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Length of pickup tube for bung adapter

Crawdaddy

Member
444
4
18
Location
Louisiana
I have the drum/jerry can adapter for my MEP but I don't have the pickup tube that goes in the container to draw the fuel. I know it's supposed to be a 2 piece affair so that it can work with both jerry cans and 55 gallon drums, but I don't know the length. I know I can measure it for myself, but I was wondering if anyone had some good lengths to start with. I would imagine I'd want to size them so that they don't pull completely off the bottom of the container to keep the junk out of the fuel system. Also, what diameter is the pickup? I'm always horrible with choosing bolt and pipe sizes based on what I see. Would copper work, or will it interact with the diesel and cause issues?
 

319

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I'm pretty sure I have a set or two. PM me if you'd like to purchase one.
 

helomedic1171

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18
Location
Dacula, GA
my dad picked up a 20-something gallon jug that holds a sodium-bicarb solution used for cleaning boilers... his dry-cleaner uses the stuff. it washes out easily with water, so we rinsed them and used one of the two holes for the bung adapter, and the other we use as the filler. no modification needed, as the bungs were standard size. I had to cut down the pick-up tube by about 8 inches so it would fit without stuffing the end on the floor of the jug. After I hooked it up, it works great. now he just refuels the aux tank, and tops off the day tank to keep moisture out.

[unrelated] meanwhile, I have got my hands on a HEMTT fuel tank. Muahahaha.
 
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319

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Steel Soldiers Supporter
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Michigan
Pic of the tubes

(For those that PM'd me, the bung adapter and hose are not included, you get tubes only.)
 

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AVFD8

New member
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0
0
Location
alburg vermont
Check on your frame. My MEP002's have pick up tubes clamped to the inside of the lower angle iron on the side with the fuel pumps. There is also a place to store the bung adapter on the frame. There is a hole on a gusset of the upper angle iron. I'll post a couple of pics later.
 
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LEOK

Active member
125
26
28
Location
Gainesville/Fl
What is the assembled length of the pick-up tube from bung bottom to pick-up tip. Wanting to determine the distance they stayed off the bottom, thanks
 

csheath

Active member
714
213
43
Location
FL
In case anyone decides to make their own the thread in the bung adapter is 1/4" NPT. I think I used a piece of 1/2" OD aluminum tube to make the one for my 55 gallon drums. Cut to length and ran a 1/4" NPT tap over one end.
 

Zed254

Well-known member
866
466
63
Location
S. Hampton Roads, VA
1/2 inch would be good. Another trick is to cut dip tube end on a 45 degree angle cut so point is very close to tank bottom and fuel is drawn through the top part of the tube cut. Objective is to leave trash, water, debris in bottom of drum. Pick up tube cut parallel with bottom of drum and dropped to bottom will be blocked by the bottom of the drum. Needs a little bit of room to draw fuel.
 

Light in the Dark

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If you cut it at an angle, and keep clean fuel... keep it as close as you want. The military cant count on clean fuel (or guarantee that people care), so its probably higher than it should be. Do what works for you.
 

LEOK

Active member
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Location
Gainesville/Fl
Turns out the treads on bung adapter are not 1/4"NPT they are 1/4"BSP. Found when I ran the pipe tap in to clean the rust out. NPT parts work but you won't get a lot of thread.
 

Light in the Dark

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Thanks for clarifying about the threading. Many confuse BSP and NPT because the threads are quite similar, its the pitch that varies.
 

csheath

Active member
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Location
FL
Didn't have any issues screwing 1/4" NPT into my bung adapter so wouldn't have suspected it to be BSP. Sorry if I provided mis-information.
 

LEOK

Active member
125
26
28
Location
Gainesville/Fl
Actually let me correct and confuse. First it is not BSP but NPS. I took my 1/4" NPT pickup tube connector and ran it through 1/4" x 18 NPS die so my pickup tube will seal via oring on the bottom of the bung . However I bought a 1/4" x 18 NPS tap to clean the rust out of the bung adapter and the tap won't even start, a 1/4" x 18 NPT tap will turn in about 5 turns before it binds up. So I'm not sure what size the Bung hole is tapped for.
 

csheath

Active member
714
213
43
Location
FL
Actually let me correct and confuse. First it is not BSP but NPS. I took my 1/4" NPT pickup tube connector and ran it through 1/4" x 18 NPS die so my pickup tube will seal via oring on the bottom of the bung . However I bought a 1/4" x 18 NPS tap to clean the rust out of the bung adapter and the tap won't even start, a 1/4" x 18 NPT tap will turn in about 5 turns before it binds up. So I'm not sure what size the Bung hole is tapped for.
Seeing as how NPT threads are tapered it is supposed to bind as it tightens. It creates a metal to metal seal from the interference of the taper.
 
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