Fuel can freakout - rant, possibly humorous

[Bird]

Please purchase one of these and tell us how it works. I want one but am too cheap to spend twelve bucks to test it.

Self Priming 1/2" Siphon / Syphon Hose - Gas, Oil, Water, & Aquarium Siphon

You can find some cheaper such as the Triple-Seven model. In fact, if you Google "self-priming siphon" you'll find several and they all look like they're using the same brass valve. I've never owned or used one personally, but have seen my brother use one. He used to sell them when he was a Matco Tool distributor and they do work. If I were going to siphon fuel from a can into a tractor or lawnmower, I'd have one.

I see that Matco calls theirs a Magic Siphon Hose and of course, at $15.95, it's a bit more money.

 

[ToadHill]

All I have is the old style cans that you remove the spout to fill. How do you fill those cans with that fixed spout, amd why can't you just use a funnel and pore from the fill point?

 

[N80]

All I have is the old style cans that you remove the spout to fill. How do you fill those cans with that fixed spout, amd why can't you just use a funnel and pore from the fill point?

The first ventless types had a cap and spout that were all one piece. No vent hole. The end of the spout was covered by a little yellow cap that you pulled off to pour out. You generally pour into a funnel. This worked okay but it pours slowly since it vents through the pour spout. I added vent holes using tire valves and this works well. You can pour quickly by removing the whole spout/cap, but this can be messy even with a large funnel, especially when standing on the side of the tractor holding up a heavy 5 gallon can. That isn't even an option when filling a kerosene heater indoors.

The second generation looks similar but has a lever. You have to pull back and hold a spring loaded 'safety' switch before you can compress the lever that allows fuel to flow out through the nozel. So it pours even slower and awkward and neither the safety switch or lever works very well.

Siphoning from the fuel tank to the heater is works fine but then you have to pull the siphon end out of both the heater and the can. This is messy and I usually get kerosene on my hands. Using a really large funnel is not an option since the filler hole on the heater is tiny.

 

[kenstrac]

I did use somthing like this that developer came in years ago.,you could lay it on the tractor hood turn the valve and walk away.

5 Gallon Polyethylene Vented Dispensing Container

 

[MossRoad]

Safety rant.... you shouldn't be filling that heater inside your house. End rant.


You could use a transmission funnel. They are long and have a tiny spout. I use one for my lawn mower because the gas can had a solid spout and I could not tip the can far enough to reach the filler before fuel would pour out. I wedge the funnel sideways into the tank and it holds itself there. Just don't rest the can against the top of the funnel or I can knock it loose. They sell them at all auto parts stores.

 

[MossRoad]

As for siphons, with a little practice you can judge how much is in the tube. When the tank gets near full, pull the end out of the supply tank and let the hose drain into the item being filled. Pretty clean that way.

 

[tommu56]

Please purchase one of these and tell us how it works. I want one but am too cheap to spend twelve bucks to test it.

Self Priming 1/2" Siphon / Syphon Hose - Gas, Oil, Water, & Aquarium
Siphon

I have one of these they work great set can on fender or above tank jiggle hose and it takes off

tom

 

[N80]

Safety rant.... you shouldn't be filling that heater inside your house. End rant.

Right. I think it says that somewhere in small print next to the part about not using the kerosene for mouthwash.

You could use a transmission funnel. They are long and have a tiny spout.

That's what I have and it works well enough and I have used it. But again, it takes three hands because someone has to hold the funnel up, becasue it is so long, while I pour. And again, since the funnel has to go into and out of the kerosene, just like a siphon, you get some dripping, smell and mess, need paper towels etc.

I know I'm being impossible here, but before the safety and polar bear police got invovled this was a simple, one man, no mess job. So it isn't that I won't be able to fill my heaters, just not as easily or as cleanly before. And being old and crotchity it just gives me one more thing to complain about and adds one more bit of evidence to my elaborate unifying conspiracy theory.

 

[MossRoad]

Right. I think it says that somewhere in small print next to the part about not using the kerosene for mouthwash.

We're not supposed to be doing that, either???

 

[/pine]

Please purchase one of these and tell us how it works. I want one but am too cheap to spend twelve bucks to test it.

Self Priming 1/2" Siphon / Syphon Hose - Gas, Oil, Water, & Aquarium Siphon

Someone gave me one a year or so ago and it works great...that is how fuel my tractor...much easier than messing with the cans/nozzles