Petrol Syphon

ozz · 25 April 2003, 22:24

I have been struggling to get hold of a petrol syphon, my outboard drinks like a fish and the arms start to ache after holding a jerry can in the air fo 20 minutes! Others must have the same problem

I tried the chandlers, alladins cave etc and could not track one down except one for water which would melt after 5 minutes.

By pure chance found this one in an innovations catolgue.

www.innovations.co.uk
(do a search for syphomatic)

Not cheap at £14 with postage but once you have tried it there is no going back! Sit back and have ciggi while it does all the work! (just kidding of course)

Alex Brown · 25 April 2003, 22:57

I have a clear syphon thingy with a marble in the end, which means you don't get fuel in your mouth to start it off - great little thing it is too. I'd guess it's exactly the same as what's in the Innovations catalogue, apart from colour that is

£10 it was got for at the Southampton Boat Show last year - first tent iirc can't remember company name though.... will find out from work on Monday though.

-Alex

Mike C · 25 April 2003, 23:44

I have always used a very cheap one which I come across in chandlers every now and again. It's only about £4 but tends to split after 2 or 3 years. I THINK its the top one at this link but get them to describe it.... Photo attached.
It doesn't melt with petrol, so you might like to try it if you can find one. I added a bit of hose on the floppy end to increase the reach! (No comments!)

Mike C

Link is MMS Direct , (Nauticalia)

https://www.mmsdirect.co.uk/cgi-bin/...?ProdNo=syphon

PS... Mine is the little one. (Definitely no comments!)

PPS. MMS Search engine is very slow. Give it at laest 20" to completly load!

Brian · 26 April 2003, 11:12

I am afraid I have bought both of those in the past and was not impressed with either of them.
Fiddly, got to get angles right, too slow, bits are "fragile", bits break/fall off/get lost/crushed. Not durable.
The squeezy one makes your hand ache (no comments please).
And they MAY (both of them) still require you to hold the jerrycan in some muscle-aching posture.

Tiger · 26 April 2003, 12:46

I dont see what the jerry can is pouring into and guess that a funnel (cut plastic bottle or oil can) is not working for you.
Is it a console tank, does it breath ok, 20 mins is rather long!

May I suggest a simple though not fast way.

Get one or two old fuel lines with a fuel bulb in each and pump. that way, once flow overcose the vacume it should do on its own if the height is correct, though not fast.

We used fuel lead for moving fuel, but also on the beach for a hot shower, one in a hot bucket, one in a cold bucket and pump up to a small bucket with holes (the shower head). You have to keep pumping and your hands will hurt!

tiger

ozz · 26 April 2003, 14:38

Hi Tiger,
20 minutes may have been a bit of an exageration but my tank holds 220 liters and if you are filling using 20 ltr cans then the arms sure get tired. With this syphon I just sit the can on the console seat, put the pipe into the the console fuel filler, jiggle it a few times to get it running and then it fills itself while I can be doing other things. Seems to work very well but may not work for every set up.

On another matter does anyone know of a good electrician in the hamble area? My auto bilge has packed up and blown a fuse, if I replace it it just blows again so I could do with someone taking a look at it - Electrics are not my thing!

Cheers

Graeme

thewavehumper · 26 April 2003, 20:02

You listen to Alex Brown cos he has got it right the marble syphon tubes are wicked. work every time and require an operating technique that seems to come naturally to adult males. You can transfer 30 litres in less than a minute.

I think I have a spare as I bought a couple at the boatshow, if you are in Southampton it's yours for a tenner!

cheers
Stuart

ribraff · 26 April 2003, 20:56

Here here Monsieur Humper!!! These are surely the best things to use, funny bloke at the boat show demonstrating them too i recall!

Mike C · 27 April 2003, 19:49

Well.......... I feel very inadequate now!

Still, at my age you make do with what you've got!

Tiger · 28 April 2003, 12:47

ozz

I agree that my bodge it method is not really of help there and now I see 200+ ltrs I sure do sympathise.

Is it possible to convert a car fuel pump? I know there are the fire risk considerations.

I seems odd that there in not something on the market, but guess looking at commercial prices for fuel pumps for agricultural use or the like.

Tiger