Completed Re-Fuel Tank

[TonyC]

I finally finished setting up my re-fueling tank today. Nothing all that exciting but after finishing a tractor project I always feel compelled to post it! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

It's made from a 150 Gallon tractor-trailer fuel tank. It's got a 12v Fill-Rite Fuel pump on it with a combination particle/water filter. I couldn't stand the thought of it getting all the weather so I built a small roof over it. I paid $155 for the pump which is a good price. If anyones interested in getting one I will post the information.

 

[RichNJKubota]

Looks great. Yes, I'd like info on where to get the pump and tank. How do you power the 12V pump?

Rich

 

[TonyC]

I bought the pump on E-Bay but it hooked me up with a great supplier. The company is Neumayer Equipt. I forget where they're located but they have been supplying equipment for new construction of gas stations for 50 years. I know re-fueling a tractor is not exactly rocket science, but these guys are experts and can advise you on all the details as well as sell you everything you need. Filters, nozzles...whatever. They even sold me all the elbows and nipples needed to hook up the filter system at half of what I would pay locally. They also handle the warranty on Fill-rite products. The guys name is Sam Hanephin at Sam_Hanephin@neumayerequipment.com. The phone number is 1-800-843-4563. You can check for them on E-bay but I'd bet he sell you one for the same price as I paid.

Getting a tank is a local search mission. We have one of those free ad papers here and there are 275 gallon fuel oil tanks in there all the time for free. I really didn't want a tank that big so I held out. Through a friend of a friend I got this 150 Gallon tank that came off of a semi rig. It was dented on the bottom but free. It was just the right size and I like that it is aluminum.

As far as power I have an old deep cycle battery from one of my boats. I plan to put a solar trickle charger on it to keep it up to snuff. You can go here
to read a thread I started on those recently. Of course you can just clamp it to your tractor battery if it's convenient.

 

[Soundguy]

Both tractor supply and harbor freight tools have decent soalr panels. The TSC ones are 39$ for the 12v panel, and comes with aligator clips.

The harbor freight one is 19$ and comes with a cig lighter setup. but has a tougher looking housing.

I just got the harbor freight ones for all my tractors.. keeps the charge up on all of them, since sometimes it is over a month before I get to them.

I'm envious.. your fuel rig looks great. I wish I had more tractor time so I could justify something more than a few 5 gallon cans in the barn...
Keep in mind that if I ever do build one.. I'm officially notifying you that I'm 'stealing' your design. Love the tin roof.

My wife calls me 'the master of the tin roof'.. as all of our animal shelters and shade structures / pole buildings I built on the farm are tin roof.

Soundguy

 

[B21nut]

Tony,
That's the nicest re-fueling set-up I've seen. Congrats on a nice project.
John (jealous in MA)

 

[gmason]

OK I'll bite.... how do you re-fill the 150 tank? Looks like a pretty permanent home for the tank.

I just use a 55gal HDPE drum and can load that into the back of my truck for the trip to the fuel stop. Then roll it off into my loader and then set it up high enough to feed the tractor.

How do you vent it to the outside to relieve the press?

BTW...Very nice!!

gary

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Gary,

If it were me, I'd probably load it into the back of my truck with my FEL and take it to be filled. Of course, I'd have to check to see what my capacity is on my 420 FEL on my Deere 4200 before end up with more in my truck than I can lift out. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[gws]

Dont forget you need a ground rod and strap for your tank.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

This guy has the right idea, make it so it moves. hook it to a truck or behind a tractor and you can move it anywhere.

web page

 

[TonyC]

Thanks for the info on the solar panels Chris. As many times as I've been in TSC, I never knew they carried them I will check them out next trip. Feel free to steal my design..I consider it a compliment! I laughed at your "master of the tin roof"comments. Last year I had a large new aluminum shed put up for my tractor and boats. It collapsed during the winter under a large snow load. Thanks to a guarantee it has been replaced and built even stronger. They were happy to leave the old materials. Much of the roofing was still good too. Since then, tin roofed buildings have been popping up all over my property too. It's great stuff!!!

 

[TonyC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( how do you re-fill the 150 tank? )</font>

Easy...the fuel comes to me! Most companies will deliver 100 to 150 gallons and up at no extra charge. I thought about the 55 gallon drum gravity feed but decided I was too lazy for all that work! I'd rather just make a call.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( How do you vent it to the outside to relieve the press?)</font>

I added a fill tube so they could pump in the diesel. This also acts as the vent. It's a little hard to see in the photo but it's to the right of the pump.

And thanks to all for the kind remarks! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[gmason]

TonyC, congrats, you've got the perfect setup then. Have you got some neighbors that can pull up to the pump too? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Put a little jar there for the honor system.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
gary

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( s many times as I've been in TSC, I never knew they carried .... They were happy to leave the old materials....... tin roofed buildings have been popping up all over my property )</font>

The solar panels are 'for' a line of automatic deer feeders they sell.. the battery powered ones you leave out on food plots with timers.
They are about 29 to 39 bucks... I think the harbor freight ones for 19$ are a little sturdier. I have to say.. as the case is a heavy molded plastic... though it does have a cig lighter adapter installed.. so you need to pay another 3-4 bucks to buy the femal adapter.. to get it back to gator clips.. or loop connectors.... whatever store you are closer to.. and whatever you are comfterable paying.

The TSC solar cells look identical to the solar cells you find mounted on their solar powerd electric fence chargers. I also have 2 of those with no complaints after 2 years of continious operation.. so the solar cells are sturdy...

I love that 'popping up everywhere' story... i just love surpluss materials.

We had a huge awning put on the motro pool area at the company I work at a few years ago.

The materials wer bought in bulk for price breaks.. etc.... like the mounting plates, and the pans.

Needless to say, when the job was finished, dozens of the nice white aluminum pans, and 20 foot or so of mounting plate were stacked behind the shop... also about 60-70 foot of trim molding was back there.
At some point, the shop manager wanted to clean up the shop as junk was accumulating... old motors, truck parts, etc... and started hauling everything to the scrap yard... I inquired about the pans, and he said 'you haul them away, and you can have them....'... Nedless to say, my house got a nice awning over the rear porch that weekend.. all for the price of some sheet metal screws, and 40' of 2x2 aluminum support post. and a handfull of 'L' brackets and some anchor screws...

Nice deal.

The shop is also a great source for scrounged scrap steel for my welding projects. I've alread pulled enough scrap out of the recycle bins to make a bumper guard for my NH 1920, some repairs to my trailer, a 3rd ramp for my trailer for when/if (hope) I ever find an antique trike tractor, repairs to my 3pt disc, homade brackets for the sun shade on my 66 IH cub, and a new lid and floor for the tool box on my NAA.

Now as soon as I get better at welding.. I will be doing alot more.....

Soundguy