DIY Fuel Transfer Pump for about $60.00

[JoLin]

Guys, I've made several references to using a high pressure, FI inline pump. I strongly recommend that anybody building their own use that instead. That'll solve your flow rate issue by increasing the rate to 40+ GPH. The whole setup will cost about double what mine did.

I didn't want a drill pump because 1. As previously mentioned I don't have access to electricity so I can't use a corded drill, and 2. a battery operated drill driving a pump, uses a lot of juice. I don't have a way to recharge it unless I travel back to my condo and do it there... because I don't have access to electricity.My assembly draws a total of 4 amps.

Yes, a siphon works much faster, if the positioning of the tank and catch container are such that it'll work at all. A siphon won't pull fuel uphill. My fuel pump does. If anyone bothered to read my first post, I always need something like what I built, because I find too many situations where a siphon or hand pump either won't work or aren't easy to use.

I'm curious to hear how you all do it, but I think you probably use the methods I already discarded for one reason or another.

My .02

 

[bruceb58]

Guys, I've made several references to using a high pressure, FI inline pump. I strongly recommend that anybody building their own use that instead. That'll solve your flow rate issue by increasing the rate to 40+ GPH. The whole setup will cost about double what mine did.

I would probably use that Carter P4389 pump. It is a 7 PSI pump and you can get them for $65 at RockAuto and they are over 50GPH.

 

[GA_Boater]

I didn't want a drill pump because 1. As previously mentioned I don't have access to electricity so I can't use a corded drill, and 2. a battery operated drill driving a pump, uses a lot of juice. I don't have a way to recharge it unless I travel back to my condo and do it there... because I don't have access to electricity.My assembly draws a total of 4 amps.

I'm curious to hear how you all do it, but I think you probably use the methods I already discarded for one reason or another.

My .02

I've had to work on the boat with no access to electrical power as well. What I did was pick up a 100 watt inverter that plugs into a power outlet in my truck. With two batteries for the drill, I charge one while using the other.

That works for me, just as your new pump setup will work for you.

 

[gm280]

Years ago, when I was still flying R/C aircraft religiously, they had a very good manual fuel pump put out by Dave Brown Industries. In fact they still are available. It was called the "Six Shooter" and a very simple setup that used 90 degree spaced pins in a circular setup that were moved along a silicon tube that created a very efficient suction/pumping action. And there were two different versions. One was for the Alcohol/Oil/Nitro glow fuels and the other was Gasoline and Diesel fuels.

I was really amazed how fast that thing pumped and how much for one turn of the handle. And some R/C'ers even installed a cone shaped adapter and used their battery powered engine starter to fuel up. It would pump a gallon in no time. The principal was so simple that I could easily see it emptying 10 gallons of fuel from the tank in mere minutes using only your arm. And it wasn't tiring either. Virtually no resistance what so ever while turning it.

Just thought you all would be interested in it. :noidea:

 

[bruceb58]

I have used those Dave Brown pumps. If you had all day you might be able to do 10 gallons.

 

[GA_Boater]

I have used those Dave Brown pumps. If you had all day you might be able to do 10 gallons.

They work well when filling a 12 oz. RC or control line tank. A far cry from gallons. Also the tubing hardens after exposure to fuel and won't work well until the tubing is replaced.

 

[bruceb58]

They work well when filling a 12 oz. RC or control line tank. A far cry from gallons. Also the tubing hardens after exposure to fuel and won't work well until the tubing is replaced.

Agreed...Why I never liked them.

 

[poconojoe]

I use a shaker safety siphon. It siphons 5 gallons of gas into my boat in less than 2 minutes. It will definitely be able to suck fuel from your boat's fuel tank into a gas container. It has no motor or electric. This thing is AMAZING. Once you get the hang of it, you won't believe how well it works and so simple it is. There's a glass ball (check valve) built in that makes it work. They cost around $10.00. I have another one I use to suck water off my pool cover.

