Looking for something cheap to get gas out of my snowblower. Lots of choices on Amazon. I am looking at the bulb type. Any experiences or recommendations?
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Need A Cheap Siphon
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Turkey baster.
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The best one I have ever used.
Gas Siphon - The Original Safety Siphon - 6' High Grade Hose, .5" Valve 40232264399 | eBay
Gas Siphon - The Original Safety Siphon - 6' High Grade Hose, .5" Valve 40232264399 | eBay
Piece of tubing from Home Depot.submerge in gas can and clamp the ends shut. Open one end in snowblowers tank and open the other end in the gas can. Gas can needs to be lower than the tank.
OP
Pretty sure you have to shake the end with the valve on it to get it going. Also known as a 'Shaker Siphon Hose'. I just use a piece of clear hose and suck on the end until the gas starts flowing. Then stick the end in a gas can that is below gas tank level. Yeah, you get a little gas in the mouth but it's no big deal.
I just did my snow blower yesterday. Emptied the tank, ran it until all of the fuel in the float bowl got used up and the engine stalled. Then, did an oil change, parked it, and covered it up until winter.
Reminds me of refueling during my high school daze...
OP
I use to have an old timer that drove cars for me. He was talking once about some cross country trip he took back in the 40's. He said he had a "Georgia credit card". I asked what that was and he replied " A piece of hose about 6' long".
What RJ said====1/2 " hose put into tank 18 " thumb over the external end, pull some out, siphon will start.
TB
TB
I went out the other day and cranked the gen., 2 chain saws and the wood splitter and left. I came back several hours later and all was quiet. It's always worked for me. Larry
Capt Steve
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Don't suck... blow!
Years ago I learned this trick from the guys refueling jet skis on the beach in Cabo...
No one wants a mouth full of gasoline and there is no need to ever get one. Cup your hands around the open tank fill with the drain hose inserted. Place the other end into whatever you have to capture the gas and now BLOW forcefully into the tank and very quickly this change in pressure will force the fuel in the tank into the hose and out of the tank and not a drop will ever get in your mouth. Once the fuel begins to flow it will continue until the tanks completely drains.
I used this technique for years refueling my sailboat from secured deck jugs without having to unlash them {this enabled refueling in some pretty dicey conditions where wrestling with a 6 gallon jug just was not an option}. It works just as well with power tools, I recommend a 3/4" PVC hose {I carry one in my Rzr in case some one else needs fuel}.
Pretty sure you have to shake the end with the valve on it to get it going. Also known as a 'Shaker Siphon Hose'. I just use a piece of clear hose and suck on the end until the gas starts flowing. Then stick the end in a gas can that is below gas tank level. Yeah, you get a little gas in the mouth but it's no big deal.
Years ago I learned this trick from the guys refueling jet skis on the beach in Cabo...
No one wants a mouth full of gasoline and there is no need to ever get one. Cup your hands around the open tank fill with the drain hose inserted. Place the other end into whatever you have to capture the gas and now BLOW forcefully into the tank and very quickly this change in pressure will force the fuel in the tank into the hose and out of the tank and not a drop will ever get in your mouth. Once the fuel begins to flow it will continue until the tanks completely drains.
I used this technique for years refueling my sailboat from secured deck jugs without having to unlash them {this enabled refueling in some pretty dicey conditions where wrestling with a 6 gallon jug just was not an option}. It works just as well with power tools, I recommend a 3/4" PVC hose {I carry one in my Rzr in case some one else needs fuel}.
I guess depending on the size of the snowblower, I just flip mine over and let the gas run out of the tank, then start it and let it run out of the leftover gas in the bowl.
That gizmo Rags posted works like a charm. I used ‘em for years to put fuel oil into electric fan heater tanks in Japan. Works very well, and cheap, too.
I used to go to the trouble of draining gas tanks when putting machines aside during the off season. A friend of mine said "Why don't you just stabilize the fuel?" I gave it a bit of research and realized I might be onto something. I started using Stabil over twenty or thirty years ago in everything from chain saws, weed eaters, boats of all types, anything with a basic gasoline engine and to this day have never had a fuel related problem. I go a little on the rich side which calls for two ounce per five gallons, I fill the measuring tube which is well over an ounce and dump two each into an empty five gallon can. The modern fuel with ethanol in it is garbage and goes bad within six months. I have found a couple of stations locally that sell leaded fuel at a premium but it is worth it in my mind. I only run that stuff through my Model A and all of my gasoline equipment. My modern vehicles get the usual ethanol garbage because it never sits very long. RV's and the like need to have their fuel stabilized, particularly their on board generators, which need to be fired up every month regardless and have a load put on them, just as a precaution. I was told that by the guy at Onan that rebuilt the carb on one I bought second hand from someone that did not stabilize the fuel.
For awhile after I started not dumping the fuel and running the engine out of fuel, or after I started stabilizing I continued to drop the carb bowl and check for debris. After a year or so of doing that and finding nothing I ceased that exercise. I know that every year when I go out to fire up stabilized machinery off it goes with nary a stumble...maybe a little smoke from the marvel mystery oil I still like to squirt into the head, thats all.
Oh yeah and don't forget to change the oil the end of every season and maybe sharpen your blade on a mower, don't forget to balance a rotary blade if do any grinding. A buddy was complaining about his "brand new" snowblower's belt squealing, I told him to spray it with belt dressing, fixed that.
For awhile after I started not dumping the fuel and running the engine out of fuel, or after I started stabilizing I continued to drop the carb bowl and check for debris. After a year or so of doing that and finding nothing I ceased that exercise. I know that every year when I go out to fire up stabilized machinery off it goes with nary a stumble...maybe a little smoke from the marvel mystery oil I still like to squirt into the head, thats all.
Oh yeah and don't forget to change the oil the end of every season and maybe sharpen your blade on a mower, don't forget to balance a rotary blade if do any grinding. A buddy was complaining about his "brand new" snowblower's belt squealing, I told him to spray it with belt dressing, fixed that.
I have a simple, inexpensive siphon I bought at O’Reillys Auto Parts. It’s a clear soft plastic hose with a hand squeeze baffle on one end. Has worked great for my snowblower and lawnmower for years. Looks like this without the filter inlet...
Robot Check
Robot Check
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The old way........
A piece of hose, suck out the gas, put the end into a bucket. Spit out gas. Not recommended, but it still works.
A piece of hose, suck out the gas, put the end into a bucket. Spit out gas. Not recommended, but it still works.
Yep the trick is even if you get gas or anti freeze/water in your mouth you will be fine as long as you do not swallow. Spit it out gargalw with good water an continue on with what you been doing. (or at least I have been told that.)
Started learning about siphoning at about age13!
OP
I have a tube hanging in the garage and I have used it many times. I watched my dad, granddad and many uncles spit gas and diesel fuel. I am too old to do it anymore. I don't have to, but would in an emergency. I am ordering a siphon today.
