Reducing tank volume..???

[JerryK]

OK, got me a new tractor. But, now, the old one is mostly on standby, using for running the chipper, and carryall duties when making wood in the fall. It is an old '81 JD2240 with a plastic 20 gallon tank. I use Power Service in all my diesels year round. Like to reduce the size of my tank so that 20 gallons of diesel is not setting in the tank for years and years... Thinking of sticking a plastic beach ball or two in the tank and making it about a five gallon tank. Or some type of bladder. Anyone do this already..?? Must be someone with a fleet of tractors that only get used once and awhile.....

 

[IndyIan]

Probably not the greatest idea with a 30 yr old plastic tank, but one of my fellow Kioti owners had a fuel cap with a bad vent and compressed his tank to about half volume... Maybe you guys could trade?:laughing:
I think the best would be to get a smaller tank, maybe a 2 gallon fuel cell for racing or an old motorcycle tank and replace the original tank.

 

[JoeL4330]

not familiar w. your tractor, but if the fuel is gravity-fed to your fuel filter (usually at the lowest point in the fuel circuit) then you could put a diverter valve right before the fuel filter attached to a convenient drain hose so you can drain the tank ...then, next time, add what fuel you need when you need it...use it, and then drain the rest, again. (this would leave the fuel filter full to lessen the need to have to re-prime ...and, maybe, tag key to remind you to add fuel prior to starting) ...Just a thought

 

[Craig Clayton]

From what I know of diesel it has a very LONG LONG shelf life. I would suggest you keep the diesel tank full to prevent condensation ( this is mentioned in manuals ) and add some diesel fuel stabilize. Every 5 years drain the tank and use it in the newer tractor.

Craig Clayton

 

[JerryK]

There is a mechanical lift pump on the side of the motor. So maybe I could get one of them clear 2.5 gallon gas tanks like they use on lawn mowers and mount it up front on top of the weight bracket. Not far from there to the hoses for the stock tank. All I would have to do is fab up a tree guard and make a fuel return line port at the top of the tank. Diesel does last longer than gas, but it looses some of it's umpf. Don't think I would ever use more than 2.5 gallons a day, don't think I ever have in the past. The JD 3 cylinder is pretty miserly, unless you work it hard. Thanks.... Jerry

 

[Pete Judd]

Diesel has a long shelf life, I have a 130 gallon tank on the boat, but only use about 30 gallons a year, I don't think that I have bought fuel in the last 3 years. I use "Startron" in my tank to kill the bugs, and a "Racor" filter between the tank and the filter in the engine. Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment - HOME Works well for me in the boat, but the tractor get used enough that the fuel never gets old.

 

[Jerry/MT]

OK, got me a new tractor. But, now, the old one is mostly on standby, using for running the chipper, and carryall duties when making wood in the fall. It is an old '81 JD2240 with a plastic 20 gallon tank. I use Power Service in all my diesels year round. Like to reduce the size of my tank so that 20 gallons of diesel is not setting in the tank for years and years... Thinking of sticking a plastic beach ball or two in the tank and making it about a five gallon tank. Or some type of bladder. Anyone do this already..?? Must be someone with a fleet of tractors that only get used once and awhile.....

It would be a lot easier and cheaper to keep the tank full and add a fuel stabilizer for insurance. The "new" diesel appaently has an affinity to collect water.

 

[BXpanded]

Ping-Pong balls.

 

[rsewill]

Ping-Pong balls.

No, golf balls because ping pong balls float.

 

[Jay4200]

A brick.

Works in the back of the ol' toilet.

The previous idea of crushing the tank might not be a bad idea. If you warm it up, then collapse it with vacuum, you will end up with a smaller tank. I've seen the opposite done with plastic dirtbike tanks to make them bigger - boiling water and pressure. If you fill the tank with boiling water, then open the drain hole with the air-vent plugged, it should make itself smaller quite effectively. When the desired reduction in capacity comes out of the bottom, close it off and drop the whole thing in cold water.

Might work...

JayC