Fuel can freakout - rant, possibly humorous

[N80]

I modified my three 5 gallon ventless diesel cans. They have a tire valve that I can open and they flow pretty well. However, my kerosene can (blue) is newer and came with the newer safer rolleyes spout where you have to pull a little switch AND press down on a lever to get the thing to flow. So now when I refuel my kerosene heaters I need FOUR hands instead of just THREE!

The other night, freezing cold in the cabin, literally, and something on this idiot-proof spout breaks. The little switch won't work and holding down the lever only allows a trickle to come out. I just about had a cow, cussing China, California, unions, the entire US government (past and present) and anyone else who might have contributed to the laws, design and/or manufacture of that cheap, idiotic, socialist, pagan, commie ventless safety spout. I thought I was going to have a stroke.

Anyway, I survived and so did my family, who must have been hiding in a closet until I cooled down.

Now I have a can without a functioning spout and no way and no where to get a plain old cap and spout because they are apparently bad for halfwits and polar bears.

So now what? I'm willing to spend a little money to avoid being on the brink of going postal way out in the country on a cold January night. Has anyone tried one of these or have any other recommendations?

 

[dave1949]

Sorry, don't have one of those. I hear you though. Every new can style is worse than the one before it. I used to think it was a big deal if my cork ring gasket got dried out, now I feel lucky if the drips don't reach my elbow when fueling the tractor. I take off the spout and pour - slowly at first until there is some air room in the opening, into a large funnel. Other than that, a siphon would be my next choice. Rant On.
Dave.

 

[timswi]

Sorry, don't have one of those. I hear you though. Every new can style is worse than the one before it. I used to think it was a big deal if my cork ring gasket got dried out, now I feel lucky if the drips don't reach my elbow when fueling the tractor. I take off the spout and pour - slowly at first until there is some air room in the opening, into a large funnel. Other than that, a siphon would be my next choice. Rant On.
Dave.

Keep ranting...These new cans are downright awful. The blue (non switched) aren't too bad, but the switched ones collapse on themselves due to no airflow...What idiot came up with this idea?...They are more dangerous than the old design IMHO.

 

[MikePA]

What idiot came up with this idea?...

I believe they are designed to meet EPA guidelines for reducing fuel vapors released into the atmosphere. Don't you feel better, now that you know your federal government is helping you do your part to reduce global warming? Remember, the fact the cans don't work and end up creating a bigger mess is irrelevant. It's the good intentions that count.

 

[Thomas]

Rant away N80..I did couple weeks ago when I bought plastic 5 gallon yellow container...very very bad design.

Pour sprout maybe 1/2,tactor fuel tank opening 2",arms get a little weak holding container of 5gallons.

 

[kenstrac]

My previous experience with the can you have posted is that when you are filling something you can't see if it's full and it overfills the funnel part is to big.
I give it an F

 

[DanD78]

The new cans do nothing but make a guy mad. I like to use the old 5 gallon oil cans that have two caps. You can still pick them up at farm sales in this area. Anyone that has one will not let it out of thier site.

Dan

 

[MarkV]

Can one still buy the GI style Jerry cans? My thought would be one of those and good funnel. I guess it would be an unauthorized fuel container to use at a filling station but we haven't seen too many patrols at the gas pumps here yet.

MarkV

 

[MossRoad]

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

 

[N80]

My previous experience with the can you have posted is that when you are filling something you can't see if it's full and it overfills the funnel part is to big.
I give it an F

That's what I was concerned about. The funnel is removable but it does look a bit cumbersome.

As for preventing fumes going into the atmosphere, well, I'm sincerely all for that, especially when using kerosene and the 'atmosphere' is my cabin. But, as mentioned, making the fill cap so complicated and poorly designed makes the problem worse. You should have seen the reaking mess I made with that thing the other night.

I ended up using the little hand pump that comes with the heaters but it is messy and smelly even though it transfers the fuel just fine. Taking the spout off and pouring straight into a funnel works, but it is a two person operation, period.

I went to the local farmer's exchange hoping to find some real old style can's lying around. Nothing. Got picked over long time ago.

So frustrating. Do-gooders making life harder AND making the problem they were trying to solve even worse!