Now the good and some differences

[Clarke]

I have a no spill plastic gas can from PEP Boys. Place it over the tank press down to open the valve flow stops when tank is full. Pick up to close valve never spill a drop.

sg

 

[MossRoad]

Now that sounds neat.

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> You're too lucky!! You have both a white plastic gas tank and a big red funnel!! </font>

Yes, I have all the toys! I even have one of those rolls of heavy paper towels to check the oil and do the lube jobs with!

And TWO sizes of grease guns!

And a dedicated coffee can for the engine oil changes, too!

Add those to my collection of Harbor Freight tools and I'm the envy of all tractor owners!!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[catsco]

Wow--I didn't know PT ownership was so complex.

I'm conflicted about what color funnel I should use. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif And MossRoad has a WHITE engine cover. Guess I'll see if I can buy one of them. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Shipping cost would probably be high, but the old obsolete black one would make a great pet carrier, AND build up arm strength at the same time.

Don't know that I'll ever catch up with all the PT gurus on board TBN.

But, I'll probably get the PT dirty at some point. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Regards,
Mark H.

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You have both a white plastic gas tank and a big red funnel!! That's not fair!! You should give one or the other to toolz_not_toyz!! Apparently he doesn't have either one!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
)</font>

Not true. I have a clear plastic tank with a fuel level viewing window in my JD L130 lawn tractor. And, I have a clear plastic funnel. Er, but I use the funnel to drain my deep fryer so I'm reluctant to use it for gas. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

What I really need, then, is a clear plastic fuel tank, a large red funnel, a white engine cover, a PT 425, and a second grease gun. Gosh, the list just keeps getting longer and longer. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

On a brighter note, I did buy a 1978 Ford F150 4x4 pickup last Sunday, so I can check that off the list. Only...now I need a MiG welder and a whole list of parts to make it happy again. Some days it just seems like the PT is a long long long way away. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I could probably get approval from HQ for the red funnel and second grease gun. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[FOURTEEN]

Sorry!!! Since they are prone to leaking, overflowing, and assorted operator errors, a clear plastic funnel will not work!!!! The large plastic funnel must be RED!! Of all large plastic funnels green and blue are actually the most dangerous!! For all serious funnel applications the rule is: "Use RED instead!!". /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[toy]

Now let me get this strait you first remove the funnel which has been in the gas tank with gas up in it and on the outside of the funnel with the gas cap still off, as it would have to be. Gas is so volitale that just a few drops that would run down the side would quickly track back up the side with fire and no longer would your red white or blue funnel just be red white or blue It would also have some black on it and you can't put the cap back on the tank that quick. It is a safety issue that I was pointing out since raising the hood eliminates the risk alltogether and is a very serious consideration that out of all the readers on this forum someone might not be as efficient as you at not spilling a few drops of gas, not talking about bathing the machine in gas. I also like the new design better but this can be a desaster for someone just waiting to happen, and I just wanted to point it out may even save a life.

 

[jol1269]

well just to chime in here for a second ,today while running the beast a lil i noticed about the same time i looked back to see if the fan had come on that i had some gas splashing out of the top of the gas cap .....apparently i had pput a wee bit to much in and the bouncing or the grade was causing the gas to slosh around a bit well imagine my thought of why havent i put a fireextinguisher on the beast yet as i quickly stopped and used the new shirt the wife had bought me to wipe off the extra gas from the hood ........just hope she doesnt ask where that nice shirt is /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[toy]

You are absolutly right overfilling it is dangerous also. If you should be working on a hill going down hill would increase the risk of fuel sloshing out. I have been thinking of puting something around the top of the hood to maybe catch any that might slosh out, or at least direct it away from the exhaust.

 

[FOURTEEN]

Gasoline is not as flammable as you seem to believe!! It's not the liquid but the vapor that ignites, and without an ignition source the vapor will not ignite! Even perfectly mixed with air in an engine's super hot combustion chamber the gasoline vapor normally does not ignite until the spark plug fires!!

With the engine off there is no open flame or spark to ignite the gasoline! A hot PT muffler is not hot enough to ignite it.

Although strange and very unusual things do happen, your scenario is right up there with double lightening strikes!!

With the hood lowered even if the full gas tank were to ignite, the resulting fire at the tank opening would only burn about 1 1/2" in diameter and could be easily extinguished! Just putting the cap on, or even putting your gloved hand tightly over the opening would extinguish the flame!

