Author Topic: Plastic Gas Can Modification  (Read 5798 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline grdad45

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 66
  • Gender: Male
Plastic Gas Can Modification
« on: February 06, 2011, 05:56:06 AM »
If you dislike the new unvented or "self vented" gas cans, here is an idea from one of my hunting buddies.
Go to an auto parts store and get a short tire valve stem and remove the valve core. Carefully drill a 3/4" hole (with a hand drill, making no sparks!) where the vent should be (behind the top handle hole). Push a stiff wire from the new hole and out the fill/spout hole. Put the valve stem on the wire and secure with a bend in the wire. Pull the stem out and snap it into the 3/4" hole. Screw on the cap and you now have a vented gas can!  ;)
PS- BE AWARE OF GAS VAPORS, THIS PROCESS CAN BE DANGEROUS!!!! :o
F&AM, 32, KCCH

Offline possume

  • Trade Count: (3)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 200
Re: Plastic Gas Can Modification
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2011, 12:07:06 PM »
why didnt i think of that i think i will do it to mine tomorrow i hate them not venting

Offline hillbill

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3285
Re: Plastic Gas Can Modification
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2011, 01:25:01 PM »
another tip or two on your gas cans is, on some a 12 shell with the crimp cut off fits tightly over the nozzle and on some the cap off a bottle of HEET will snap right on.on some a 20 gauge shell will fit tightly enough inside the the nozzle to make a good plug.for some reason them pesky original lids seem to dissapear.

Offline steg

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (6)
  • Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 273
Re: Plastic Gas Can Modification
« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2011, 12:53:55 PM »
Great idea, that ones definately on my to do list, thanks alot for posting........................steg

Offline grdad45

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 66
  • Gender: Male
Re: Plastic Gas Can Modification
« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2011, 03:33:55 PM »
I forgot to add that it also shortens the time it takes to fill a mower tank, a fact my wife likes. :)
F&AM, 32, KCCH

Offline zeke08

  • Trade Count: (3)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 237
  • Gender: Male
Re: Plastic Gas Can Modification
« Reply #5 on: April 13, 2011, 08:35:17 PM »
Thanks grdad I did my can today and my father n laws we both love it
There are very few problems that can't be solved with the proper application of High Explosives!

If there is trouble let it be in my day, but let my kids have peace. Thomas Pane

NRA Life Member since 09

Offline charles p

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2374
  • Gender: Male
Re: Plastic Gas Can Modification
« Reply #6 on: April 16, 2011, 12:55:54 PM »
Went to auto parts store today and purchased a pack of valve stems.  Did't pay any attention to the package.  Got home and read that they were for a rim hole of .451.  I measured the part of the stem that seats in the hole and it was about 6/10 inch.  I think my stem will compress and seat into a half inch hole or maybe even 7/16ths.  Have no idea what drill bit would equate to .451.

Better measure your valve stem before drilling that 3/4 hole.  Might put a little KY on mine to ease it in.

Offline zeke08

  • Trade Count: (3)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 237
  • Gender: Male
Re: Plastic Gas Can Modification
« Reply #7 on: April 16, 2011, 07:07:20 PM »
Charles according to the drill bit chart I have 0.451 is 7/16 (0.4375 to 0.4528) if you Google drill bit conversion chart there's a lot of charts you can print off and laminate to hang in the shop hope this helps best of luck
There are very few problems that can't be solved with the proper application of High Explosives!

If there is trouble let it be in my day, but let my kids have peace. Thomas Pane

NRA Life Member since 09

Offline charles p

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2374
  • Gender: Male
Re: Plastic Gas Can Modification
« Reply #8 on: April 17, 2011, 06:11:40 AM »
Well I used a 1/2 bit and it is very snug.  Should work OK.  Now I have to get the stem out.  Don't have a tool for that. 

Thanks for the conversion info.

Offline grdad45

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 66
  • Gender: Male
Re: Plastic Gas Can Modification
« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2011, 06:10:28 PM »
Well I used a 1/2 bit and it is very snug.  Should work OK.  Now I have to get the stem out.  Don't have a tool for that. 

Thanks for the conversion info.
Charles, use a very small screwdriver to remove the stem/valve, put a bit of oil in there first. Don't worry about the threads, you won't be putting the valve back in.
F&AM, 32, KCCH

Offline JustaShooter

  • Trade Count: (23)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1025
  • Gender: Male
Re: Plastic Gas Can Modification
« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2011, 05:32:30 PM »
I've used small tweezers to remove them before, seems like the tweezers from a Swiss Army knife might fit...

Just a Shooter
Christian, Husband, Father
NRA Life Member
NRA Certified Range Safety Officer

Anything I post in these forums is my personal opinion formed by my own interpretation of the topic.
IANAL and anything I say is not intended to be nor should it be taken as legal advice.

Offline blind ear

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4156
  • Gender: Male
    • eddiegjr
Re: Plastic Gas Can Modification
« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2011, 06:12:18 PM »
You can buy dust caps with the tool made onto it or find them on lots of old trailers and farm or other work equipment.  ear
Oath Keepers: start local
-
“It is no coincidence that the century of total war coincided with the century of central banking.” – Ron Paul, End the Fed
-
An economic crash like the one of the 1920s is the only thing that will get the US off of the road to Socialism that we are on and give our children a chance at a future with freedom and possibility of economic success.
-
everyone hears but very few see. (I can't see either, I'm not on the corporate board making rules that sound exactly the opposite of what they mean, plus loopholes) ear
"I have seen the enemy and I think it's us." POGO
St Judes Childrens Research Hospital

Offline charles p

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2374
  • Gender: Male
Re: Plastic Gas Can Modification
« Reply #12 on: April 30, 2011, 03:59:08 AM »
If I ever modify another gas can, I will find a shorter valve stem than the automotive one I used.  Even a right angled stem might be good.

Overall, this is a very usefull modification and I thank the author for telling us about it.

Offline Dee

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23870
  • Gender: Male
Re: Plastic Gas Can Modification
« Reply #13 on: April 30, 2011, 04:09:24 AM »
Excellent idea, and valuable because of the "new and improved"  ::) cans now.
You may all go to hell, I will go to Texas. Davy Crockett

Offline grdad45

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 66
  • Gender: Male
Re: Plastic Gas Can Modification
« Reply #14 on: May 16, 2011, 04:11:17 PM »
Thanks for all the replies. I have a couple of the old style vented cans with the little flip open vent. One of the caps broke off, so I simply replaced it with a valve stem. Still waiting for the other one to break so I can have
ALL of my cans vented the same. ;)
F&AM, 32, KCCH