Harbor Freight Jiggler Pump (Shaker Tube): Max's Tool Reviews

[@Pete4875]

Nice video I've been having a couple of these things around for emergencies for years and years and I needed it now and I didn't even know what and the stick in the tank.

[@TheBrokenLife]

Thanks! It's one of the best, cheapest, tools you can have if you have any sort of equipment. I'm expanding my fuel transfer capabilities, but the shaker tube will always be the cornerstone of the operation.

[@klausbrinck2137]

4:54 Don´t let residual gasoline age your tube, while it evaporates... Wash it away with water right after, and the tube will never get old. You surely don´t need fuel-grade-tubing for a couple of minutes of contact, but only if it really means a "couple of minutes". Go wash it, and have it function forever.

[@TheBrokenLife]

The tubing seems to be holding up to it just fine after many years of use and replacements are still only about 12 bucks should that change. All things considered, I honestly can't be bothered with maintaining a chunk of PVC hose so it might last me forever. 😉 Having a spare in stock is probably a decent idea though. 👍

[@amerlin388]

I used to transfer gasoline from the 5-gallon gas can to the car with the red harbor freight hand pump. I didn't use the flimsy tubing that comes with the pump. I'd set the gas can on the ground, put the end of 6-10 feet of vinyl tubing (from Menards) into the can and hold it in place by wedging it in with the inverted gas can spout. With the several feet of tubing on the ground and the other end higher than the can I'd stick the tubing end on the pump and draw gasoline into the line. The gasoline level in the tubing will equalize with the level in the gas can. Next remove the hand pump and stick the end of tubing into the car filler pipe; either wedge it in (clothespin, or partially close the fuel door, whatever) or stick enough length in so it won't fall out. Lift the gas can on top of a trash can just like yours and watch the gas flow into the tank. When the siphon sucks air, lift the low section of tubing to let the remaining gasoline flow into the tank. Since then I decided I get little enough exercise as is, so I just pour the 5-gallon gas can with the help of a funnel... I use a similar siphon method with a length of garden hose to lower the pool level in the fall or drain water off the pool cover in the spring.

[@TheBrokenLife]

I'm sure that method works too. I've just found the shaker tube to be pretty effective and generally easy as long as you don't stop it once it starts. I only need to transfer gas a couple of times a year so it works out alright for me. If I had to do it more often, I'd probably go with an electric pump. Speaking of, I have one of the 1/2 or 3/4 hp HFT trash pumps that does an awesome job of moving water in a hurry. Not something you'd want to use on gas though.

[@allenm8182]

Thanks for the explanation. I am getting an auxilliary tank for my Jeep that uses a shaker siphon. Mice to know the principal of operation behind it. Maybe you could have laid you source tank on it's side a little to increase the depth of fluid that the siphon could move through. Just a thought.

[@TheBrokenLife]

You're very welcome a thanks for watching! Always good to see another Jeeper. Oh, trust me... On the first video attempt I did everything I could to get the thing to start again and it just wasn't having it. Once you get under about 1/2 a tank, with tanks shaped like mine anyhow, it becomes pretty challenging. Start and don't stop until you're done is the way, IMHO.

[@benhill3834]

My parents had a similar pump to drain old water out of a fish tank we had, it had a large opening to get to the bottom of the tank(FYI don't ever buy fish as a pet because they require lots of work to clean the tank). You have to put new water into the tank about once a year to clean out fish food and shit that sinks to the bottom. It smells as bad as it sounds.

[@TheBrokenLife]

I've had pet fish before, but never a very large tank. I'm more of an "other people's pets" person anyhow. I can barely handle caring for myself most days!

[@benhill3834]

@@TheBrokenLife fish tank cleaner tool www.amazon.com/Aqueon-Siphon-Vacuum-Aquarium-Cleaner/dp/B004RK40VY/ref=sr_1_18?crid=1T If I remember right it was a 45-gallon tank.

[@TheBrokenLife]

@@benhill3834 Yep... Pretty much just a "jiggler" tube with a big end on it. We had a similar version of that, but with a priming bulb for our 10 or 20 gallon tank as kids. I never knew they had them for that application. Pretty cool!

[@Pete4875]

I have a question. If I'm transferring a 5 gallon container into my boat gas tank if my boat gas tank fills up will it overflow or will it just stop?

[@TheBrokenLife]

It will overflow. The quickest way to shut down the siphon if you're getting close is to just kink the hose (just like a garden hose). Then lift the hose out of the boat tank, elevate it higher than your 5 gallon can, then allow it to un-kink and the fuel in the hose will fall back into your can. The problem is if you guess wrong and want to restart the siphon, like I did in the video. It doesn't go so well to get it going again in a partial container. I've found with the shaker tube that it just doesn't pay to be greedy. If you wanted 5 gallons and you think you're at 4.5, it's probably a good time to stop. That last 1/2 gallon is usually pretty easy to pour by hand.

[@brentpalmer2577]

it will overflow unless your boat tank also holds 5 gallons

[@bob.from.accounting]

I can't get mine to work for some reason. No holes, no kinks.... the gas can was on top of my vehicle and the end was in the tank.

[@TheBrokenLife]

What size/shape can are you using? Mine really wants to have pretty much the full stroke of the 5 gallon can you see me use in the video or it's a nightmare to get started.

[@brentpalmer2577]

when you put the shaker end of hose in the gas can shake the hose up and down to start the flow if that fails put your thumb over the open end of the hose and reinsert other end in the gas can then release your thumb

[@lennys5058]

Got one of these but I only use it for the generator

[@TheBrokenLife]

It's a handy tool to have for sure! 👍

[@sinyotan3514]

what is the name of that hose only?

[@TheBrokenLife]

I think it's just vinyl hose. Nothing special.

[@brentpalmer2577]

the whole idea of these is to remove old fuel from the gas tank gas cans allread have a pour spout for filling the gas tank

[@TheBrokenLife]

Yeah... I don't find it much fun holding a 40lb can of gas at hip level for 5 minutes while praying that the EPA mandated spout should happen to accidentally pour some gas into my vehicle. 😆

[@japrogramer]

Why couldn't you just lean the can to pour it into the car?

[@TheBrokenLife]

You "can" do that, sort of... A few reasons I don't: 1 - A full 5 gallon gas can weighs about 35lbs and isn't all that much fun to hold up for the duration of time it takes to empty it. This is even more true if you want to fill an entire tank from jugs. You could be standing there for 20 minutes holding heavy jugs. 2 - The spout on a typical gas can (assuming the 10 or so I've ever used are all "typical") isn't long enough to depress the anti-slosh valve at the top of the filler neck, at least on my vehicles, without making a huge mess. You have to get down to about 1/2 a can before the geometry for that works out and even then it's imperfect. 3 - Even if you overcome the above reasons, it's just about impossible to get the last bit of gas out of the container, again, due to geometry. For my 5 gallon cans, that's usually around 1/2-3/4 of a gallon. The siphon will suck the can nearly dry if you manage it just right as you're approaching the end of the container. 4 - My cans pre-date the goofy valves in the fill spouts, but I can't imagine trying to fill a vehicle with one of those things. It's way easier to just unscrew it and use any sort of pump you want, even if you don't want a shaker/jiggler pump. Of course, my cans/vehicles/experiences are just my own. Grab your can and your vehicle and give it a shot. Maybe you don't need anything else?

[@flimflam7271]

Anyone know the inlet size

[@TheBrokenLife]

Probably around 3/4".

[@ORO158]

More doing less talking for next video

[@TheBrokenLife]

Thanks for watching!