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Leaking Plastic Fuel Tank
orbital - 16/7/07 at 10:14 PM

Hi all,

The plastic fuel tank for my Mac#1 is leaking in two seperate places. Both are along the seams, is there anyway to fix one these plastic tanks? Some kind of glue? I'd have a go at sealing it with a soldering iron of some sort but I'm afraid I'd make it worse rather than better! Any idea's welcome.

Cheers

Dave

[Edited on 16/7/07 by orbital]

nitram38 - 16/7/07 at 10:16 PM

Has it had fuel in it?
Don't use a soldering iron unless you know what you are doing!

DarrenW - 16/7/07 at 10:19 PM

Might be worth talking to Mac#1. Mine has been perfect. Not sure if proprietry tank sealing compounds will work with plastic. If you know where the leaks are then they should be fixable.

A non flame soldering iron should work in theory. You may need some plastic rods to work in.

orbital - 16/7/07 at 10:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nitram38
Has it had fuel in it?
Don't use a soldering iron unless you know what you are doing!


No, no fuel in it. Tested it with water.

Yeah I might give Mac#1 a call tomorrow, see what can be done. I bought the car part built of this very forum and the chap said the tank had leaked from new and I just wanted to check this was the case and ta da!

Cheers

Dave

nitram38 - 16/7/07 at 10:34 PM

A tip for anyone who wants to put heat to a used petrol tank is to do the following, it might just save someone's life:

First wash the dregs of the fuel out with soapy water making sure that there is no hidden compartments/baffles etc.

Then put the tank opening over a cars running exhaust pipe for abot 20-30 mins.

Last, check with a lit newspaper tied to a long pole over the opening of the tank. Do all of this outside in the fresh air.

I worked for 5 years in a workshop and I repaired/welded many a tank this way.

If in doubt, do not try any of this.

designer - 17/7/07 at 06:32 AM

I fixed my tank using fibreglass resin/hardener. Mix it and just paint it on. It works with all tanks.

orbital - 17/7/07 at 07:18 AM

Cheers for that designer. I may well give that a whirl mate

Cheers

Dave

nitram38 - 17/7/07 at 07:35 AM

quote:
Originally posted by designer
I fixed my tank using fibreglass resin/hardener. Mix it and just paint it on. It works with all tanks.


The only thing with a plastic tank is that it expands/contracts and the resin won't.
Eventually it will leak again

orbital - 17/7/07 at 08:59 AM

Depends on the resin it seems. Done a quick search and there are flexible resins out there.

Cheers

Dave

MikeRJ - 17/7/07 at 10:31 AM

quote:
Originally posted by nitram38
A tip for anyone who wants to put heat to a used petrol tank is to do the following, it might just save someone's life:


Good advice, but the risk of igniting petrol with a normal electricaly powered soldering iron is miniscule.

There is probably more risk in putting the exhaust pipe into the tank, a backfire etc could cause a flame though the exhaust which would be far more likely to ignite any vapours.