I pulled a good one this morning
Bubba Jr.
Member Posts: 8,201 ✭✭✭✭
I had my tractor out this morning and when I got done I pulled it back in the barn. The diesel was low so I decided to fill it up. I set up my 3 step ladder/chair next to the tractor, lifted the 5 gallon can up to the tractor, tipped it over and promptly spilled about a 1/2 gallon of fuel all over the hood. It ran down both sides of the hood and soaked everything between the hood and the floor.
It wasn't the first time I've spilled fuel on the tractor, but was by far the biggest mess I've ever made. I managed to get the rest of the fuel in the tank though, then put down some sawdust on the floor after I wiped down the tractor.
I told my wife that I'm finally going to get a transfer pump because I'm getting too old to lift that can of fuel up and not make a mess. That seemed to bring out the sympathetic gene in her and I got her full endorsement for the transaction. It's supposed to arrive Dec. 3rd. 😁
Comments
I almost always manage to spill fuel when I'm fueling the tractor...maybe not that much though.
I can't handle a 5 gal. can like I used to either. I took a outboard tank hose and cut the hoses. Now I just set the can up on thehood of the skidsteer, give the bulb a couple of squeezes and walk away.
When I worked as a Heavy Equipment Operator at a Sawmill, I drove a large Volvo L90E Grapple loader. I had a hydraulic line blow one time. Ran it in to the shed/garage to get help. Neglected to shut it off. By the time we got back to it, it had dumped about 20 gal. of Hydraulic fluid all over the floor. What a mess. Felt like an Idiot.
Live and learn.
Oh yea! I have this special 5 gal diesel can I bought from Kubota for my Kubota. It is designed to be transported upright or laying on its side. Has worked very well for the first few years but last spring I was buying fuel along with groceries at our local Meijers. Even took the two dogs along just for the fun ride into town.
I did the fueling first and put the diesel can on its side in the back of my KIA Sportage. Drove to the store parking lot just a few yards away and did about 30 minutes of shopping. Pushed the full cart to the back of the car to unload and.......holy crap!!!! The diesel had leaked all over the back end! I figure at least 2 gallons. Down into the spare tire storage hold as well as saturating the carpeted upper panel. I quickly grabbed the can and put it upright on the ground. Opened it and discovered that when I replaced the cap I had crimped the O ring seal which had come loose when I filled it.
The dogs seemed to be OK but the stinky ride home with all the windows open was a very long haul!
It took several months to get rid of that smell. Heck! I may have just got used to it!
Gave up on refueling my 50 hp Kubota with cans. Just drive it to the truck stop and can refuel my body at the same time 😁
Haven't pulled up to the McDonalds with the tractor yet but I may one of these days😎
Be careful. I just heard on the news that some guy sprained his ankle petting his dog.
Blame the dog!
I don't do 5 gallon cans anymore. I have a 30 gallon gas transfer tank in the pickup bed and a 140 gallon diesel transfer tank.
Margaret Thatcher
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
Mark Twain
And diesel is nasty.
If Mother Earth had diarrhea....it would be diesel!
I use one of the$10 - 12 volt transfer pumps from HF. Works great.
When I purchase diesel fuel its all over the pump, the ground, me, the jugs and my trailer (i learned to never put a jug of that slimy stuff in the trunk.
Then, when I get it home and carry it to the shed more finds its way onto my pants and boots.
When I fuel the tractor there is always more diesel on the tractor than in it. The hand rails beside my seat seem to always get soaked and it never evaporates like proper fuel and I forget and grab the rail.
Fuel on my skin gives me a migraine so my entire day gets ruined!
When I studied gas and diesel engines I was amazed at how much superior diesel engines are to gas engines.
This is what I use. Surecan. This outfit has them on sale for around half the usual price, so I ordered a few.
https://www.hammacher.com/product/no-tilt-diesel-gas-can-5-gallon?cm_cat=ProductSEM&cm_pla=AdWordsPLA&source=PRODSEM&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=surfaces-across-google&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=surfaces-across-google&gclid=Cj0KCQiAzZL-BRDnARIsAPCJs73ntGENdXx_HeerLdZFs8y8dQU-31V06ebr03t-WF5S4u1JRrryHRIaAldzEALw_wcB
Had two Buddy's go through Hardees drive through on their horses. 😀
There are two varieties of diesel fuel available in Texas. I don't go to a regular store/station for diesel anymore. If I do that, I have to pay "road use tax" on the fuel, making the price higher than that of "off-road use" diesel.
So, I put several cans in my truck and go to an outlet 15 miles away that sells the off-road kind. It's a good bit cheaper and has a dye in it to distinguish it from the taxed fuel.
I had to make application to some regulatory outfit for a permit though. Essentially, it's just an affidavit in which I promised to not use my off-road fuel in an on-highway type vehicle.
Last time I was in Arkansas, I noticed that off-road diesel is readily available without a special permit. I reckon folks are on the honor system to not mis-use the off-road fuel.
Here's the one I ordered
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Strange thing this life we live. Soup used to be 12 ounce cans, now they are 10-1/2 ounces. Coffee used to come in 1# cans and three pound cans, now they are 12 ounces and two pounds.
The only thing we get more of now is five gallon cans of fuel. They used to be one or two finger heavy and holding them over the tractor hood was easy. Now thirty years later they weigh a metric ton and spill fuel like they are a possessed hydra headed evil incarnation from hell.
I blame the spill factor on those damn new fangled pour spouts on all gas cans now days!
The old type direct pour without having to engage and twist worked just fine.
Yep red diesel in a on road truck will cost you big time.
Local construction company got nailed a few years ago.
Run out of fuel in an on road truck. Filled it up with off road diesel.
Dot checked him, bad day for sure. Charged him for all miles showing on truck and even trucks that had never had red fuel in them.
OUCH. Just a small amount of red fuel through the system will stain the fuel filters.
I knew a enterprising fellow who run red fuel in his truck. Had the filler spout rigged with a removeable sleeve in it.
fill tank with off road, slide sleeve in spout, fill sleeve with on road. Get checked, on road showed up in test sample.
Folks at one time ran a mix of diesel and kerosene for winter use. Not no more, kerosene is red to.
Here lately off road is just about as expensive as on road after they add the sales tax to it.
Back in the day when school buses ran on gasoline the short on money boys would us an Arkansas credit card to get their gasoline. Dye in state delivered fuel was used so they could find the culprits.
17 Years old, I worked in a lube bay at the local dealership. I ran the old style lift that had hydraulic oil with air pressure. If it was low on oil when you let the air out and hit the release pedal it would drop a few inches real fast. scaring the crap out of anyone within ten feet. Never was trained on the up keep of the lift at all. was just told to add some oil and test it. I opened the cap and added oil into the underground reservoir and put the cap back on a few threads.
I hit the air pressure valve to run the lift up and test it out. It blew the cap off the oil reservoir and shot about 5 gallons straight up, oil spots on the ceiling. Then oil then came back down and landed on my head probably two gallons worth.
The brass cap just about hit me on the way up.
I hated that thing, Coworker tipped a truck off it sideways leaned it up against a wall
I always spill diesel putting it in my Kubota, because of the damn Obama fuel cans! He ruined even a proper fuel can. Old style cans worked fine.