor freight and they are prettier!

 

[Soundguy]

ditto on both counts.
we needed a sawsall real quick for a dirty job.. i was gonna head to the next city up to get a hf unit.. called Tractor supply.. had that KS unit for within pennies of same price... go figure...

 

[Ron JD670]

Thanks to all for your suggestions and ............ The loosy-goosy part is that it can be hard at times to hold a nozzle in one hand without spilling while pumping with the other. ..........
Thanks again, guys, for all your help!

Cttractor
You look for an inexpensive fuel cap that you can drill out and slip over the nozzle and secure (duct tape, epoxy, bailing wire) that way the fuel delivery end is secure and you have two hands free. If it is air tight you may need to also provide a vent hole in the cap.
RoN

 

[LBrown59]

Thanks to all for your suggestions and describing your own fuel transfer systems! This is a great site for tractor owners!
1*It looks like the most convenient approach for me is going to be to get a tank or barrel in the 15 - 55 gallon range with a hand or electric pump.
2* A hand pump is probably enough from the perspective that I only need to pump a few gallons at each fill-up.
3* The loosy-goosy part is that it can be hard at times to hold a nozzle in one hand without spilling while pumping with the other.
4* An electric pump with a conventional trigger nozzle makes that problem go away,
5*but the cost is higher, and it's even more money to get a 120VAC pump.
6*Regardless, this appears to be the most problem free, drip free path and I'm going back to investigating what's available in the area.
7*I've looked at Northern Equipment, but have heard conflicting comments about the quality of their products.
8* Can anyone share their good or bad experiences with this company?

1*It is.

2*I would not like to hand pump this drum empty.
Would hate to think about doing it with 3 or 4 of them.
3*It's hard to be in 2 places at the same time.
4*But it's well worth it and it's the only way to fly.
5*You don't want a 120 v pump because you will be glad you have a 12v when the power goes out.
When our power was out back in june I had 3 truck and 3 tractor batteries to fall back on to power the pump.
6*Build your own rig using drums is the only way to fly.
7*My Northern tool pump has operated flawless with out a hint of trouble for 4 years now.

8*This is the best priced electric pump i'v run onto .

 

[cttractor]

LBrown59, thanks for the very detailed response!

I do have a generator that runs when power is lost, so 120VAC is always there for me. I'm just trying to keep things simple (though I'd be the first to admit that we're already past that at this end).

 

[JDgreen227]

Keep things simple...do you really use enough fuel per year to justify the expense of a fancy fueling setup? As for me, I have an old milkhouse with a concrete pad inside that is the ideal height to set a 55 gallon drum on and use a hose to refill my tractor....but...why bother? For my purposes all I need to do is fill three 5 gallon diesel cans four or five times a year. SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Just a thought...
My dad utilized a transfer tank that stayed in his pickup bed...
Used it to refuel his dozer, loader, backhoe, ect...
Had a small electric pump that attached to the battery...
Worked great...
No lifting of 5 gal cans plus the added convenience of refueling to remote locations...
I've still got it...

 

[nwltruck]

Simply went to local hardware store and bought a small liquid pump that mounts in a drill. I have one long hose on the suction side and a short hose on the discharge side simply uses a cordless drill. Love it because i drive truck and if the tractor needs fuel i pull alongside the truck and siphon it out of the tank into the tractor. Takes about 10 minutes. Would work with about anything

 

[PineRidge]

Here's our setup. You can get these fuel oil tanks cheap if you watch the local paper or Craigslist. There's always someone putting in a new high eff furnace that switches from fuel oil to nat gas. We got 2 for free so far.

The pump came from Northern Tool. The local oil company comes to our place to fill it when needed.

 

[LBrown59]

Just a thought...
*My dad utilized a transfer tank that stayed in his pickup bed...
Used it to refuel his dozer, loader, backhoe, ect...
Had a small electric pump that attached to the battery...
Worked great...
No lifting of 5 gal cans plus the added convenience of refueling to remote locations...
I've still got it...

*The main peroblem is theft hauling it around all the time and loss of bed space.

 

[cttractor]

Keep things simple...do you really use enough fuel per year to justify the expense of a fancy fueling setup? As for me, I have an old milkhouse with a concrete pad inside that is the ideal height to set a 55 gallon drum on and use a hose to refill my tractor....but...why bother? For my purposes all I need to do is fill three 5 gallon diesel cans four or five times a year. SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE.

I'm currently using 5 gallon cans. But I've tired of having to climb up on the operator platform to fill my tank and also the spillage onto the hood that sometime results. I started this thread to find a better way.

(I didn't realize this thread had continued since my last post. For some reason, I no longer receive an email when a response has come in.)

 

[cttractor]

Just a thought...
My dad utilized a transfer tank that stayed in his pickup bed...
Used it to refuel his dozer, loader, backhoe, ect...
Had a small electric pump that attached to the battery...
Worked great...
No lifting of 5 gal cans plus the added convenience of refueling to remote locations...
I've still got it...

I completely agree. In fact, I haven't yet moved on this because we're currently looking at more acreage (~100 or so). If that happens, I'll need the tank in the pickup to fill other machines and the problem will solve itself.

 

[cttractor]

Here's our setup. You can get these fuel oil tanks cheap if you watch the local paper or Craigslist. There's always someone putting in a new high eff furnace that switches from fuel oil to nat gas. We got 2 for free so far.

The pump came from Northern Tool. The local oil company comes to our place to fill it when needed.

It all depends on how much fuel you need to keep on hand. Prior to looking at some additional land (see prior posting), this would have been too much fuel and I'd worry about the fuel going bad before I used it. Your suggestion is now a viable option. Another great idea -- thanks!

 

[cttractor]

*The main peroblem is theft hauling it around all the time and loss of bed space.

I've thought about the loss of bed space, but not about theft -- haven't heard that happening around here. But it's certainly a possibility. Thanks!