Club 80-90 Forums

Does anybody know if an electric fuel pump, like the Facet ones that many (including me) have used to replace the mechanical pump on a WBX, would be suitable for lifting fuel out of a barrel? This would be for occasional use, as a more convenient and possibly faster method than syphoning, to get fuel out of a barrel on a jetty and into the tank on a boat.

I think the problem would be that the pump would be sucking on air initially, as well as trying to lift the fuel, and that's not how they're supposed to be used when installed in a vehicle. Once the fuel is flowing through the pump then I think there will be a natural syphoning effect anyway, since the tank is lower than the barrel, but I'm assuming the pump will make the whole process quicker and easier.

If such a pump isn't suitable, is there a pump that's designed for the job?

I have used a Jabsco Water Puppy for diesel but I wouldn't use it on petrol as I don't think that it is sparkproof. Primes up to about 1 metre on lift, about 5.5 gallons per minute. They are designed for water as the name implies - pricey new but last more than a lifetime. Used for bilge pumps also so cope with oils. I use another one also for lifting water out of streams for the water tank when wild camping.

pikeys when stealing diesel from trucks sometimes use a pump from
a windscreen washer connected to a battery with small crocodile clips

Oldiebut goodie wrote:I have used a Jabsco Water Puppy for diesel but I wouldn't use it on petrol as I don't think that it is spark proof. .

Yes I totally agree re spark proofing but crocodile clips and the like could cause a fire hazard with petrol so the whole idea of pumping out is fraught with safety issues even with non-electric pumps.
I guess I am a bit twitchy on this having been involved in a few near misses in the past but luckily no out and out disasters so far.
CS

The boat belongs to a mate. I just checked with him, and it's diesel so no spark issues.

Has anyone used a manual syphon pump, such as this?

Yes to the bulb type pump. They are common in use between the remote portable fuel tank an outboard motor in boats. They will allow gravity siphoning but due to the small bore it can be a slow business. For siphoning I use a joggle pump which comprises a marble within a crude valve on the end of a transparent tube. This is inserted into the fuel and when jiggled, initiates the flow. Search for jiggle siphon on your browser to see them.

Slightly off topic:
Many years ago in the East End of London a certain member of our motorcycle group had a child and adult sidecar outfit. The side door of the sidecar was modified to open without the top being lifted. He would commandeer one of the less savvy group members and when set up, would sidle up to a car with the petrol cap showing. The little side door would open and about a gallon of petrol would be transferred by the hapless sidecar passenger using an ex army Stirrup Pump rubber pipe and petrol can. All without the driver stopping the engine. They never got tumbled. According to TV programs this still goes on today but on a much more commercial basis. Nothing much changes only the scale. Lucky the Army Surplus Stores weren't selling electric pumps I guess.

CS

Yea, CJH, I've used the bulb connectors they work well, but aren't the fastest. I've seen someone use a bilge pump - one with the input and output hose as opposed to the ones you sink into the fluid!

Err....

Oldiebut goodie wrote:I have used a Jabsco Water Puppy for diesel but I wouldn't use it on petrol as I don't think that it is sparkproof. Primes up to about 1 metre on lift, about 5.5 gallons per minute. They are designed for water as the name implies - pricey new but last more than a lifetime. Used for bilge pumps also so cope with oils. I use another one also for lifting water out of streams for the water tank when wild camping.

Yea, CJH, I've used the bulb connectors they work well, but aren't the fastest. I've seen someone use a bilge pump - both electric, and hand ones.

Thanks for the comments. Jiggle syphons look interesting, especially one of the larger bore versions. I think my mate only has a couple of barrels to use up, so he doesn't have a long term need for an expensive pump - just needs an easy means to fill up from those barrels a few times.