Easiest method to fill with diesel

[kthompson]

It is funny how often people think they have the "SINGLE BEST" of idea such as some expressed here. overszd makes a great point. No doubt there are people on tbn who may use two but certainly less than five tanks a year. Then talking less than ten gallon fuel tanks. There there are those who have a single tractor that takes much fuel to fill theirs once. Also don't miss the factor of the difference of location to fill the different equipment. My excavator and B2710 tanks are low and easy while my other two tractors are not and also not easy to get a five gallon tank to. I use a 150 tank in trailer with handpump. Works well for me normally but still once in while use five gallon tank rather than hook up my trailer the tank resides to haul to a machine that needs say ten gallons or less to be back to shop.

Idea someone posted here maybe years ago was using compressed air to push the fuel. Looking for suitable gas tank less than fifty gallons for my mowers now. The other day was talking to a lawn care guy who uses tank mounted on his trailer up a few feet and when he unloads his mowers gravity works great to fill them.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I have a 100 gallon tank and hand pump,, but I also use the shaker and 5 gallon can when the tractor is not at the tank,,

That shaker is just about amazing!!

Hope so, just ordered one.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Wow. A lot of overkill posted here. I set a 5 gallon can of diesel on the tractor hood and use a giggle siphon to transfer the diesel from the can into the tractor. Super fast and no expensive pumps

I agree with Shooterdon that your mileage may vary when it comes to fueling a vehicle. If you can (1) lift a 5 gallon can shoulder high and not spill anything, (2) not need more than 5 gallons at a time to fill and (3) dont have issues with storing several gas cans then an expensive set up might be right for you.
One of my tractors takes 20 gallons to fill it when empty but my Kubota tractor and RTV only hold about 6 gallons each but it is still worthwhile to me to just pull up to my shop, kick on the pump and fill the tanks as needed. I dont have to store plastic jugs everywhere. IF I bought enough jugs to keep on hand to fill all my equipment at once, I would need 6 ea. 5 gallon fuel containers. At my local Ace Hardware, they are $30 each. That is half the cost of my fuel set up with a single purchase and they dont last as long as my pump has. I have just had to replace all my 5 gallon gas jugs (I use them for my lawnmower) since all the nozzles had broken on them. I wish gasoline stayed fresh like diesel so I could store it also but my lawnmowers and other gas equipment doesn't like fuel that is over 2-3 weeks old. At least I dont have to heft them more than waist high to fill the mower when it needs the 4 gallons to refuel it about every 5 days.

Money spent avoiding hospital stays or chiropractor visits is cheap insurance.


PS: I also have a rotator cuff torn in my left shoulder so lifting anything above waist high is not possible.

 

[Jimc295]

I'm not into using a 5gal can either. My tractors don't take much fuel and are pretty efficient so every few weeks is fill up time. I have a transfer tank in my truck because it is my camper hauler. I bought a low pressure pump to fill my main tank on my truck and got to thinking about using it to fill my tractor. So I purchased another one mounted it on a board and attached alligator clips to the pump and when I need a fill up just pull up to the truck and raise the hood on the tractor attach the alligator clips and I'm in business.

 

[kirkawilson]

The 'safety' spout on my 5 gallon plastic diesel tank (yellow) broke this weekend so I just set the tank on some wood blocks to slightly elevate the fill tank above my tractor fill port and used a hand siphon pump to fill. https://www.amazon.com/SODIAL-Manua...+hand+pump&qid=1569361727&s=automotive&sr=1-8 Seemed easier than tilting the tank into the fill port so I will probably continue using the hand pump,

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I have a 100 gallon tank and hand pump,, but I also use the shaker and 5 gallon can when the tractor is not at the tank,,

That shaker is just about amazing!!

Tried mine today.

That was a waste of money.

Tried transfer from 1 can to another. Shook and shook and shook.... Got a little bit transfered, but got my hands covered in diesel fuel.

I transfer half a can to another, and only fill tractor half can at a time. I can put spout in tank and set the can on the hood, filling without holding the can, until the bottom of can. Then the can is light to get the rest out..

 

[CADplans]

That was a waste of money.

Tried transfer from 1 can to another. Shook and shook and shook.... Got a little bit transfered, but got my hands covered in diesel fuel.

The shaker is a siphon,, not a pump,, the hose MUST be EMPTY when you shake,,
It is like siphoning gas out of a car, with a hose, by sucking on the outlet of the hose,
only the sucking is replaced by repeatedly stabbing the hose into the fuel.
The hose MUST have a constant downward slope,, NEVER can the hose aim back up AT ALL,,,

If you get a little fuel trapped in the hose somehow,, lift the inlet, empty the hose, start over,,,

ALWAYS remember it is not a pump, and can not move the fuel, it can only start the siphon,,,

I just transferred 30 gallons of fuel yesterday with the shaker,, I never lost a drop,,,:thumbsup:

 

[RalphVa]

That's what I do. On the hood and use a squeeze type syphon to get it started. After doing about 1/2 or so the container, it's then easy to lift and empty into the tank for the rest.

Ralph

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Ill just go back to half a can at a time.

Actually only wanted to use shaker to split a can in half. So much easier to pour it.

