Pumping diesel fuel

Bob_Trevithick · Jan 18, 2002

I picked up a hand pump from Harbor Freight.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=34679>Barrel Pump</A>

Now I need to consider the best way to pump fuel from this into the tractor. Is there a good source of hoses that I could hook to this thing to reach up to the fill opening of the tractor?

Finally, I have to find myself about a 30 gallon or so container for storage, and then I'll be all set. I hope. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

My experiences with using 5-gallon cans of diesel to fill the tractor directly has been that I spill a lot of it, and it isn't a fun time at all. It's a JD 4300, and the filler is up high, meaning I have to somehow climb up there.. with one foot on the operator platform, and the other on whatever it can find, all while balancing a heavy can of fuel. This gets old fast!

Or I could simply put the pump in our outside home heating fuel tank, and just drive the tractor over there and fill up when I need to.

Either way, I'll need some hose.. and I haven't been able to find any yet. Anyone got a link, or other suggestions.. including how to keep dust and junk out of the hose when it isn't in use?

Thanks,
Bob

BHarrison · Jan 18, 2002

The quick-n-dirty method woud be to get some 1" oil resistant hose, and put a ball valve, or something on the end to keep the junk out of the line.

Just a thought.

TWINKLE_TOES · Jan 18, 2002

Bob,

This link has a lot of good information, not just this <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=oil&Number=77073&Search=true&Forum=All_Forums&Words=diesel%20pump&Match=And&Searchpage=0&Limit=50&Old=allposts&Main=67006> post </A> but the entire thread. Your pump/kind of barrel/hose were discussed.
Al

cowboydoc · Jan 18, 2002

Any farm store will have the diesel fuel hose.

Egon · Jan 18, 2002

Hose
Chances are a rubber garden hose would work or there is another very dubvious option quite frowned upon requiring a sharp knife and/or hacksaw but we will not mention that.

Egon

Anonymous Poster · Jan 18, 2002

I stick a wide mouth funnel in the tractor's tank, then pour the fuel into that. Gives you a wider area than just trying to just pour from the spout of the "gas can" into the tractor's tank.

Bob_Trevithick · Jan 18, 2002

Thanks, guys.. I should have done a more elaborate search. This link you sent me contained about all the info I think I need.. except maybe one thing. I could afford a tractor, or a truck, but not both. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I have a local farmer who said he'd let me fill up from his main tanks, if I wanted to bring some kind of barrel with me. His guage doesn't work, so there'd be no way for us to know how much I owed him unless I fill up cans or barrels of x number of gallons.

I wonder, should I buy a pallet and pallet forks, and get a 30-55 gallon drum, or should I get something small enough to wrestle into the back of a small car? Hmm. I do have a dirt scoop.. I suppose I could maybe get some kind of barrel that would fit in that. Wish his fuel gauge worked.. it would be so much easier to just drive the tractor there and fill 'er up. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Hey, brainstorm.. I'll offer to buy the farmer a new guage, in exchange for the favor he's doing me! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Or, like I said, fill it right from our outside oil tank for the furnace. I'm leaning that direction. With Power Service added each time, I should be okay with this stuff?

Thanks for the pointers on the hose.. I'll take a trip to the local farm place and see if they have any.. or just use the garden hose as others have suggested.

The big funnel idea isn't bad either!!

TWINKLE_TOES · Jan 18, 2002

Bob,
<font color=blue>The big funnel idea isn't bad either!! </font color=blue> For those with three hands.
I use two 15 gal polyethlene barrels, when one is empty I fill it up. This might work with your farmer friend. Lifting 15 gallons in and out of a car trunk is more than I could learn to appreciate. In an out of dirt scope seems like the way to go.
Al

beenthere · Jan 18, 2002

Just a suggestion, as you mentioned a local farmer where you could pump diesel.
The tank only holds like 10 gallon? This amount of fuel goes a long way in the JD4300. So I suggest going to the local farmer when your tank is empty, or nearly so, and filling it. Pay him for 10 gallons regardless of how much you really get. You will save all the muss, fuss, and expense of having a 30 gallon tank with hose with nozzle, and having to run to town to fill that. That trip to the farmer sounds like the easiest route to take.
I have a 30 gallon barrel, painted yellow, with DIESEL painted on it, with a 10' fuel hose, and nozzle. I planned (and did) chain it to the bucket, lifted it, and let gravity flow drain it into the tank.
But now, I have a 5 gal. container (blue) that I only fill with about 3 gallons. It lasts long enough, is easy to dump into the 4300, and is always fresh with the latest additives for the weather. The 30 gallon barrel just sits there, looking more expensive by the day. I wish I had made a deal with a neighbor, and could drop by there, fill up and leave $15.00 with him to cover more than what I took from him. Such a deal. Certainly want you to do what you would like, but just thought my experience would be helpful to know. Truly beenthere (no barrel pump though).