Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

After snapping off the spring loaded spouts on all my current el cheapo gas cans, I have been looking around a good bit for a decent one.  I think I have settled on the Eagle Type II series:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BQO15I/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 but it is crazy expensive, I have a hard time coughing up $67 for a gas can.  Has anyone found any good alternatives that they have been very pleased with?  If not I think I will go with this one.  I also saw that sportsman's guide just came out with some pretty cheap metal jerry cans, but finding a non-problematic spout would still be a problem for me.

Thanks a lot,

Dan

This was a subject discussed in length on another forum I frequent. That style and price range appeared to be the best gas container available other than the usual plastic variety with the questionable pour spout. I have an older style 5 gallon plastic container with a "normal" (pre-government/EPA mandated) pour spout and it works very well.

I've been considering the purchase of a generator (fed up losing power for 3 - 5 days every year or so) and would definitely get several of those Eagle metal 5 gallon containers for storing my fuel. I only keep 5 gallons on hand these days for my tractor, snowblower, etc... so the plastic container is adequate. If I had a generator and a storm was on the way, I'd store between 15 - 20 gallons in those metal containers. This quantity would most likely last up to a week or more depending on how often the generator was used.

daniel wrote:
I've been considering this one for a while.  I just haven't convinced myself to spend that much on a gas can so I've been buying other CARB compliant plastic cans.  All of them have been PITA in one form or another.  One the blitzy nozzle handle was too wimply and broke after a year, I didn't want to spend $10 for a replacement nozzle with the same crappy design.  The other gas can has a no spill feature didn't work after a year and the nozzle and cap was a pain to take off.  You either need another pair of hands or get a pipe wrench to remove it.  This one will win the award for kid tamper proof, even adults will take a few minutes to take off.  In fact, I removed those 2 anti-rotation ears off the damn cap so I don't have to wrestle them at the gas station. 

These wonderful CARB complaint plastic cans also either implode or balloon with pressurized gas vapor.  They are so airtight that nothing gets in or out.  We all should be responsible not to let gas vapors into the enviroment.  Yeah right!  Yes, wonderful for the environment, not so great in practical use.  I find myself frequently equalizing the pressure by manually venting the nozzle.    It makes me feel more comfortable doing that than to be greeted with violent gassing accompanied by a bright flame thrower.

And one more thing, it seems like these new gas cans are designed to discourage filling cars.  The nozzle are too short and useless without a long funnel.

I'm not sure if the Eagle gas can have the same issues but if I come across the older gas cans without the CARB compliant doo dads, I'd get one.  I'm also picking up 2 stroke powered equipment while they're still available. 

I have a  several-year-old 5 gallon EPA gas can (would have to check the brand) that I don't really mind. But that's for using it to fill the lawn tractor and snowblower, both of which have solidly-mounted tanks. So I can let it push (fairly hard) against the edge of the tank opening, to open the spring-loaded nozzle.

I still have some smaller, pre-EPA 1 & 2.5 gallon cans which I use for my 2-stroke machines. At least there I don't need to try and hold the weedwhacker with one hand, while trying to push hard enough with the can to open the spring-loaded seal.

Once again, Thanks to the people from California for screwing it up for the other 49 states. If I remember correctly weren't they the same ones that started the mess with Automotive emissions? Remember how simple cars USED to be to work on? You opened the hood and could actually see the engine!!

BY FAR, the best cas can period, I have 5 and they have never broken in any way and are very easy to use, no pushing the dang filler down on the fuel tank to make it work!

http://www.nospill.com/

Loblolly77 wrote:
I have this one.  No spill feature became spill at will.  Cap was very difficult to take off with that locking tab.

With that said, it's the best plastic gas can so far that doesn't cost $60 or more.  Still not perfect though.

Loblolly77 wrote:

Ah, that looks pretty good, not sure why I did not come across it.  I think I will go with the eagle for the 5 gallon, and maybe a nospill for a gallon of 2 cycle mix. 

Thanks a lot everyone,

Dan

I managed to score three 2 gallon plastic cans when the ban on them went into effect; I now have 4 so I think I'm OK. But if I ever need another I'll go with the metal one, be it Eagle or an equivalent. They are OSHA compliant, which "overrides" EPA regulations (never thought I'd be glad for OSHA). So until such time as the EPA gets their way - and rules the entire world - that's the best bet for a good can.

From what I've read elsewhere, some of the best cans are "racing" cans.  They are sold for use in sanctioned sporting events, so are therefore exempt from some of the silliness.  They are made to pour a lot of gas very fast (filling up a race car tank, obviously).  They are expensive, but no leaks, no spilling while fumbling with valved spouts, etc.

I've also heard of folks taking the existing silly cans and drilling a large screw into the poly.  Remove the screw to have a vent hole while refueling so you don't get gas splashing all over, then replace the screw when done refueling.  You can also just drill a hole if you're careful not to get any plastic shavings in the tank, then cork it - best to do on a new tank so you can wash it out.

You could really bend the rules and get cans made for other fuels (e.g. - green cans;diesel), as long as no one else has access to your fuel...

Does Canada still have the good gas cans?

Canadian cans now vent through the spout, but do not require pushing up against anything to operate.

I've spilled more gas with the cans that vent out of the spout than any other gas container, including all the vintage (and perfect working) containers that preceded them. Then they came up with the nozzle shut in, but for filling weedeaters and chainsaws it would help if I was an octopus to keep everything stable when filling. Not sure what engineers came up with these designs but they must have contracted someone to do all their yard work.

Thanks to everyone for finding suppliers to some new and vintage styles. Will definitely be checking into them.

I do have a 2-gallon can that vents through the spout (no valves), and it works OK.  I usually end up taking the spout off of my 5-gallon can and pouring the gas into the 2-gallon can, then use the smaller can to refuel my OPE.  Works good except for the lawn tractor that has a larger fuel tank...   I'll be trying the screw trick on my 5-gallon can.