Guest Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 Who amoung you have "gone the distance" in this hobby?Using the old rubber hose, and sucking some unleaded into the mouth and throat area?When I was "un-smart",I was fearless, and would burp 87 octang for a week...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 Odd question, who hasn't? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted sweet Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 burp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6219_Rules Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 I did it with Ethyl back in the 60s when my brother was trying to get his Austin Healy started.Yummmy!!! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 Quit bragging what you did with Ethel, Randall! Ohhhh, that Ethyl! Sorry couldn't resist. I don't think any of us have ever forgotten the first time we got a taste of "mechanics mouthwash". Problem is, I had that wonderful experience more than once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 NEVER do this while smoking!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rcirilli Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 I certainly remember that little trick back in the fifties, and oh yeah last fall. How many of you pumped gas before the automatic shut-off's. I did and I remember only to well how long that gas burned that would splash back when I didn't shut the pump off fast enough. If you never did it, most are too young, you had to lissen and hopefully hear the gas near the top. The good old days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgshafto Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 As a teenager, my friends and I would regularly siphon gas out of wrecked cars we'd find behind gas stations. Using a fuel line sized hose, we rarely had a problem getting five gallons or more when we needed it, usually when we were out of money with miles yet to drive.One night I needed gas for my 36 Pontiac, but no cash. My dad's 63 Ford was in the garage with a full tank though. My regular siphon was elsewhere, so thought I would try using my sister's hula hoop. Broke it down, sucked like a demon, and promptly swallowed a mouthful of high test. Got back in the house before passing out on the living room couch. That was the end of my siphoning career! Time will tell how much brain damage it inflicted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_PackardV8 Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 Didn't they teach u girls anything in college????? I mean, this is ridiculous. Drawing on the hose when syphoning IS NOT THE WAY TO SYPHON GAS.!!!!!!!There are two methods.1. put hose in tank and force a waxed rag or some other suitable material around the hose and down into the filler neck. Then BLOW GRADUALLY into the hose pressurizing the tank. REmove mouth QUICKLY and the gas will flow out.2.Better method.: Fill hose with gasoline and plug each end with a cork or something. When u get to fuel source, uncap one end and drop it quickly into the tank whlile removing thumb and dropping it into can. Well thats my 10 cents.2 cents is free.a PMP with no sense, noone sent for me??Money over brodies, M-inc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48LCCOUPE Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 WE didn't figure all that out until we played with straws and spit wads, and keeping milk in the straw with our thumb over the end, and, oh wait that was before the siphoning thing, never mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter J.Heizmann Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 Hi, Tommy...My first education concerning gas was in 1959. A neighbor taught me how to use his power mower. Being a 12 year old no-nothing, I thought this was neat to operate something with a motor. After mowing for awhile, I thought maybe I ought to put some gas in it. Took the gas cap off while the mower was running. It felt like a tidal wave of gas hitting me square in the face. Then the butt kicking I received from my father for not asking questions first sort of relieved the burning eyes.Another one of recent years: Had a major customer in New Jersey coming to the plant to have a major business meeting. I had all my guys lined up waiting. Well, they were late. Then after about 45 minutes, my President said he had better things to do. The customer showed up almost 2 hours late. Asked them what happened. Turns out in NJ you cannot pump your own gas. They needed some in Pennsylvania and pulled into a convenience store. One of their guys said he knew how to pump gas. Well, he did OK until he pulled the nozzle out while he still held the trigger down. Got soaked in gas. They went to a K-Mart to get him some cheap new shoes, socks, slacks, and, shirt. Life goes on, folks.Regards, Peter J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_PackardV8 Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 Oh yeah, i almost forgot this method.Take a small ball or cork that will just slide thru the hose. poke a hole in it with an ice pick and attach a string thru the ball and drop the string thru the hose. Drop in the hose ball first and then draw out the ball with the string. That will pull the gas up thru the hose and out the drain end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Crabby Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 Ahhhh!!, The pause that refreshes. That sharply bitter yet aromatic taste that first heralds your emergence as a neophyte motorhead.It first occurred when I was 10,needing gas to run a recently discovered Fuller & Johnson lawnmower,the corner filling station attendant refusing to fill the glass milk bottle with gasoline I resorted to the dangerous and exciting expedient of slicing a length of 1/4"hose from an ancient air compressor which I deftly but with hands trembling,proceeded to insert into the filler neck of Mother's '64 Galaxie XL.Oh,the thrill,I can still recall the smell now,so much different from today's cheapened and vitiated hooch being retailed to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 What some people won't do to avoid spend $1.78 at the Harbor Freight store! