EASY way to keep the tarctor fueled?

[KennK]

I have a JD 3320 without a cab, and this continues to be a huge problem for me too. Here is what I'm thinking about doing:

1. Get one of these 15 gallon Blitz Fuel Stations for $79.99:

Blitz 15-Gallon Professional Fuel Station&#153, Model# 11055 |Gas + Oil Cans | Northern Tool + Equipment

2. Store it in my garage - my wife doesn't want stored fuel inside the horse barn where the tractor is stored - Makes sense.

3. Buy diesel fuel in the yellow plastic 5 gallon Blitz cans.

4. Put a somewhat empty Blitz Fuel Station inside the front end loader.

5. With the loader still down on the ground and the tractor off, pour fuel from the 5 gallon can(s) to the Fuel Station tank.

6. Make sure the Fuel Station's hose & nozzel are hanging from the side of the FEL. Start the tractor and raise the Fuel Station above the tractor's fuel tank cap.

7. Turn off the tractor with the FEL still raised.

6. Open the tractor's fuel tank cap and fill the tank using the Fuel Station's hose and metal nozzle. I'll have to watch carefully so that I don't overfill, but the nozzel shouldn't weight too much.

7. Once filled, replace the tractor fuel cap, start the tractor, lower the FEL, and return the now much lighter Fuel Station to the garage.

What do you think? Is this dangerous? Do you think the Fuel Station hose will reach?

I might put a shelf just inside the garage door that the Fuel Station can sit on and use a ladder to fill the fuel station, but our garage has a long overhand and I don't think the ROPS will let me get that close to the Fuel Station.

 

[JimGnitecki]

I'm not wild about the idea of using the tractor bucket this way. Just violates my background in safety management . . .

Jim G

 

[LBrown59]

I'm not wild about the idea of using the tractor bucket this way. Just violates my background in safety management . . .

Jim G

& I'm not wild about putting gasoline and other fuel in a garage house or other building.

 

[LetsRoll]

Tractor supply has 110 volt or 12 volt fuel pumps. My right elbow is shot, so I cant hold a fuel can more than a few minutes. I purchased a 110 volt pump, fuel filter and a bung adapter from tractor supply. My brother-n-law gave me a clean 55 gallon plastic drum that will hold the diesel fuel for my tractor. After putting this setup together and using it all summer and through the fall. I am so glad I went this route. It takes me less than a minute to fill my tractor up. The pump I purchased, puts out 15 gpm. The filter is 5 or 10 microns and I dont have to weary about trash in my tractor tank. I cant find a link, but you will have to get the fittings so that you can hook the fuel filter up to the pump. Yes, this is an expensive setup but who said owning a tractor was going to be cheap. Check out the links if you guys are interested.

110-VOLT ELECTRIC GEAR PUMP $295.35
Tractor Supply Company - 110-VOLT ELECTRIC GEAR PUMP

FUEL FILTER $19.08
Tractor Supply Company - FUEL FILTER

BUNG ADAPTER $15.26
Tractor Supply Company - BUNG ADAPTER

 

[LBrown59]

How do you fill the drum?
Do you use Red Diesel?

Tractor supply has 110 volt or 12 volt fuel pumps. My right elbow is shot, so I cant hold a fuel can more than a few minutes. I purchased a 110 volt pump, fuel filter and a bung adapter from tractor supply. My brother-n-law gave me a clean 55 gallon plastic drum that will hold the diesel fuel for my tractor. After putting this setup together and using it all summer and through the fall. I am so glad I went this route. It takes me less than a minute to fill my tractor up. The pump I purchased, puts out 15 gpm. The filter is 5 or 10 microns and I dont have to weary about trash in my tractor tank. I cant find a link, but you will have to get the fittings so that you can hook the fuel filter up to the pump. Yes, this is an expensive setup but who said owning a tractor was going to be cheap. Check out the links if you guys are interested.

110-VOLT ELECTRIC GEAR PUMP $295.35
Tractor Supply Company - 110-VOLT ELECTRIC GEAR PUMP

FUEL FILTER $19.08
Tractor Supply Company - FUEL FILTER

BUNG ADAPTER $15.26
Tractor Supply Company - BUNG ADAPTER

 

[LBrown59]

Anybody using free air over the pricey Elect. Fuel pumps?

 

[Dusty]

How do you fill the drum?
Do you use Red Diesel?

Does RED diesel weigh more or less than clear diesel?

 

[LBrown59]

Does RED diesel weigh more or less than clear diesel?

Not sure but me thinks a pound of red diesel weighs about the same as a pound of clear diesel.
But how much does a gallon of red diesel weigh compared to a gallon of clear diesel?
Anybody know how much the RED Dye weighs per pound?

 

[LetsRoll]

How do you fill the drum?
Do you use Red Diesel?

