Gas tank leak ... how to fix ...

[The Buddha]

OK I know I know I wrote the freaking book on this ... but this is a total first ... I can cut it etc ... but wait ... there is a whole backstory ...
This tank was coated ... yes somehting permanent ... red and super hard ... I cant heat it or acid treat it, and if I cut it open I have no guarantee it will come off ... and the leak is get this ... at the seam on the lower right side ... Its part of the crap pocket but more like the seam than crap pocket ...  Check this link ...
http://www.gstwins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2&pos=133
So how to fix ... JB weld ?? Thickened Kreem ... That be my first 2 ... but any more options ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[cheesy]

imho cut and re-weld.


jb weld will... eventually... come lose with gasoline.  I've soaked it in acetone and gotten it loose.


kreem maybe.. will it dry when it's that thick though?

[The Buddha]

I have patched a tank with kreem ... that tank was leaking at the seam ... like right where the 2 plates join It was leaking from between the 2 ... This is leaking at the seam but just above the weld ... as in ... one plate is split ... a few sharp pin point taps with a mallet and a drift will cut the leak by 90% I'm sure ... Kreem and pressure was used to seal that other tank ... as in kreem it and as its semi cured ... pressureise the tank ... as Kreem begins to squeeze out ... block it with your finger ... 3-4 mins later the kreem will be hard enough to hold 10+ psi ... let it cure ... then for good measure Kreem the thing a bit on the outside after getting it to thicken to a paste like consistency ... Tricky but possible ... and second time around easy ... but this is not seam exactly ... its in the plate right by the weld ... Unfortunately I cant kreem this from the inside and the split might be the result of an over zealous pressure test ...  :x  ... ironies ... My favorite trick used with my least favorite product to entirely render my bag of tricks worthless ... That word permanent is the last thing I want to hear when it comes to the inside of tanks ... Maybe I should pressure it and kreem from inside ... but just that 1 spot ... The single reason I wont use POR 15 ... Whatever the crap that's in this tank ... its dark red and hard as nails ... No way I'll get it off even cutting a hole in it ... its going to have to be cut big enough to take a die grinder ...  :x  ... In any case Yea I hear ya on JB weld ... OK getting it soft with acetone is not a big deal ... gasoline is very different from acetone ... Kreem will come off with acetone too ... Heck you can mix epoxy before its hardened with acetone and spray it to work like a tough clear coat ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Blueknyt]

Srinath, here is an old seam repair for you, did this to an old honda 90 ATC tank once.  clean tank out rinse with water verywell, then fill with water  to the top and cap it off. Turn the tank over so the seem you need to fix is at the highest point, clean away paint, and grind down on the edge of the seem abit to expose fresh edges and sides abit if the seem opens alittle try to work alittle sandpaper or wirebrush inside. Using propane torch heat the edge up abit and melt some solder into the seem and around the edges.  By filling the tank completely with water your forcing out the fumes and leaving almost no O2 to allow anything to burn inside the tank but you really need to burp the air well from the tank.  some guys like to braze with this methode but its easyer to moderate the heat to UNDER glowing red with propane. that patch job i did held up for 2 years while i used it and another 2 to for the next owner.

[Jared]

What about marine-tex ? You can patch boat hulls under water with it....I've used it on gas tanks ( on my old Nova -- drove it for a few years after that and it never leaked).

Think you can press enough of a paste/epoxy into the crack/seam and press the seam shut with the mallet/punch method?

[The Buddha]

That brazing/leading I dod on the other tank I cut ... it makes the steel warp where you do it ... in the middle of the body its OK, but this will split futther I tihnk ... Soldering iron and lead will work ??
Marine tex OK I should try that probably ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[FFDougK]

I've got the same red, super hard coating and I was told not to bake (painting) or otherwise heat the tank excessively because the coating would seperate and be ruined.  I have no idea about a solution to the hole, but wanted to share concerns about heating.

[Blueknyt]

yeah, its steel, old trick to takeing dents outa of a flat car gastank was to clean the metal up tin it like wire, and solder welding rods to pennys, then sweat the pennys on to the tank in key area's with rods attached, lay 2x4 across the tank and use pliers grabing the rods and prying against the 2x4, the dents would come out.

soldering is a much cooler temp then brazing, less likely to warp then Oxy/Ace brazing.  all you need is a burnsomatic, simple plumers torch

[The Buddha]

Oh ... still fire ... but with butane right ... I was thinking I'll use a soldering iron and electrical solder No ... Oh well I saw dgyvers beaur=ty of a JB weld job ... might try that ... the smaller guns first, and bigger with eacj=h step ... that red crap has me in serious trouble.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Blueknyt]

yeah even the small Butane torch would work and yeah regular solder, the brush on flux paste might be easyer the the flux core, the Iron/gun wont get the area hot fast enough, the heat will dissapate faster then it will build.

[Blueknyt]

yeah even the small Butane torch would work and yeah regular solder, the brush on flux paste might be easyer the the flux core, the Iron/gun wont get the area hot fast enough, the heat will dissapate faster then it will build.