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48LCCOUPE Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 Yeah, shoulda bought stock in harbor freight when we were kids too I guess. Oh I forgot, there WAS no harbor freight when these events happened. On the farm something was always running out of gas, sometimes on purpose, like running the irrigation pump from the PTO of the tractor and the timer was how much gas we put in the tractor. Three miles away from the nearest anything ready to re-fuel the tractor and you find the hand gas pump doesn't pump. Take the hose off and get ready to spit (no smoking for at least an hour after swimming, or something like that) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 hi peter,yes, another smart idea I had was to "see" first hand what was going on inside the crankcase of our 2 1/2 hp lawn mower while it was running....So, I unscrewed the oil cap, which was a little plastic cap with two post sticking out of it, and I got introducted to the "oil slinger" as it "mised" 10-w40 all over my face, hair, and head...!I ran, the '27, and the '58 out of gas this year, plus I put 10 gal. of disel in the 1950 at hershey..... Hey, this post is not portraying me in the best light.... I have other stories, like driving my 1949 chevy 3/4 ton truck with no brakes, but I'll save that tale.. (I just got it running, who has time for "stopping" when your 16"?)look for my cadillac in the CLC 2004 calander! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyDale Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 Dear Peter,Reminds me of the time i was mowing my then girl friends VERY rough lawn,old push mower,gas cap vibrated off, gas splashed on the muffler,you know the rest,pushed it over an embankment still ablaze went off and bought a new one.diz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter J.Heizmann Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 Tommy...Please don't forget to post the "No Brakes" story for the future.Oil in the face...Wow! At least when I had gas in the face it was a lot easier washing up with a garden hose before entering the house. Diz...I can understand the "flaming" lawn mower. It was the impetus for you to eventurally do "burn-outs" and then some...See guys...everthing is relative to later years. Just have a little more finesse now. The same interest is there, we are just older. (If my wife sees this post, I'll be sleeping with the mower.)Regards, Peter J. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Indiana_Truck Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 OK, yes I have tasted some in my years but this is a more recent story, just last month. I was working on a car for someone that has sat inside for 17 years with a full tank of gas. We all know how that smells but it had no drain plug and all I had was a small hose. I knew it would taste worse than the smell so I was very carefull but just the fumes were more than I could stand so even with no gas (or what ever it was by now) in the mouth I still spit every time I walk by the spot where that car sat that day. I don't want to even know what that would have tasted like! Turned out the tank also rusted on the inside from it and had to be replaced so I could have poked it with a screw driver if I had known. Anyone ever tasted vintage gas and lived?Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 When I was a kid one of our neighbors drove her husband to the airport (about 40 miles), and broke down on the way home. She called my dad, who drove out and rescued her. He came home laughing his butt off.It seems the temperature light came on leaving the airport (blown hose, no coolant). "It'll fix itself." She drove on 60 mph.Two miles later the oil light came on (completely dry crankcase, don't know how that happened exactly but not hard to imagine). "It'll fix itself." She drove on 60 mph.A mile later, car drifts to the side of the road. [color:\\"red\\"] Out of gas! My dad poured water, oil and gas in the car and drove it home. They used it for another year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeSoto Frank Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 Next best thing to Absinthe, eh Carleton? Unfortunately, I HAVE tasted vintage gasoline and lived to tell about it...a fine vinatge from the depths of the tank on Dad's 1930 Chevrolet...worst thing about old gasoline, aside from the fact that it is absolutely good for nothing, is that whatever it touches reeks of it forevermore...(seemingly). I 've done all the "hi-test gargle" and stupid lawnmower tricks too - must've of been part of the unwritten "growing-up ritual of the average American boy" during the mid Twentieth Century...(not unlike the things Ralphy goes through in "A Christmas Story"!)Here's a "stupid motorcycle trick" for your amusement: I decided about eight years ago that I needed a motorcycle...but didn't have a lot of cabbage to lay down on a new machine, so I looked through the local penny shopper, and found a 1970 Honda CB-450 for $300. The machine was running and tagged, and had just 7,900 miles on it. The candy-apple red paint on the tank had bleached to a dull gray on top, but otherwise, the cosemtics were good too. I had already taken the PA Riders Safety Course and had my license, so when we were through with the tag transfer, I proudly rode my "new" machine home.A few days later, I was out for a ride, and realized while travelling down the road at 65 MPH, that I had forgotten to check my fuel during my "pre-flight" inspection. "No problem," I thought - "the filler's right here on top of the tank - I'll just have a look..." and I proceeded to flip the gas cap open (no key-lock on this vintage ride), and to my surprise-quickly-turned-to-horror, a fountain of gasoline erupted from the filler and washed back over me...."Yep! I had gas, alright!" Most mechanic's hands are tough enough that gasoline doesn't bother them...ethyl-soaked clothing against against the torso, arms, and legs is another story - And yet, some how, we survived all(most?) of these "learning experiences" mostly intact...sometimes a little wiser for the wear...I hope my "mouth-siphoning" days are behind me... "To your health!