Thank you for posting this. I despise the Midwest nozzles. They’re awkward and break far too easily. Always spills if I’m using it on a smaller machine like a chainsaw or strimmer.
I’ve got some of the generic yellow stretchable nozzles that have replaced the factory ones on all my cans. They’ve held up for several years and flow much faster as long as you add the breather hole on the back of the can. The weak point seems to be the collar that attaches to the can. I’ve had a previous batch crack after sitting tightened on the can in the garage for a couple years.
The bigger issue is with the plastic cans swelling up after a few winter and summer heat cycles, so I’m looking for some reasonably priced metal jerry cans. I remember when I could get some of those at decent prices regret passing on them now.
@Laioken42
My rider is the only thing that I keep gas around for now. I haven’t quite made the switch to electric for that yet as they are still pretty pricey. Maybe next time my current one bites the dust.
@chienfou@Laioken42 I am intrigued by electric mowers, but I don’t think any of the currently available offerings would stand up to our “rustic” country lawn. But I will need to replace my current 20HP JD rider soon (20+ years and still running!).
@macromeh
That’s a great run for a mower.
I like that term rustic country lawn. My philosophy is green = grass = lawn.
My problem is I tend to use mine as a riding bush hog. I’m currently trying to limp through the rest of the season with mine before I pull the deck and see if I can flatten it out so the blades run parallel to the ground. Currently I have a bend in the surface at the connection site for one of the spindles so the blade tips down and creates “interesting” patterns in the grass. I’ll probably have to spot weld a plate in since I’m sure it’s weakened where it’s been bent. Probably happened when I ran over that 2 lb maul that was in the grass by the garden after I had driven some stakes and forgot to pick it up. That one sheared off the spindle as well. I routinely use it to scalp the grass down to the ground before I do plantings. Currently have about a 5x20 ft space I’m planting blueberries in that I did that with a couple weeks ago. Add that to the fact that I frequently run over 20 ft bamboo with it to keep a buffer between my yard and the back neighbor’s bamboo forest and, well, there you have it…
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@chienfou Actually, the mower engine/tractor is all original and over 20 YO, but I replaced the mower deck (which was pretty rusted out) a few years ago. ($600 vs ~$3K for the whole package.) I’ve gotten some extra years out of it that way.
@macromeh
I’m doing that math now.
Kind of tempted to buy a second mower and use the one I’ve got for my “bush hog” projects but ‘finish mow’ with the other.
@chienfou I have a diesel tractor and an actual 60" brush hog implement for the really rough stuff. Part of what I now consider “lawn” was once just a section of wild field that I mowed with the brush hog. It gradually got tame enough to mow with the riding lawn mower.
I use an electric pump that runs on AA batteries with an old metal jerry can for filling the tractor with diesel – so much easier than holding a full can in the air at arm’s length. Plus way faster. (and always use a filter funnel).
My plastic 5 gallon gasoline can still has it’s dumb nozzle (but not as bad as the midwest – this has a green tab you have to push and hold in with your palm while pouring and the spout is 90 degrees). I actually bought the pump for this one, but never got around to drilling out the integrated strainer which would require an empty tank to blow out the crumbs. (looked like it was glued in, but maybe it’ll come out like in the video?) It works ok for filling the riding mower, but is practically useless for a car.
I use a 1 gallon can with the nozzle replaced for mixed 2-stroke fuel.
@walarney
Is it specifically designed for diesel/gasoline? I would love something like that to keep from having to pick up the 5 gallon cans that I routinely use when I go get gas for the mower…
@chienfou@walarney All of the tested spouts are designed for use with gas or Diesel. I’ve used two of these types, and I strongly recommend paying close attention to what Todd recommended in this test. Some of them are really crap.
A group of us heard about the impending gas can doom being forced by both .gov (EPA) regulations and one law coming in 2009; we bought surplus MFCs (military fuel containers)with spouts and European NATO style “Jerry” cans sufficient to meet our needs. Both were banned from import or manufacture/sale to civilians because they didn’t meet the new EPA regulations about venting.
Midwest actually made NATO style cans with the same cam-lock vented spouts and they were excellent, so of course .gov stepped in to nerf them.
Most American cans were also redesigned to make the nozzles ‘locking’ and requiring extra steps before they released gas in order to make them ‘child resistant’ by an actual law that was predictably so vague that the manufacturers went overboard to prevent liability and made the spouts nearly unusable in many situations since they almost required an extra hand to operate releases, or pressure of the nozzle against the fill point of the device being filled, or one of many other impediments. And they leaked. And leaked. And in the process probably released more vapor into the air than the EPA regs claimed to be trying to prevent. The separate can vents were usually removed because the new requirement reportedly was that they close automatically, so the little yellow manual snap cover disappeared and venting was moved somewhere on the overcomplicated mechanical release nozzle, and the once free flowing output turned into spilling and splashing glug-glug-glug… like an unvented can.
If you need a really good gas can, find real European made NATO type jerry cans with the cam-lock self venting spout (not shitty chinese copies) or Eagle safety cans. The latter do use a release lever to open the spout but it’s easily managed by the hand holding the actual gas can handle. MFCs are also excellent but the real spouts for them have become very hard to get and expensive. They all used to be reasonably priced, not so much any more, but if you take care of them they’ll last your lifetime.
Thank you for posting this. I despise the Midwest nozzles. They’re awkward and break far too easily. Always spills if I’m using it on a smaller machine like a chainsaw or strimmer.
