Refueling TC series tractors

[KrisHansen]

wow. Never mind then I guess I'll just stick to schlepping 10 or so gallons when needed.

Thanks guys!

 

[LoganWildman]

</font><font color="blueclass=small">( I tried to buy 1000 gallons of diesel for a small fleet of trucks to lock in the price, I was told to get a break (which amounted to a penny or two per gallon) that I would have to commit to 10,000 gallons! YIKES.

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If your using it for your tractor only, get off road diesel. Last summer, I was given a 300 gal. tank (the kind that is up in the air and has gravity feed) I called the local bulk delivery supplier that the farmers use and had 150 gal. of off road #2 delivered for $1.11 /gal. when road diesel was running around $1.40 / gal. Later, when I used that up, I had them come out and fill the tank. That time, I paid $1.23 / gal. and road diesel was around $1.55 gal.

Bottom line was I saved about 30 cents a gallon by buying bulk. They even let me fill out a credit app. so I didn't have to be there to pay for it when they came out.

And most farmers have gone to larger tanks with electric pumps so if you look around I'll bet you could do like I did and pick up an old tank that sits up on 7ft. legs for next to nothing.

 

[OhioGuy]

Would any of these pumps work with gas or is the fire hazard too great? I use 5X more fuel in my gas powered Cubs.
Thanks
Curt

 

[OkeeDon]

I have a gravity system. Metal 55 gallon drum mounted horizontally on a wooden platform about 5' high. Regular fittings, filter, water separator and 14' fuel hose and a farm nozzle - no safety stuff or restrictors. In the other bung hole, I mounted a vent pipe which points up but turns down at the end to keep out the water. I also have ball valve shut-offs on both the fill hose and the vent. Not exactly cheap; the whole setup cost about $150.

I haul the dum to town and fill it with off-road diesel at the local oil distributor. I lift it on and off the platform with the FEL, stand it up in the bed of the truck and strap it in. I've filled it about 6 times since last April with no problems.

When refueling, I just pull up beside the platform, open the ball valves, put the nozzle in the tank and fill like at the gas station. I never get off the tractor -- I stand up in front of the seat so I can see when it's nearly full.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

OhioGuy . . .

Pumps for GASOLINE are totally different than oil, diesel & kerosene pumps. Not so much the design of the pump, but the design of the electrical connections.

The slightest spark or static can set off a gas fire. Oil & Diesel burn differently and are not as combustable. If you want a pump for gasoline you would probably be safest with a manual crank type pump.

A simple 12 volt pump system can be used for diesel but that same type of pump can/will create a very large explosion if used with gas. Just make sure your life insurance is paid up so your wife is well taken care of. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[rambler]

I have 300 gal gas & 300 gallon diesel gravity flow barrels. As someone said, most bigger farmers are going to 500+ gal tanks with electric pumps, so you can get these gravity setups complete for $50-100. As someone else said, you can get off-road dyed diesel cheaper as it is minus the road tax.

Lots of electric pumps on gas tanks around here, but gas reacts much quicker to sparks, so you need the right pump & the right anti-static hose. I'll not offer more advise than that, as I don't know....

Another note, EPA regulations are getting stronger every year, while you might not need a containment structure right now, if starting from scratch you might as well install one. In my state a fuel spill of more than 10 gallons will sometimes cost you $12,000 in soil sampling & fines & all. Your insurance might well mandate a secondary containment under the tank(s) if the govt does not yet.

--->Paul

 

[OhioGuy]

Thanks guys! That was my assuption, that a gas system was totally different because of the volatility but you never know untill you ask. It would be nice to have a 300 to 500 gallon gas reserve to ride out the wave of price gouging that goes on here in NE Ohio. Maybe I'll check with local suppliers and see what requirements exist or if it's even practical. Is there any price break from the pump prices for 300 gallons or so and does there pricing fluctuate as much as the stations.

My neighbor buys HER diesel in 55 gallon drums and tells me it's about a buck a gallon, at least last summer it was.

The last drum she bought, I used my FEL to get it out of the bed of the pickup, I later had a constuction buddy tell me when they deliver to a jobsite, they just roll it off the bed of the dumptruck onto the ground. He says he's never had one leak a drop?

Thanks again, 38 days till SPRING!!!

Curt

 

[LoganWildman]

What is HER diesel? I've never heard of that. Is that diesel that can only be sold to women? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PBMAX]

use a $3 replacement nozle from wally world that opens and closes. Close it, tilt into fuel tank and open, no mus no fus. Even the wife can do it with pretty full 5gallon can which ways close to what she does.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Have considered buying a gravity set up from a boat magazine but OUCH!!!! are the pricy /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[OhioGuy]

I have a neighbor who is known by many as "The mowing lady" She keeps her 5 acre lawn looking good with a Ford 1620 and a 60" MMM. She got that name cause more often than not, if you drive by in the summer, she's out mowin!

She uses 55 gallon drums and a handcrank pump to refuel.

Curt