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hal Davis (MODEL A HAL) Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 I'll tell you what's worse than gas. 90W!!!! When I was a teenager, I thought I might need to change the oil in the transmission, but..... No drain plug. Well, no problem. I'll siphon it out. A piece of fuel line through the filler hole and I was well on the way. Wrong answer! Not only does it taste awful, but you can't spit it out. It sticks to the inside of your mouth. I decided that the oil that was in there was just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeSoto Frank Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 I can't even begin to imagine ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest c.johnson Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 Yup, I've also had the "usual." I remember crawling under the '85 Datsun looking for a fuel leak I knew was there somewhere. Funny, I didn't see it - until I got my face under it!! Here is a "fuel related" story for you. While on Active Duty with the National Guard, I needed to take a few weapons to be repaired. So the 2 M16's and one M60 took a ride in the HUMMER down the road to drop them off at the Depo for repair. Problem was, the HUMMER had a broken fuel gauge. About half way there, it ran out --- although the gauge still said half full. I sit there on a lonely road with 3 weapons, a worthless HUMMER, thinking about what to do. Only solution is to lock up the HUMMER as best a possible, gather up the weapons and walk down the road.About a half mile down the road, I came to a hotel I remembered passing. Armed to the teeth, and dressed in my cammo's, I politely ask if I the gal behind the counter if I could use the phone. Her simple reply was "Do I have a choice?" (Yes, I did apologise, and she took it quite well after that.) For some reason after that, a policy came out that transporting weapons required at least 2 people, and a cell phone or radio.cj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 Just got in, what a thread. Posting this to Hal as it relates. After trucking for about 10 years, you think you know everything. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Get a call from my driver at the plant where he was loading his trailer. He had cut off the truck inside the loading building, but now it would not restart. Those fellows wanted the truck out quickly, as other drivers were in line waiting to load. Here's Wayne, breaking all kind of speed laws to keep everybody happy, except maybe the police. Arrive, check out situation, needs starter, I've already got one in the pickup. No time to unhook batteries(4 of them, 800 crank amps-each), people waiting--irate people(Wayne's darn junkie trucks). <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> Roll under the truck with 3/4 socket, extension, and ratchet. Loosen up top bolts. no problem, keeping battery cables still hooked to starter until getting it loose. Swing that socket on one of the bottom bolts to loosen it. Handle of ratchet touches oil pan, sparks, lots of sparks. Immediately find out I now have "2" new drain holes in my oil pan, only problem is, there's no plugs for these new burnt holes. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Oil running everywhere, covering up me, and the ground. The fastest I've even seen 11 gallons run out of a Detroit Diesel. Needless to say, I had a couple of other things to repair that day. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Happy Trails. Wayne, ex-mechanic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Indiana_Truck Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 Hal,90W!!!!!!!!!!! Anyone that can suck 90W through a fuel line.............Well, I wont say it but a golfball and a garden hose come to mind. (insert joke here)I better not post the rest of the thoughts that come to mind. Some funny thoughts are best left as thoughts and not shared with the general public, but boy does this thread open us all up to some good ones!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter J.Heizmann Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 Bob, how are you?...This is a great thread, I agree. Sort of "bare the soul" type deal.Got me thinking how, at the time, I didn't want "anyone" to know how dumb I was getting a gas-bath. All of these stories posted sure don't make me feel alone.Keep 'em coming folks...Regards, Peter J. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48LCCOUPE Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 Stupid is as Stupid does I am in my '51 Ford pickup 327 chevy, auto and the rest (even 35 years ago had the same problem as today ?? )at night trying to start it, turned over great but no catch, then the strong smell of petrol as they say. Get out lift the hood, say to my companion (can't force myself to refer to him as friend) " must have a stuck float or loose hose and I swear he says, "too hard to see in the dark" as he lights his Zippo and goes in for a closer look.No, I'm still here but I think He' still looking for His lighter I threw it kinda far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SalG (Sal Grenci) Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 It always seems to have happened to me trying to get just a little gas to mow. Now I drive down the road with my little red can and get a 1/2 gallon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 Packard V8 ~ That's called a bilge pump. ~ hvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 Dave ~ My father did the same trick with a '62 Cadillac on the way TO the Baltimore airport in about '64. I think the overheated engine must vaporize the oil, because his situation was identical up to the point of stopping. He stopped because the engine siezed. However the next day we went back for the car and believe it or not, replaced the hose, added water and oil and the car RAN. He kept it for 4 more years until he ran over a 55 gallon drum on the DC beltway. Dad was a wee bit hard on cars. ~ hvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 Indiana ~ Chrome off of a trailer hitch. Sorry for all these separate posts, but I just found this thread. ~ hvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Anyone that can suck 90W through a fuel line............. </div></div> Hal, If you start getting unsolicited marriage proposals in your email, <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">[color:\\"red\\"]DON'T OPEN THEM!!