Newbie question- Pre-start checklist

[WilliamBos]

My excess diesel lost this way usually goes into a metal bucket I have that doubles as a poor mans parts washer

soundguy

Those parts washers are the best. And once doen with the diesel, works great for lighting the burning barrel, which is an old 200 gallon heating oil tank.

 

[Soundguy]

Yep.. nearly no waste.. and the lil bit of water in the diesel don't hurt as it flashes off.

soundguy

 

[patrick_g]

Cruising sailors (in sailboats, not bars) typically have a strainer with progressive finer mesh stainless steel or bronze screens to elliminate the excessive water from diesel fuel procured in less than optimum vending situations. Water in your diesel fuel on land is a nuisance but at sea can become life threatening in some situations. Ship chandlers (vendors of maritime goods) have good water removing funnels with no replaceable elements, i.e. no throw away cartridges to buy.

Some claim a chamois will pass the fuel but not the water (high dollar replacement for red shop rag.)

Chamois leather - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An excerpt from the above:

When soaked with clean fuel, chamois will not allow water to pass through its surface fibers. This property is used to filter fuel that has been stored in drums (always prone to ingress of water) or from any other doubtful source. The technique is to provide a large-mouthed funnel with a wide outlet surface that is supports a woven wire base, or grid of metal plate drilled with many holes. The lower part of the funnel is tapered to fit the receptacle or tank-filler aperture.

FAA comment: Many filters are available which are more effective than the old chamois. Most imitation chamois will not filter water.

Pat

 

[GolfGolf]

Guys,

Thanks for all the replies. I guess I am nervous as a first time tractor owner, and I don't want to screw it up.

I will keep all your comments in mind as I plan to put in at least 4 hours bush hogging tomorrow.

I will try to get the wife to take a picture of me running in the nide, but I'm certain that camera will break again.

Gary

 

[jimmysisson]

Wow, you guys really drain off fuel filters each running session? I do so once a year in the fall, just precautionary as I've never had a fuel problem except for running out on a sidehill about 10 years ago. Just lucky, maybe!
Jim

 

[patrick_g]

Wow, you guys really drain off fuel filters each running session? I do so once a year in the fall, just precautionary as I've never had a fuel problem except for running out on a sidehill about 10 years ago. Just lucky, maybe!
Jim

No, Jim, not just luck (or maybe so.) Apparently you get clean uncontaminated fuel and your storage situation, if you have one, is working well for you.

I use a 300 gal overhead tank and gravity fuel to dispense it. As the tank is vented to the atmosphere, condensation can form inside the tank since it breathes in and out with daily warming and cooling. I use a water absorbing filter in the output just ahead of the delivery hose and an algicide in the fuel (I use Biobor and it works.)

There is a clear plastic filter body with a visible space at the bottom where you can watch for water and "gunk" and a petcock on the bottom to drain it. With this "upstream" protection I rarely see water in the plastic fuel filter bowl with drain on the tractor. But since I have had to fuel in any kind of weather (rain - snow) it is good to be able to drain the little bit of water that rarely accumulates that way or through condensation in the tractor's tank.

Ran out of fuel????? I did that ONCE with the tractor and hope to NEVER EVER do that again. What a PITA getting the air purged!

Pat