Lubester help

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I just inherited one of my grandfathers 3 lubesters. The crank turns smooth and feels like it may still work. Soaked the dog leg drain with penetrant until it broke free and swivels smoothly. Inside of the tank looks brand spanking new. When I say no rust, I mean no even a flake of surface rust. Looks like virgin metal that was oiled the very second it was formed!

So, I have 2 issues. One - can the crank be converted to continuous flow, not meter out 1 quart at a time. I want to store diesel in this for my tractor and actually use it. If anyone has any experience with the innards of these pumps, I'd sure like to hear from you. If not, I'll put in a submersible pump, hide a hose and nozzle on the back and go from there. Ideas???

Second - I've resolved not to do another Polly/Marathon/Shell themed tank. Going a different route. Antique motorcycle shop. *Disclaimer, Harley is OUT. I'm thinking Indian, Vincent/HRD, Triumph, maybe Ducati, etc. Put store hours on it, two tone paint, pin striping, something that was around when the tank was built and used.

Any help or suggestions are appreciated!

[/url]Lubester by Todd Everetts, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Lubester by Todd Everetts, on Flickr[/IMG]

Picked 3 of these up for $1 each at the local collector car auction yesterday!

[/url]2016-09-04_01-14-08 by Todd Everetts, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[Tony G]

I have restored a couple of similar ones. That pump wont do more than the volume of the cylinder.What if you went ahead and restored it with all of the period graphics you want and stick a modern continuous crank rotary fuel transfer pump in the hatch hole cover? When you want to get fuel just open the hatch and drop the pump in it.

 

[VocaTexas]

Tony G is correct. Those pumps were meant to meter one quart per stroke. That way it didn't have to be pumped into a measuring device and then poured again. In my experience those pumps are extremely accurate when used that way. ( I worked for a Texaco distributor for ten years in the '80s and '90s.)

If you want to pump more volume, you'll have to use a different pump.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Not only are those pumps 1qt/stroke, I think if you stored diesel in it you'd have a constant stink of diesel in the area the unit is stored. They aren't exactly "air tight".

Tommy

 

[SILVERPLATE]

Very nice acquisition and a great project.

 

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Thanks for the input guys. Not what I hoped to hear, but your wisdom has saved me the aggravation or tearing it apart and a failed modification.

I considered using a standby pump to use as needed but don't want the mess of dripping diesel. My propane supplier also services farmers and gas stations. They will come out and fill this with diesel once a year if I request it. Tommy, thanks for mentioning the seal. Hadn't considered that one much. If I need to I'll make a neoprene seal for the filler/dipstick openings and figure a solution for that one.

Looks like a submersible pump and a hose/nozzle on the back. I have a battery tender lead on the tractor, thinking I could make a hook up for the pump and run it off the tractor battery as needed. 12V diesel pumps seem to be much more plentiful than 110/120v from my searching.