 

[GA_Boater]

Watch a video on the Safety Shaker. Took about 20 seconds to move a gallon. Darn fast.

 

[poconojoe]

Watch a video on the Safety Shaker. Took about 20 seconds to move a gallon. Darn fast.

That's what I'm talking about! This thing is so simple but very effective.

 

[gm280]

That is a handy little device. BUT, with todays vehicles, there is almost no way to syphon gas out of one gas tank and into a little gas can. If you ever had to drop a gas tank to replace an in-tank fuel pump, you will know there is a check type ball installed just at the inlet to the tank that stops any hose from entering the gas tank via the filler hose. I know I tried everything I could to syphon out the remaining gas in my tank to make it a little lighter to drop. But it looks like it would work for other things. JMHO!

 

[poconojoe]

I understand what you're saying about automotive fuel tanks, but I don't think he will have a problem using it on a boat fuel tank.

 

[bruceb58]

Depends on how close the filler is to the tank and how many bends there is in the fill hose.

 

[NYBo]

This looks pretty good for the price:
http://www.amazon.com/W8sunjs-Unive...d=1450582224&sr=1-1&keywords=inline+fuel+pump

 

[StarTed]

The theory is that the fluid has inertia and a quick push into the liquid forces some up past the ball check valve each time it is pushed in rapidly.

Way back before my wife and I were married she won first place at a fair setting siphons the fastest. She could walk along a ditch, stick the siphon tube into the water quickly, cup it with her hand and give it a yank and drop it with running water through. It was amazing to watch her efficiency. It only took one quick movement and looked easy. Not for me.

Now the farms use circles.

 

[fhhuber]

RC e-powered model guys have an answer to recharging the battery power drill from the boat battery.

We have some really nice chargers for assorted battery chemistries that operate off of a 12V source.

Some of the electric power tool companies have chargers that will use the 12V battery as a source also.

 

[JoLin]

I understand what you're saying about automotive fuel tanks, but I don't think he will have a problem using it on a boat fuel tank.

I own a super siphon. I agree, it works very well if the position of the fuel tank vs. the container you're pumping into, will accommodate it. It won't siphon uphill. It's a lot handier for moving fuel from a container into the boat's tank, than the other way around.

 

[JoLin]

This looks pretty good for the price:
http://www.amazon.com/W8sunjs-Univer...line+fuel+pump

That's the SAME pump I bought from eBay for $9.95, right down to the printing on the case, electrical connector and black caps over the ends. Amperage looks about right, too. But 110 L/H = 29 gallons/hr. That's bull**** unless...

One of the reviewers commented that the pump was 'mislabeled' as to input vs output. I wonder if that's even possible? I'll re-experiment over the next couple days and report back. Gotta help Linda get the house ready for Xmas guests, so my 'tinkering' time is severely limited right now.

My .02

 

[StarTed]

I know we're beating this to death but I was thinking. Your plan is definitely workable and simple enough.

Here's another idea to make it flow faster if you can get a siphon action. You said that the boat is on a trailer so that should be possible.



The idea is to install a ball valve in parallel with the pump on a much larger line that goes from the tank to the container. Another ball valve could be used near the container to control the flow and reduce spillage. The pump's line can be put into the mainline either by Ts or just drilling holes in the main line and sealing with the proper sealant and taped over. The pump's small line could run down inside the mainline to the end in the tank to facilitate a faster and easier prime. The mainline to the container could be held inside the boat to improve priming then the ball valve at the end could be closed and the one at the pump could be opened before taking the line over the boat to the container.

What do you think? Something more to beat up.:joyous:

 

[poconojoe]

I own a super siphon. I agree, it works very well if the position of the fuel tank vs. the container you're pumping into, will accommodate it. It won't siphon uphill. It's a lot handier for moving fuel from a container into the boat's tank, than the other way around.

Yes that is true. The receiving container needs to be lower than the supply container. But I think he said the boat was on it's trailer, so I hoped it would work.
You could always extend the hose if it doesn't reach your container.