alternative gas can vents

[mikehaugen]

I read the great idea on here about using the tire valve stem as a vent. My diesel cans already have vents, so I just put it in memory. So a couple months ago I tried it on some gas cans... bad idea. The rubber does not like gasoline and it got eaten. They were milton valve stems. So the problem is that I drilled the can for 5/8" and I have found some replacement vents, but I can only get them in 1/2".

Is there some material that I can buy new valve stems in that will resist the gasoline? Anyone have any other ideas now that I have 5/8" holes in both my gas cans? I thought about epoxy-ing the vents onto the can but don't really like that idea either, I will if I have to though.

 

[PhysAssist]

Epoxy paste will tolerate gas well, and seal tightly because it doesn't cure by out gassing or drying out. I used it to patch a gas exposed section of carberator manifold and it held longer than my piston rod did

If you found something to vent the newfangled gas cans, please post a link, 'cause I would love to put vents in all my cans....

Thanks,
Thomas

 

[Monster5601]

I used a stepped drill bit to make 1/2" holes for vents (provides a clean hole on both sides) but I got carried away on one, RTV worked very well to fix my oops.

 

[mikehaugen]

If you found something to vent the newfangled gas cans, please post a link, 'cause I would love to put vents in all my cans....

Thanks,
Thomas

They have a replacement spout kit at my local rural king that I bought to replace my cracking spouts on my diesel cans and they came with a vent that I was going to put on the gas cans, but they need 1/2" hole. I think the kit is $7.99.

 

[Baby Grand]

How about these?:
12 Yellow Vent Caps Gas Fuel Can Midwest Blitz Wedco Briggs Scepter Heavy Duty | eBay
They should resist the gas okay, but they require a 1/2" hole, so you'd need to plug the 5/8" hole and re-drill. Are your cans metal or plastic?

 

[mikehaugen]

How about these?:
12 Yellow Vent Caps Gas Fuel Can Midwest Blitz Wedco Briggs Scepter Heavy Duty | eBay
They should resist the gas okay, but they require a 1/2" hole, so you'd need to plug the 5/8" hole and re-drill. Are your cans metal or plastic?

Thanks for the link, but those are basically the caps I already have. I was hoping to find something 5/8". If not, then I guess it's back to the epoxy plan.

 

[jejeosborne]

I use simple corks. Works great for a couple of my cans. I converted a couple with tire valves and they don't let enough air in.

 

[rtimgray]

It's funny this came up, because the gas cans that I had installed valve stems on just had the valve stem fall off this week - and I assumed it was to the rubber not like the gas either.

I was planning on just putting another valve stem in - mine lasted two years of pretty frequent use, and it always had some amount of gas in it. Since I already have the hole, I'm just gonna put another one in and hope for the best.

On some of my other gas cans, instead of using a valve stem I've just used a 3/8" coarse thread eyebolt - the eye gives plenty of grip and it seems to stay seated pretty well.

 

[wolftree]

Has anyone figured out how to remove any plastic shavings from the drilling the holes for the vent?

 

[Gem99ultra]

snip>I read the great idea on here about using the tire valve stem as a vent. My diesel cans already have vents, so I just put it in memory. So a couple months ago I tried it on some gas cans... bad idea. The rubber does not like gasoline and it got eaten.<snip

Don't feel lonesome about the incomplete or mis-information on the valve stems. I got ambitious and put them in 4 fuel cans only to see them fall off after a few months. At least I was fortunate enough to have used 1/2" stems, so I was able to use the now-popular vent caps being sold on eBay, saving about $100 in lost fuel cans.
No - I don't blame the poster that placed the info on the valve stems for my stupidity. I hold myself responsible for not investigating his info. But it did remind me of the old saying "All that glitters is not gold."
I do hope you find a remedy to save your two cans...

 

[Mud Mechanik]

I too had rubber valve stems fail on gas cans. I went to a chrome metal valve stem and left the rubber gasket off of the inside and replaced the outside gasket with a teflon O ring, have been doing fine now for ~ 2 years.

 

[mikehaugen]

I too had rubber valve stems fail on gas cans. I went to a chrome metal valve stem and left the rubber gasket off of the inside and replaced the outside gasket with a teflon O ring, have been doing fine now for ~ 2 years.

This sounds like a good idea, but I wasn't sure about the size, the ones I have seen in the stores don't specify a hole size. Were yours 5/8"?

 

[mikehaugen]

No - I don't blame the poster that placed the info on the valve stems for my stupidity. I hold myself responsible for not investigating his info. But it did remind me of the old saying "All that glitters is not gold."
I do hope you find a remedy to save your two cans...

I agree, the original post was talking about diesel. I was stupid for assuming it would work for gasoline. No fault of anyone else's.

 

[orangeandgreen]

Get a metal valve stem at a tire store.

 

[BukitCase]

Here's another possibility I've been considering -

This Male Pipe (NPTF) x SAE 37° Flare (JIC) Bulkhead

plus this

SAE 37° Flare (JIC) Female Cap

3/8" JIC is 9/16" OD, and the bulkhead with 1/4 NPT is about a buck cheaper than the 3/8 x 3/8.

Couple of neoprene washers between the flange and nut should take up the other 1/16" of slop - also, I'll probably cut off the NPT end and just leave the flange. Should let in more air than the tire valve... Steve

 

[Mud Mechanik]

This sounds like a good idea, but I wasn't sure about the size, the ones I have seen in the stores don't specify a hole size. Were yours 5/8"?

I believe mine were 1/2", but the metal valve stem has a pretty big shoulder, it may cover up a 5/8" hole.