My tractor has a 18LA FEL which will pick that 55 gal drum with no problems. I just load it on the trailor and take it down to the fuel depot and fill it up with Farm diesel ($1.89). Bring it home and unload it with the tractor. Right now, It's setting on a pallet in my shop. This weekend I'll be building a dolly for it so that I can roll it around the shop and also so that I can load it onto the trailor with the pallet forks. Building this dolly with wheels and loading brackets will make it even more fun for tractoring. I have better things to do than stand around holding a 5 gal can of fuel trying to fill the tank full of fuel. BTW....I have no idea what diesel weighs per pound. My tractor will pick up a 55 gallon drum full of diesel and that is all I care about.

 

[papafoxtrot]

I have a JD 3320 without a cab, and this continues to be a huge problem for me too. Here is what I'm thinking about doing:

7. Turn off the tractor with the FEL still raised.

6. Open the tractor's fuel tank cap and fill the tank using the Fuel Station's hose and metal nozzle. I'll have to watch carefully so that I don't overfill, but the nozzel shouldn't weight too much.

7. Once filled, replace the tractor fuel cap, start the tractor, lower the FEL, and return the now much lighter Fuel Station to the garage.

What do you think? Is this dangerous? Do you think the Fuel Station hose will reach?

I was thinking about getting a transfer tank in the 30-50 gal range and setting it up behind the shop on a stand to either gravity feed or pump with a low voltage pump outfit. The idea would be to use the FEL to transfer the tank from my pickup (for filling runs) and the stand. At roughly 8 pounds/gallon the high end weigh is 400lbs + tank weight. Should be a non-issue for both truck and FEL (300CX). The only problem I'm having right now is either some feature on the tank or other type of lifting fixture that can support a loaded tank weight.

 

[RalphVa]

I keep a rag stashed between the fuel door and the fuel cap. I whip it out and spread it on the hood in front of the fuel door. Then I bring the 5 gallon container up onto the hood and sit it there. After opening, I insert a kero siphon bought at TSC to transfer the fuel from container to tank. You squease it a few times to get it going. Lift it up when tank is full and let drain down.

Remove container, put tank cap back on, put rag back in place and close the fuel door.

Works for me. Don't have to stand, holding a 40+# container of fuel in the air. I only pour from the container when its level is too low for the siphon to work.

Ralph

 

[AndyM]

12 volt fuel transfer pump from harbor freight works well.

What does one of these cost?

http://www.harborfreight.com/

12 VOLT FUEL TRANSFER KIT

12V, 13 GPM FUEL TRANSFER PUMP

12V, 20 GPM HI FLOW FUEL TRANSFER PUMP

 

[AndyM]

Not sure but me thinks a pound of red diesel weighs about the same as a pound of clear diesel.
But how much does a gallon of red diesel weigh compared to a gallon of clear diesel?
Anybody know how much the RED Dye weighs per pound?

When you buy a gallon of off-road diesel, you're only getting 0.99999999 gallon of fuel... the other 0.00000001 gallon is red dye.
You're paying for a gallon, but really not getting a full gallon of fuel!


(Had to go back and double-check my math... didn't want Gatorboy finding any errors! )

 

[Pilot]

Here are some options for tightwads, such as myself:

1. Get a fuel transfer pump such as this:Northern Industrial Tools Lever Action Drum Pump |Barrel + Hand Pumps | Northern Tool + Equipment There are other choices, such as the crank type. Get a drum of a size you are comfortable with. Attach hose, insert pump into drum, fill drum, pump into tractor. However, if you are using gas, you need to use an anti-static hose.

2. Get a small step ladder. Get multiple fuel cans. Fill cans only to 4 gal. to minimize spillage when you tip to pour. Stick a funnel in the tank, so you can't miss. Climb ladder & pour. I fuel my airplane this way and have for 10 years, no problems.

3. For the gravity system, use a block & tackle or chain hoist to raise the can or drum, whatever, above you tractor tank.

 

[JimGnitecki]

Those of you transporting 55 gallon or larger fuel containers in a pickup truck or trailer: just imagine what that 400 lb. or heavier object could do in the event you hit a deer, another vehicle, or just miss a turn.

Make sure it is fastened down firmly while being transported.

Jim G

 

[Boiler74]

I think this is a nice setup, if a bit pricey. Might want to take a look at it.

Handy Steel Gas Caddy — 30 Gallon, Model# 12652 |Gas + Oil Cans | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[Champy]

If fuel companies delivered diesel to residential customers like they do the heating oil, I'd prefer to just build a 55 gal drum w/platform and have a gravity feed system. Anyone know if they deliver like this? ($$?)

 

[LBrown59]

If fuel companies delivered diesel to residential customers like they do the heating oil, I'd prefer to just build a 55 gal drum w/platform and have a gravity feed system. Anyone know if they deliver like this? ($$?)

Just use the heating oil.
Diesel and Fuel Oil are the same thing here .I can get as little as 25 or 30 gallon delivered .

 

[LBrown59]

Those of you transporting 55 gallon or larger fuel containers in a pickup truck or trailer: just imagine what that 400 lb. or heavier object could do in the event you hit a deer, another vehicle, or just miss a turn.

Make sure it is fastened down firmly while being transported.

Jim G

Probably no more or about the same as any other 400 pound or heavier object.

 

[JimGnitecki]

Diesel and fuel oil are the same product??? NO differences?

Jim G