 

[Jim Shooz]

I use a WW11 Jerry can rescued from a rubbish dump many years ago. I use a shaker to which I have replaced the outlet tube with a 6' length of tubing originally intended for an indoor fishtank.
Fill the jerrycan next time I'm fueling up the car, place the full jerrycan in the bucket of the FEL. place the shaker in the jerrycan and run the tube to the tractor fueltank which in my case is behind and under the seat. Raise the FEL so that the inlet of the shaker is above the level of the fueltank. Start shaking. Go inside for a coffee. Minimum lifting; maximum relaxation.

 

[Diggin It]

I agree with Shooterdon that your mileage may vary when it comes to fueling a vehicle.

That's really the key point in these threads. No two situations are identical. Mine only takes a little over 6 gallons and the port is on the fender, so it isn't difficult. That said, I get 40 gallons at a time in a plastic 55 gallon barrel. That has been lasting me around 6-7 months. I use a hand crank pump to transfer to one gallon jugs, then pour into the tank. I could skip that step and use a hose from the pump outlet, but I've been trying to measure fuel usage.

With only a 6 gallon tank, a 12V 15GPM pump doesn't seem wise.

 

[Get Plowed]

I receive my new B2650 tomorrow, and ordered one of these fuel cans. The nozzle fits the filler neck on the tractor, so I should be able to tip the can upside down and stick it in the filler. It won’t let fuel out till the nozzle is depressed.

Dump 5 gallons in 38 seconds...

 

[JerryK]

Some of my diesels tanks intake filter screens do not like high fast flow. Fuel will just bubble up on top of the tank, thus on the floor. I like 5 gallon fuel cans that have multiple handle locations, so the old guy has some place to hold as he rotates the can. The No-Spill 1457 diesel cans work the best for me of the new designs. But I still have a stock of the old pre-EPA-mess with fuel cans that I use. The only problem with the No-Spills is that I have to remind the idiot operator to remove the dust cap before he tries to fuel a tractor. Does not work very well with the dust cap in place....

 

[Ortimber]

I think the amount of fuel used makes a lot of difference.

I use 2,500 gallons per year. That's 500 five gallon jugs.

I have a transfer tank mounted in my truck. Rarely touch a 5 gallon jug.

Same here. I have a 100 gallon transfer tank in my pickup and I only buy fuel that I know I will use up in 2-3 weeks. The thought of going back to cans makes my shoulders ache.

 

[ovrszd]

Same here. I have a 100 gallon transfer tank in my pickup and I only buy fuel that I know I will use up in 2-3 weeks. The thought of going back to cans makes my shoulders ache.

My tank is on the small side. Wish I had 100 gal. Bought mine used for $450. So I'll deal with it.

 

[newbury]

I find these threads on how to fill your tractor tank amusing.
Most of us have FEL's.

For small quantities Jim's method seems the way to go. I've been doing similar for years. Although I use a longer hose. And sometimes a 14 gal fuel transfer tank.

I use a WW11 Jerry can rescued from a rubbish dump many years ago. I use a shaker to which I have replaced the outlet tube with a 6' length of tubing originally intended for an indoor fishtank.
Fill the jerrycan next time I'm fueling up the car, place the full jerrycan in the bucket of the FEL. place the shaker in the jerrycan and run the tube to the tractor fueltank which in my case is behind and under the seat. Raise the FEL so that the inlet of the shaker is above the level of the fueltank. Start shaking. Go inside for a coffee. Minimum lifting; maximum relaxation.

 

[Diggin It]

Some of my diesels tanks intake filter screens do not like high fast flow. Fuel will just bubble up on top of the tank, thus on the floor.

Yeup. I have to be careful how fast I pour or it goes all over. My filler is in the right fender and there's a bit of a gooseneck from there to the tank which probably restricts flow quite a bit.

I find these threads on how to fill your tractor tank amusing.
Most of us have FEL's.

Why ya' puttin' gasoline in yer tractor?

 

[captjack]

Im going to stick with my fuel cell on a skid with built rite 12v pump - can set it in truck and take it out. truth be told - I can run all day on a full tank and if i get low i just run back to barn and fill er up lol

 

[Rebeldad1]

I'm with the others doing it the easy way as well.
Got a screaming deal on a fairly new 100 gallon tank with a 12v 15 gph pump, auto shutoff nozzle.

Now that I am retired I dont use my diesel truck much at all. 100 gallons of highway diesel is more than I can use in a year.
I sold the 100 gallon tank and got a good price because it was so nice and clean. Kept everything else.
Bought a 50 gallon cube tank that was used for 15W40 oil for $50.00 and gave it a good cleaning and paint.

Now I fill it with off highway red for the tractor and excavator. Easy peezy to fill both and no lifting cans or spilling.
Best part of this I pay around 40-50 cents a gallon less to fill and by trading down size of the tank I am in everything $$$ nothing
except for a little cleanup.

When we go to town shopping I put the tank in my little pickup and fill on the way home.

At my age I got really tired of filling with 5 gallon cans, went downsize to 2 1/2 gallon cans and still hatted it.
Happy now. My wife thinks the diesel tank is cute.

 

[shovelmike]

At my age I got really tired of filling with 5 gallon cans, went downsize to 2 1/2 gallon cans and still hatted it.
Happy now. My wife thinks the diesel tank is cute.

As long as she doesn't paint it pink! LOL