I’ve got some of the generic yellow stretchable nozzles that have replaced the factory ones on all my cans. They’ve held up for several years and flow much faster as long as you add the breather hole on the back of the can. The weak point seems to be the collar that attaches to the can. I’ve had a previous batch crack after sitting tightened on the can in the garage for a couple years.
The bigger issue is with the plastic cans swelling up after a few winter and summer heat cycles, so I’m looking for some reasonably priced metal jerry cans. I remember when I could get some of those at decent prices regret passing on them now.
KuoH
I haven’t used a gas can in years. Lawnmower is electric and nothing else in my life needs it either.
@Laioken42
My rider is the only thing that I keep gas around for now. I haven’t quite made the switch to electric for that yet as they are still pretty pricey. Maybe next time my current one bites the dust.
@chienfou @Laioken42 I am intrigued by electric mowers, but I don’t think any of the currently available offerings would stand up to our “rustic” country lawn. But I will need to replace my current 20HP JD rider soon (20+ years and still running!).
@macromeh
That’s a great run for a mower.
I like that term rustic country lawn. My philosophy is green = grass = lawn.
My problem is I tend to use mine as a riding bush hog. I’m currently trying to limp through the rest of the season with mine before I pull the deck and see if I can flatten it out so the blades run parallel to the ground. Currently I have a bend in the surface at the connection site for one of the spindles so the blade tips down and creates “interesting” patterns in the grass. I’ll probably have to spot weld a plate in since I’m sure it’s weakened where it’s been bent. Probably happened when I ran over that 2 lb maul that was in the grass by the garden after I had driven some stakes and forgot to pick it up. That one sheared off the spindle as well. I routinely use it to scalp the grass down to the ground before I do plantings. Currently have about a 5x20 ft space I’m planting blueberries in that I did that with a couple weeks ago. Add that to the fact that I frequently run over 20 ft bamboo with it to keep a buffer between my yard and the back neighbor’s bamboo forest and, well, there you have it…
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@chienfou Actually, the mower engine/tractor is all original and over 20 YO, but I replaced the mower deck (which was pretty rusted out) a few years ago. ($600 vs ~$3K for the whole package.) I’ve gotten some extra years out of it that way.
@macromeh
I’m doing that math now.
Kind of tempted to buy a second mower and use the one I’ve got for my “bush hog” projects but ‘finish mow’ with the other.
@chienfou I have a diesel tractor and an actual 60" brush hog implement for the really rough stuff. Part of what I now consider “lawn” was once just a section of wild field that I mowed with the brush hog. It gradually got tame enough to mow with the riding lawn mower.
@macromeh
My kinda “lawn”…
I use an electric pump that runs on AA batteries with an old metal jerry can for filling the tractor with diesel – so much easier than holding a full can in the air at arm’s length. Plus way faster. (and always use a filter funnel).
My plastic 5 gallon gasoline can still has it’s dumb nozzle (but not as bad as the midwest – this has a green tab you have to push and hold in with your palm while pouring and the spout is 90 degrees). I actually bought the pump for this one, but never got around to drilling out the integrated strainer which would require an empty tank to blow out the crumbs. (looked like it was glued in, but maybe it’ll come out like in the video?) It works ok for filling the riding mower, but is practically useless for a car.
I use a 1 gallon can with the nozzle replaced for mixed 2-stroke fuel.
@walarney
Is it specifically designed for diesel/gasoline? I would love something like that to keep from having to pick up the 5 gallon cans that I routinely use when I go get gas for the mower…
@chienfou @walarney All of the tested spouts are designed for use with gas or Diesel. I’ve used two of these types, and I strongly recommend paying close attention to what Todd recommended in this test. Some of them are really crap.
Nozzle is indeed a weird word. From etymonline.com -
nozzle(n.)
mid-15c., noselle “socket on a candlestick,” diminutive of nose (n.); with -el (3). Meaning “small spout” is attested by 1680s.
I wonder if 15th century people were prone to putting candles in their noses.
/showme 15th century English people using their noses as candlesticks.
@mehcuda67 Here’s the image you requested for “15th century English people using their noses as candlesticks.”
Well, it adds a certain ambiance to the room.
A group of us heard about the impending gas can doom being forced by both .gov (EPA) regulations and one law coming in 2009; we bought surplus MFCs (military fuel containers)with spouts and European NATO style “Jerry” cans sufficient to meet our needs. Both were banned from import or manufacture/sale to civilians because they didn’t meet the new EPA regulations about venting.
Midwest actually made NATO style cans with the same cam-lock vented spouts and they were excellent, so of course .gov stepped in to nerf them.
Most American cans were also redesigned to make the nozzles ‘locking’ and requiring extra steps before they released gas in order to make them ‘child resistant’ by an actual law that was predictably so vague that the manufacturers went overboard to prevent liability and made the spouts nearly unusable in many situations since they almost required an extra hand to operate releases, or pressure of the nozzle against the fill point of the device being filled, or one of many other impediments. And they leaked. And leaked. And in the process probably released more vapor into the air than the EPA regs claimed to be trying to prevent. The separate can vents were usually removed because the new requirement reportedly was that they close automatically, so the little yellow manual snap cover disappeared and venting was moved somewhere on the overcomplicated mechanical release nozzle, and the once free flowing output turned into spilling and splashing glug-glug-glug… like an unvented can.
If you need a really good gas can, find real European made NATO type jerry cans with the cam-lock self venting spout (not shitty chinese copies) or Eagle safety cans. The latter do use a release lever to open the spout but it’s easily managed by the hand holding the actual gas can handle. MFCs are also excellent but the real spouts for them have become very hard to get and expensive. They all used to be reasonably priced, not so much any more, but if you take care of them they’ll last your lifetime.