jimgiblett
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| posted on 6/4/06 at 09:57 AM |
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Help - Need someone who can weld an ali tank that has had petrol in it
The fuel flow from my ali tank is suffering cavitation due to some form of blockage near the outlet. This in turn is causing the car to misfire and
stall.
As the outlet comes directly from inside a swirlpot inside the tank which I cant get to the only solution would seem to cut into the tank clean it out
to remove any blockage and reweld it back up.
Does anyone here know of someone who may be able to do this (in particular the rewelding of an ali tank that has had petrol in it).
Ideally fairly close to West Sussex.
Thanks
Jim
[Edited on 6/4/06 by jimgiblett]
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ned
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| posted on 6/4/06 at 10:18 AM |
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Jim,
The place down the a24 from Rich just past the buckbarn lights can weld ally, fozzie and stu have a tig set at work aswell.
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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jimgiblett
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| posted on 6/4/06 at 10:26 AM |
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Do you know the name of the place?
Will the fact that it has had petrol in it be a problem ?
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ned
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| posted on 6/4/06 at 10:34 AM |
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don't know the name myself, but rich has their no as he's talked to them.
no idea about it having had fuel in it, there was a post about welding tanks in this situation a while back...
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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Avoneer
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| posted on 6/4/06 at 11:02 AM |
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POR-15 Marine Clean will shift the petrol residue/vapour/sludge.
Pat...
No trees were killed in the sending of this message.
However a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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jimgiblett
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| posted on 6/4/06 at 11:31 AM |
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I have a feeling that the blockage is either petrol proof flange sealant or some ali swarf so unfortunately I dont think POR-15 will shift it.
Thanks for the suggestion though.
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pewe
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| posted on 6/4/06 at 11:45 AM |
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Jimg, sorry to be the bearer of bad news and all that but I think you will find that any pro welder won't touch a tank that's had fuel in
it. They used to reckon that filling it with sand(!) dissipated residual fumes etc. but my old man barely made it beyond his teens when he and a mate
tried the same technique on a bike tank and it blew up! Cheers, Pewe
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jimgiblett
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| posted on 6/4/06 at 12:28 PM |
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I have heard that some purge with Argon / fill with water but if I cant get it welded then a new tank will be required.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 6/4/06 at 12:32 PM |
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I can't imagine that any intelligent welder will want to weld a used petrol tank, no matter how well it's cleaned out. I know it can be
done, but it needs skill and experience.
Could you cut away the swirl pot and replace it with a removable fitting? You could then fix a ring onto the hole with a threaded part to screw the
new swirl pot onto. If you're ever seen 'A car is reborn' on Sky you will have seen that the E-type's fuel tank had a
removable 'sump' to allow the crud to be cleaned out.
Rotten explanation, but I hope you know what I mean!
[Edited on 6/4/06 by David Jenkins]
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Phil.J
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| posted on 6/4/06 at 12:36 PM |
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Used fuel tanks
An old trick with used fuel tanks is to connect the inlet of the empty, cleaned out tank to your road car exhaust, and let it tick over for twenty
minutes with the exhaust gasses purging the tank. Has worked for me several times and no bangs yet!
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nitram38
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| posted on 6/4/06 at 02:16 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Phil.J
An old trick with used fuel tanks is to connect the inlet of the empty, cleaned out tank to your road car exhaust, and let it tick over for twenty
minutes with the exhaust gasses purging the tank. Has worked for me several times and no bangs yet!
I recommend this method.
I spent 5 years in a workshop where I used to weld all kinds of petrol tanks.
Wash the tank out with soapy water first then run it on the end of an exhaust for 5-10 mins.
As a final check, light a bit of newspaper on the end of a rod and hold it near to the biggest hole.
Never had one blow up ever and I must have done at least 50 that way.
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jimgiblett
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| posted on 6/4/06 at 03:02 PM |
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I have been pointed in the direction of someone who will do the work.
Apparently they purge with Acetylene which neutralises the petrol and fuel vapour.
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stevebubs
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| posted on 6/4/06 at 05:29 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by jimgiblett
I have been pointed in the direction of someone who will do the work.
Apparently they purge with Acetylene which neutralises the petrol and fuel vapour.
??? By exploding the tank, workshop and welder in one easy move ??
Acetylene is one nasty gas...
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 6/4/06 at 06:07 PM |
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I think I'd rather take my chances with the fuel vapour rather than acetylene!
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 6/4/06 at 09:13 PM |
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Did you mean acetone? The solvent?
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oioi
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| posted on 7/4/06 at 08:29 AM |
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i found someone who was prepared to weld a tank for me. they steamed it for 24 hours prior to welding.
but like the others say proceed with extreme caution!
That is the Curse of Speed which has plagued me all my life I am a slave to it. On my tombstone they will carve,
"IT NEVER GOT FAST ENOUGH FOR ME." - Hunter S Thompson
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chasmon
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| posted on 7/4/06 at 11:29 PM |
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Oi! oioi, get on an sort out those throttle bodies! 
Thanks for the Autocad file!
I think I'm going to machine up individual couplings though as I have access to a CNC mill and they'll be easier to make up.
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mr zefect
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| posted on 8/4/06 at 05:12 PM |
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I have done a few tanks in my time i just wash with water then use a air line to dry it out then pour spirit wipe in to it then slosh it about then
empty out and dry with high presh air line then cut and weld with no probs and i no other people that have done the same with no probs i have even
tryed puting in a lighted asetelene torch in to the tank.
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