Refueling effort

[Boit]

I just bought a Mahindra 3215HST with the Mitsubishi diesel. Trying to hoist the 5 gallon fuel can up for refueling without making a huge mess and putting stress on my back, I decided that there must be a better way. Here's what I came up with. My idea was to try and locate a 12v diesel pump and install fittings that would allow me to control the flow as I pump diesel into the tank. I found one on e-bay for about $75. It doesn't have a brand name on it anywhere but appears to be of German built high-quality. I toted it down to my local hardware store and with the help of a knowledgeable young man, the pump now has all the fittings, valves, and hoses to do the job. I tried it out today and it worked perfectly. Anyone else have a refueling idea that makes this task easier and cleaner?

 

[texasjohn]

This topic has been discussed previously... there are lots of solutions:

50 gallon barrel with manual pump (my solution, HF pump)
50 gallon barrel with air pressure providing the motive force
put 50 gallon barrel on something high and siphon fuel, use hand shutoff valve
Electric pump, like you did
some folks pour from 5 gallon into 1 gallon cans to make it lighter

everybody has their favorite method, sometimes influenced by amout used.

Welcome to TBN... good to have you!

 

[ccsial]

This is my solution.

 

[3RRL]

What a great set up!

 

[kbotaman]

The poor mans way is to use a battery power pump like the ones used to pump fuel into kerosine heaters, woks good for my lawn mower too slow for tractor

 

[bill177]

I use the poor man's way - a kerosene battery operated pump. Does about a gallon a minute.

I have the time to sit the 5-gallon can on the tire, then turn on the pump.

For the 60-80 gallons of fuel I use a year, I cannot see spending the money on anything fancier. I'm in no hurry - I'm retired. And, I don't want a big fuel tank taking up space.

So as I need fuel, I get it in my cans - just two miles down the road.

I think I paid $7.95 for the stick-in pump and a set of batteries go about a year.

 

[Kendrick]

my biggest problem is seeing when the tank is full

works about perfect to stand on the front tire for the cans but the way the hood/fill cap are its just ruddy hard to tell when its done

 

[mrutkaus]

My poor man's way is one of those giant funnels so when I hold that 5 gallon jerrycan at an odd angle I don't miss!

Mike

 

[TC29-dude]

I leave my 5 gal fuel can on the back of my F-150s tailgate, drive the tractor up to that and then step off the tailgate onto the FEL frame. I drive a '05 Lariat.

I know it's hoakey but it works for me. I don't have to lift that much weight which is my goal since I have a bad back to.

 

[davitk]

I leave my 5 gal fuel can on the back of my F-150s tailgate, drive the tractor up to that and then step off the tailgate onto the FEL frame. I drive a '05 Lariat.

I know it's hoakey but it works for me. I don't have to lift that much weight which is my goal since I have a bad back to.

Best idea I've heard yet!! Sometimes low-tech is best.

 

[jwstewar]

Easiest and cheapest method I've come up with is called a Han-D-Pump from TSC. Sells for $12.95 (at least it did when I bought mine 3 years). Hook it to the plastic five gallon can, set the can on the running board, and pump. Takes about 90 seconds to fill my little NH if it is empty. Had to replace the fuel line on it last year after the original deteriated. I think I spent $6 and got a little longer hose, but other than that it has been fine. I have a 15 gallon barrel and a couple of barrel pumps but this works easier w/o having to move the barrel around and no mess. I may buy a second 5 gallon can though so I don't have to buy fuel every week. 2 cans would last me almost 3 weeks in the summer.

OK, found it on TSCs website. I guess it is up to $13.89 now. Tractor Supply Company - Han-D Fuel Transfer Pump

 

[MJPetersen]

Well I have a novel way of doing this--or at least it has not been mentioned yet. I just swing into the BP station when I am on my way to or from church. Last time I put in 15 liters--must have been almost bone dry. (I need to check how much that tank holds.) (That means that I put in right at 4 gallons [3.96] which means that fuel here is $6.67 a gallon) ouch!!! I am glad that the little 3 cylinder is thrifty on fuel!!

Mike

PS. It holds 16 liters or 4.2 gals

 

[North Dakota]

$6.67 a gal JEEZ LOOEEZ I thought $3.65 a Gal was a rip

 

[Adam23]

I have a 16 gallon steel drum and a rotory hand pump from Harbor Freight ($30). When the drum is empty, I thow it in the back of the truck and head out for the Off Road Diesel pump 6 miles away. Once I get back i slide the drum into the FEL and set her back down next to the shop where it will sit until I burn up 16 more gallons.

 

[Kendrick]

I would do somthing of the like adam but i dont have a truck yet my fueling situation will change drastically when i am able to nab a nice farm truck Most of the goodies I need I have to get a truck to haul. so untill then Im stuck a hauling.

 

[EddieWalker]

I fuel my tractors from a pair of hundred gallon aluminum tanks on a trailer. It's proven to be very handy, and one of my better creations. The toughest part of the entire thing is hooking it up to my truck on my own. I can do it, but it takes me a few tries.

Here's a thread that I had on how I made it and why I did what I did. Allot of the things that I did came from the suggestions and advice that I received from here on TBN.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/47762-fuel-tailer.html

Eddie

 

[willfick]

"I fuel my tractors from a pair of hundred gallon aluminum tanks on a trailer."
My fondest hope is to get to the point that I use my tractors enough to make that the solution for me, too.
When I bought my old backhoe I got two five gallon fuel cans. As luck would have it the style they are makes them easy to use; one will balance on the loader frame and I can rotate it one-handed while guiding the spout into the tank with the other hand.
I had figured if it got to be too often that I had to go for more fuel before the end of a workday I'd buy a couple more cans. I had no idea how thrifty the old three cylinder Ford would be. If there's not room in its fifteen gallon tank for five more gallons at the start of a day I won't need to add fuel before quitting time. And if I top off the tank at the start of a day there's rarely room for five gallons at the end.
Wm

 

[RalphVa]

I keep an old piece of a towel or cotton rag between the fuel cover and fuel cap. I place that on the hood of the tractor. Then hoist myself with 5 gallon fuel container up onto the platform of the tractor, with aid of steering wheel, container in left hand with right hand on steering wheel. Sit container on towel/rag. Open fuel cover. Get kerosene syphon bought at TSC. Insert syphon into container. Remove fuel cap. Pump syphon until it keeps going. Lift syphon when tank is almost full.

Ralph

 

[Redbug]

Usually, I do what Ralph just described...the siphon method. Only I use an old length of fuel hose and the time honored method of sucking on the hose to get it started.

A little off topic...but good info about siphoning...
Through the years, I have siphoned gas from my truck into 5 gallon jerry cans for the mower, atv, weedeater, etc. I discovered that the newer trucks, (gas), have a check valve which discourages siphoning. I believe the check valve's purpose is for safety...to prevent fuel from escaping in the event of a rollover. However, if you use a fairly narrow, flexible line, (like vinyl), it can be pushed past the ball in the check valve. I don't know if the newer diesel trucks also have the valve...

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have a 16'x20' shop inside my pole barn. I made the ceiling/upper level floor joist extra stout. I then bought one of those 300 gallon clear plastic fuel grade containers that sits up there. I then got the right fittings to put on a spin on filter and 15' of hose with a nozzle. I get it filled about 3 times a year by the local co-op and it works great. No electric, no pumps, just gravity. I have less than $100 in the setup and have used it for 3 years now.

Chris