</span></span> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amphicar BUYER Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is a great thread, I agree. Sort of "bare the soul" type deal.</div></div> The following is not something I am proud of, it was a matter of survival. Way back when I lived in my car ('68 LeSabre) at 16 years old (another story), I was desperate for gas to go to job interviews etc. I had a 12V fuel pump with a long hose in the trunk. There was a few local folks (read cops) who had no understanding for somebody in a bind as I was and lived to harrass me. So I would park in the daytime car pool lot next to thier personal cars. Get underneath, disconnect the intake line and connect to the fuel line from the tank and suck thier cars dry. Replace the line and they had no idea how sombody swiped all thier fuel with a locking gas cap intact. I just hope it was a pain in the rear as they were to me while I was just trying to survive some hard times without hurting anyone. I got a job delivering pizza so I could at least eat. No, I still don't eat much pizza to this day. Not all the homelss folks out there are there by choice. I donate to the shelters (never to beggars) and hope that their situation will improve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hal Davis (MODEL A HAL) Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 I knew I shouldn't have posted that! You guys are merciless! Wayne,I learned the importance of disconnecting the battery (and why it should be done ground side first, especially on 24V systems) when replacing the starter on a bucket loader while I was in the army. I was too lazy to disconnect the battery, and why bother, I will be careful, right? My government issue ratchet had seen better days. About the time the nut holding the cable to the starter solenoid should have broken loose, the ratchet broke loose instead. Ratchet handle hits the frame of the bucket loader. Sparks fly everywhere! This is the gospel truth. The ratchet handle looked like someone had cut it half way through with a torch. It was a learning experience. It scared the heck out of me, but I got a new ratchet out of the deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeSoto Frank Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 Wayne,Had a similar experience in high school with my beloved '62 Falcon...I was tinkering w/ something under the hood near the battery, when suddenly, the metal band of my Timex wristwatch completed a circuit between the Positive ("hot") battery terminal and a ground (metal vacuum or fuel line). Oh there were sparks , and the watch band welded itself to the metal line and the battery terminal for several seconds ...by the time I yanked my hand free, the watchband had gotten quite hot, enough to produce a 360 degree, 3/4" wide burn around my wrist ! Lotta amps in them thar storage batt'ries ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hal Davis (MODEL A HAL) Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 OK. I gotta know.... Did it keep on ticking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rcirilli Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 This post has taken on an interesting life. It reminded me of something I did a few weks ago. It was the end of the mowing season and I needed just a little gas to mulch leaves. The obvious place to get some gas was the tank of the 29 Pontiac. I inserted the hose and started the gas flowing into a can. This is where it gets dumb. I got distracted by another problem, an hour later I remember the 29 and the can. I ran to the garage expecting to see gas all over the floor of the garage, lucky for me I didn't have the hose at the bottom of the tank and it stopped long before the can was full. Someone my age should know better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_SKYSTHELIMIT Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 This isn't car related but rather r.c. car related. For those who do not know of the gas powered r.c. cars they don't run pump gas. They run a half & half mixture of nitro methane and methel alcohol. If it's a 2 stroke (which most are) it is also mix which special oil.The gas tanks for these cars have a flip top lid sorta like those metal milk creamers you get at a diner. There is a hose that runs from the muffler to the tank which pressurizes the tank so the feul will flow to the motor. With all that said I to have done the mouthwash deal with the pump gas but it's nothing compared to what happened to me next. I was helping a friend at a local race track. He asked me to be his pit crew for an endurance race. All thats required is for me is to start the car at the begining of the race and fill the gas tank during it. The race was going well untill the second pit stop for feul. Laughing at something my buddy said to as I begun to refeul the car I lifted the flip top cap on the tank and got sprayed with a fine mist of this gas. Luckly I was wearing my glasses because just the vapor from this stuff blinded me for the next 10 minutes. It was a very strange burning sensation that also felt like a sub zero freezing burn. The taste is something I could not even begin to describe and was incredibly much worse than pump gas.Somehow I guess the tank over pressurized which resulted in me being sprayed in the face. Everyone at the track never even heard of this happening before at the track. Not even the seasoned pros that raced these cars for centuries. I guess I was just got extremely unlucky that day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 Sky, I would say you were "lucky", not unlucky. And Hal I'm glad to know I'm not the only one experienced with "electricity"! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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