Transferring Diesel

[Wendelspanswick]

I have treated myself to a 1977 John Deere 2130 tractor and power loader to keep my Fergie Te20 company!
The Fergie is straight petrol and is low enough that I just fill it from a 5 gallon Jerry can without any problems.
The John Deere is a different kettle of fish with the filler cap around 5 ft off the ground. I plan to use 20l plastic drums of diesel as I am guessing I would use about that amount each month, especially in the winter.
I am after a clean method of transferring the diesel from the drum on the ground into the tractor without getting covered in fuel.
Are the rotary barrel pumps any good? Will they attach to the screw thread on a plastic drum or do you have to hold it still? Do you end up covered in fuel after use?
Is it possible to rig up a 12V pump to transfer the fuel?
What does everyone else use?
I don't want to spend a fortune just to move the fuel, the diesel, even red, is expensive enough!

 

[madkayaker]

Rotary barrel pumps only fit 45 gallon barrels. The cheep 12v pumps work well enough. When I had a ford 4000 with loader I just used a jug with spout and a funnel (that also had a filter on it as the fuel I was getting wasn't the cleanest)

 

[awemawson]

I use a 12v pump that drops into the barrel through the 2" hole - cost about £30 from my local agri-dealer

 

[wristpin]

Sealey, Northern Tools, Machine Mart etc all sell small 12volt pumps for the job. Be aware that current formulations of red diesel have a bio element, are more prone to water absorption and require a better housekeeping regime than the old stuff. Always leave the tractor's tank as full as possible to drive out moisture laden air and reduce condensation. The occasional use of "water snakes" is money well spent compared with the agro and cost of changing filters and "disinfecting" a fuel system that has been contaminated by "bio fungus".

 

[Justme]

Just use a funnel in the filler point & a spout on the container.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Just use a funnel in the filler point & a spout on the container.

20l of diesel being held 5ft off the floor doesn't sound like something i would want to do regularly

 

[clift_d]

20l of diesel being held 5ft off the floor doesn't sound like something i would want to do regularly

Just get a hop-up or similar to stand on then you're only lifting it to waist height

 

[Paul99]

One of those small submersible 12v transfer pumps are the way forward. I always did it the hard way but a pump is on the shopping list having been lent a transfer pump to try. Near enough as quick as pouring but less mess than trying to use a funnel and step ladder and certainly a lot less effort involved.

 

[jonjoe]

stand on the front wheel thats how we fill ours

 

[AndyStobbs]

stand on the front wheel thats how we fill ours

Yep that's the way, it gets dodgy when the wheel is wet and you inevitably dribble some diesel onto it.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I use an old caravan pump. Works fine. I have a "push to make" switch on the cable so can quickly stop pumping if a problem.
This sort of thing -

 

[Justme]

He only want to do one 20L can a month, hardly worth getting in a tizz about.

If that's to heavy to lift then use a smaller can.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

He only want to do one 20L can a month, hardly worth getting in a tizz about.

If that's to heavy to lift then use a smaller can.

I got no problems lifting a 20l drum, its pouring it without slopping it all over the place and having everything stinking of diesel. Decanting into smaller containers just means more chance of spillage.
20l a month is what I guess I will be using this time of year, with the ground waterlogged I don't want to poach it up.
Come summer and with haymaking, topping, logging etc. I will need to refuel a lot more but I don't want the hassle of 205l barrels.

 

[Tman]

I

I use an old caravan pump. Works fine. I have a "push to make" switch on the cable so can quickly stop pumping if a problem.
This sort of thing -

use the same one very speedy 25l in 3min and fits standard hosepipe so you can make it as long as you want

 

[the snooper]

I

use the same one very speedy 25l in 3min and fits standard hosepipe so you can make it as long as you want

another vote for this pump I have one and it shifts water well

 

[brightspark]

another vote for this pump I have one and it shifts water well

bugger me sideways who would have thought that

 

[the snooper]

****** me sideways who would have thought that

and what do you mean by that statement mr spark I was pointing out that it worked well as opposed to only a trickle

 

[brightspark]

and what do you mean by that statement mr spark I was pointing out that it worked well as opposed to only a trickle

ohh rite when u said it shifts water as well i thought thats what there suposed to do not the volume they can move

 

[the snooper]

ohh rite when u said it shifts water as well i thought thats what there suposed to do not the volume they can move

ha ha you never read it properly, I said it shifts water well not aswell

 

[dannyp]

drive tractor to where fuel comes from and fill the tank, should be good for a few months or more at a time then.

get a barrel with a tap on it and length of pipe, sit barrel on pallet, with pipe going from tap to tank and lift with loader.

or use same length of pipe with funnel park tractor on somewhere lower so funnel is at nice height for you and above filler on tractor an tip juice in.