I guess generally companies that make things are of the opinion that the general population is getting dumber. I recently had my snowblower serviced in preparation for winter. Before I stored it in its “spot” in the garage, I put gas in it — pretty simple operation, right?
Well, it used to be. For years, I’ve put gas in my lawnmowers, chain saws, leaf blowers, etc. Never had any problems with that task. But — recently, gas can manufacturers, maybe with assistance or encouragement from the government, have decided that the cans must now be spill-proof and child resistant.
Used to be that a gas can had a spout, with a little cap on it (to keep dirt/dust out) and you just poured the gas, via the spout, into the gas tank of whatever machine your were using. I’ve done that for probably 70 to 75 years. I rarely, if ever, spilled any gas — and in all that time I never had any neighborhood kids break into my garage to open my gas can.
But if you’ve bought a gas can recently, you know that it doesn’t have a spout with a little cap on it — it has a new, improved safety contraption — here’s how it works: first remove the new improved spout that is now inside the gas can, by using two hands to defeat the “child-proof” mechanism. After the new improved spout is removed, remove the dust cap. Then attach the new improved spout to the gas can (just like in the old days, except it has to be oriented just right to prevent spills) and “completely” tighten it to the can. Then you must “unlock” the spout by turing the base of the new improved spout counter-clockwise. Next, you must put the hook — built into the new improved spout — onto the rim of the gas tank opening that you’re filling. Once that hook is in place, you must push (the entire gas can full of fuel) down to allow the gas to flow into the tank you’re filling. (I might add that holding a five gallon gas can full of gas takes a bit of strength. All these steps must be repeated each time the spout is used.
As I mentioned, I’ve used gas cans for over seventy years — I don’t remember ever spilling any. Now, using the new improved, and safer gas can I almost always spill a little.
If you’re ever at a garage sale and they have an “old fashioned” gas can — buy it!!
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