Raising the hood does NOT eliminate the danger! With the hood raised, there is a large chamber filled with vapor and air even after you have 'filled' the tank. If ignition were to occur, the tank would not just burn, it would explode due to the large confining combustion chamber!!

If you are curious to see what a lowered hood gas tank fire would be like:
Fill an empty frozen orange juice can 7/8 full of gasoline.
Place on a firm surface and ignite.
You will produce a nice little 1 1/2" by 2" high fire.
Place any flat object on top of the can, without spilling it, and the fire will immediately go out!

Do NOT duplicate your raised hood gas tank fire by:
Pouring a cup of gasoline into an empty gallon milk jug.
Shake well.
Place a lighted match at the opening.
The resulting explosion and fire will most likely send you to the hospital!!


Use a large funnel to refuel, like most people have been doing since the invention of gasoline!!!!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[SnowRidge]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( With the engine off there is no open flame or spark to ignite the gasoline! A hot PT muffler is not hot enough to ignite it. )</font>

Our hot PT muffler ignites dry grass clippings at shutdown all the time. We've learned to deal with it.

We DO NOT refuel until the machine has had a few minutes to cool off with the hood up, and any smoldering grass clippings have been dealt with.

SnowRidge

 

[toy]

Some of these days after you have been working your pt and it is getting late in the evening, park your pt on a level spot and place a lawn chair next to it where you can look inside that muffler. You will find that there is a fiery inferno inside the muffler and the insulation on the muffler has the heat disguised. You are correct about it being the fumes that burn. If by chance you should spill just a few drops of gas just enough to run down the side that small amount of gas still gives off fumes and a fire would track that few drops right up to the gas tank that would respond just as you said but that partially empty can that you are holding is full of fumes , and giving all of the excitment and looking for that something flat to put over the tank and the gas can burning at the same time and you needing to do something about that also. For myself I like to caution on the side of safety, but to each his own singed eyebrows and all.

 

[toy]

I was thinking of what you said about the large confining chamber, were you talking about the space above the gas spout on the gas tank as the confining chamber. as your example of a milk jug if it were lying on its side there would be space above the opening of the milk jug? Talking about the hood being raised.

 

[jol1269]

well all this being said . i still think i will install the extinghiser and try not to fill too full . im not a fireman or a physist but i do know that gas torch my beast . thanks inpart to that ole saying anything that can go wrong will go wrong and we all know expect the unexpected /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[toy]

I think that a fire extinguisher is a must. If you have one of the newer 425s that has a gas tank built in the hood, you know that fluid flows down hill. Take a level put it in center of the exhaust outlet and level it up verticale. Measure from the level to the cap in the tank. Now open the hood and measure the distance between the gas cap and the plumb level. With it down it is 4 inches back to the cap opening , with it opened it is 36 inches. With the hood raised you cannot fill the tank any fuller than the lower part of the opening which when you let it down it will lack some being totally full which will help you gauge that to a degree to not overfill it. On my tank the gas opening has no space above the opening with the hood raised. With it down it is possible to fill it all the way to the top, and some think that 4 inches back from the muffler is saffer that 36 inches but when it comes to safety don't fill it up at all when it is hot not even if your machine is in a comprimising position or place, because of danger. The last part of that safety tip is probably the least followed tip of all as most would tell you if truth be told. I have been curious as to what is hot close to the cap when the hood is opened. I like that old saying it will keep you out of trouble a lot of times because it keeps you thinking ahead befor a problem occures.

 

[MossRoad]

I almost always top it off before I start it for the first time. Nice and cool then. Good time to check the oil, kick the tires and inspect for drips, too. It'll usually run about 4+ hours on 4+ gallons of gas, so it is far past break time at 4 hours on the PT. I also take the opportunity to enjoy a cool beverage when the tractor needs re-filling. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Let it cool off while I cool off, then give it a look over, fill it up and off again. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[toy]

That is a good way to do it I fill mine up qat the first also but some jobs takes longer than 4 hrs. With the insulation around the exhaust [which is necessary I beleive on my model] will hold the heat in longer than one that doesn't have the insulation. You can not only drink that cold soda but also eat a big juicy hamburger and the muffler will still be hot inside. I like the sharing of ideas on this forum it is educational shows what can be acomplished with these machines, shows some safety concerns new ways to do things, shows ideas that you have but are a little reluctant to try until you see someone that has tried it and it works for them,. I also like to know troubles that others are having and how they solve their problems. It is a good place to learn.

 

[MossRoad]

With my model, the gas tank is at the front of the engine comprtment and the muffler is at the rear. I like that.