The suck bucket

[ddiiggy]

the vacuum manages to suck the bucket almost flat.
is there a solution?

You are just maintaining too much vacuum in the bucket.
Cut another hole in the bucket just to let in more air. Start with a small hole. It might whistle. :beatsme
If there is any vacuum in the bucket it should still suck through the hose, especially if you are only sucking water and not thick oil...

 

[leisureexpress]

What make & model of vacuum are you using? Asking in a good way, sounds like a good one.

If the bucket is collapsing, consider making a custom fit wire frame to put inside the bucket like an upside down tomato cage. A few minutes with 3/16 or 1/4 solid mild round stock and a mig welder would solve that problem.

 

[JNB]

Wow...thanks Willie! I have a '56 Studebaker sitting in the garage. One of the last things I need to do before it hits the road is to make sure there's not too awful much of anything in the gas tank. I'm pretty sure the tank is empty, but the 1/2" drive plug in the bottom is stripped out and I'm too busy (lazy) to drop it. I WAS going to rig up a drill / pump concoction, but the suck bucket sounds way better. I have a couple dozen fuel filters to grab the big chunks. Ha ha!

 

[alrman]

Wow...thanks Willie! I have a '56 Studebaker sitting in the garage. One of the last things I need to do before it hits the road is to make sure there's not too awful much of anything in the gas tank. I'm pretty sure the tank is empty, but the 1/2" drive plug in the bottom is stripped out and I'm too busy (lazy) to drop it. I WAS going to rig up a drill / pump concoction, but the suck bucket sounds way better. I have a couple dozen fuel filters to grab the big chunks. Ha ha!

electric motor + gasolene = BOOM!
Suck bucket is a great idea - but I would not use it to do what you want to do .......

 

[JNB]

electric motor + gasolene = BOOM!
Suck bucket is a great idea - but I would not use it to do what you want to do .......

Thanks for the warning, but there is no smell of gas, old or new when blowing compressed air back through the hard line. I'm more worried about water sitting in there since the car sat for 20 years with the cap off behind the gas door before I got it (for a days worth of operating, materials paid.) Cool thing is...changed the oil, plugs, rotor/condenser and cap, put a hose in a can of gas, and she fired right up! Blew a few dirt daubers and cobwebs out of the tailpipes though.

 

[willie59]

I work on refrigeration & air conditioning plant, and one of the perennial problems is blocked condensate drains.

Welcome to HEF Freezergeezer. :usa

How about that, I do the very same thing. We have a wall mount heat/air unit in our shop bathroom, the condensate drain occasionally clogs. Hook the hose of the suck bucket to the end of the drain and schlurp, here comes a pile of crap. And yes, the vac will suck a bucket flat. I've considered fitting a plumbing gate valve fitted to a hole in the lid of the bucket to provide a vent, thereby be able to adjust how much vac one puts on the bucket and differences in viscosity of fluids being sucked.

And I share what Alrman stated, I would never suck flammable liquids, especially gasoline.

 

[DJK]

Made one to clean out a fuel tank the other day! Worked very well, how ever it would be nice to have a filter or screen in the bucket so u can see what you got out to show customer / warranty pictures..

 

[Freezergeezer]

What make & model of vacuum are you using? Asking in a good way, sounds like a good one.

If the bucket is collapsing, consider making a custom fit wire frame to put inside the bucket like an upside down tomato cage. A few minutes with 3/16 or 1/4 solid mild round stock and a mig welder would solve that problem.

A VAX 2000. It's a British brand I think. The motor is supposedly sealed so that you can't get water in it. It's ABS plastic, or something similar & very easy to keep clean when I don't bother with the suck bucket. The only down side is that the tank is a little small for larger jobs.

If finances ever allow, I'd like to get Milwaukee's wet vac. A mate has one & it's a pretty impressive bit of kit - would be the most ideal tool for those times when I'm crawling around attics & ceiling spaces.

 

[Freezergeezer]

Welcome to HEF Freezergeezer.

And I share what Alrman stated, I would never suck flammable liquids, especially gasoline.

Thanks Willie.

Yep, it works a treat when you can access an end of the drain easily.
My vac hose has a small adjustable relief port in the handle which I open up. That helps a bit, along with the two or three small holes I've punched in the lid. I didn't want to make too large a hole as I want to keep the lid as close-able as possible. Good idea about the gate valve, I may give that a try.
Also been thinking about fitting a snap hose connector to the lid, as I suspect the 3m of hose I fitted doesn't help. that way I could use whatever length of hose suits the job, and it'd be more compact for stowage.

 

[willie59]

Also been thinking about fitting a snap hose connector to the lid, as I suspect the 3m of hose I fitted doesn't help. that way I could use whatever length of hose suits the job, and it'd be more compact for stowage.

That's a good idea, maybe fit a male 3/4 garden hose fitting on the bucket lid and attach any number of hose combinations.

 

[kshansen]

As of last night there is one more of the "Famous Willie Suck Buckets" in use.

Made mine to clean out the lower end of my Sportster engine that had a valve guide slip that in turn damaged a piston. A little bit of aluminimum flakes in the oil. I was trying to clean out the crankcase and thought I had most of the oil out by removing the oil pump. Just to be safe built the Suck Bucket to see if there was much left in there. Not much room to see with the crank flywheels in the way. I probably got a good coffee cup worth of oil out that would not drain out no matter which way I tipped the bike. I may dump some fuel oil or kerosen in then slosh that aroound and re-suck to be safe.

I'm just a poor almost retired mechanic or I send Wilie some money, but if he finds his way to central NY I'll give him a ride in the sidecar!

 

[willie59]

I'm just a poor almost retired mechanic or I send Wilie some money

LoL, no need for that kshansen, just glad to hear it did the job for you. Heck, I've even used the suck bucket to pull a toilet, to suck that last little bit of water in the bottom of the bowl so I don't spill water while toting the john through the house to the outside. :drinkup

 

[FSERVICE]

LoL, . Heck, I've even used the suck bucket to pull a toilet, to suck that last little bit of water in the bottom of the bowl so I don't spill water while toting the john through the house to the outside. :drinkup

willie I thought ALL the toilets in tenn was outside!!! why was yours brought inside?? :lmao :lmao

 

[lantraxco]

The ladies deserve a warm seat, being a gentleman, Willie warms it inside the house and then totes it out to the little house as needed. What a guy! :notworthy

 

[kshansen]

LoL, no need for that kshansen, just glad to hear it did the job for you. Heck, I've even used the suck bucket to pull a toilet, to suck that last little bit of water in the bottom of the bowl so I don't spill water while toting the john through the house to the outside. :drinkup

Willie, Are you comparing my Sportster to toilet? Then again when it is broke down I may refer to it as a piece of.......

 

[willie59]

The ladies deserve a warm seat, being a gentleman, Willie warms it inside the house and then totes it out to the little house as needed. What a guy! :notworthy

Hey, whatever works, right?

Willie, Are you comparing my Sportster to toilet? Then again when it is broke down I may refer to it as a piece of.......

Lord no, not saying that, just saying it's a tool with many uses.

 

[roddyo]

Bump for a great thread

 

[ericscher]

That is the most kick-ass idea I've seen in a coon's age.



I'm not sure how long a coon's age is, but hey...

 

[mitch504]

http://www.ehow.com/about_6774955_raccoon-lifespan.html

 

[ericscher]

Lol