plastic padding

has anyone used plastic padding leak fix on a petrol tank? although woody is kindly able to supply me another tank i thought i might try to fix the old one to keep as a spare now its cleaned up i can see about 7 tiny holes so thought i might give it a go,, looking forward to picking the tank up from woody soon miss the wee bus

I have used oil/petrol resistant epoxy to fix a sump if thats close enough.

I laid on a thin coat of epoxy, then a layer of tinfoil, and another layer of epoxy, and more tinfoil.... till it was about 6 layers of foil thick.

Never failed, permanent fix, bet its still there today.

Am sure my Dad used Araldite tofix a tank once. Mind you, he used it to fix an awful lot of other things as well.

There used to be a product on the market called Petro-Patch-- but dunno if it is still around or available . It was some years ago when I last used it.
If you bring your old tank over with you when you come over - leave it with me and I will have a go at welding it up for you, so long as its not like your Grannys knitting bag.
I am coming over to the mainland again on the 19th July so could bring it back over with me and meet on route somewhere convenient.

I used to sell petro patch when I worked for Longlife Accessories - anyone remember them? It is still available, but my leak was on the seam so doubtful it would have worked.

I don't think Araldite wouldn't be any good as it doesn't have any give in it and a petrol tank skin flexes. Ideally needs a sealer with a bit of give in it I would think.

I just keep a spare new tank in my shed

thx all, have given the leak fix ago its gone off nicely ill leave it a day or two to fully set then ill pour some petrol in and see what happens i might be wasting my time but at least we will know if it works or not ill let you all know the answer.
thx woody might be a plan didnt think you could weld an old tank, visions of a big bang!!!it seems solid in most places just a few pin prick holes on bottom seems to be where water mud and salt has come into contact from being thrown up from front wheel

[quote="Logi"]I just keep a spare new tank in my shed [/quote

And a spare New Jet-Ski I dont doubt. 

No, picked it up for the 1st van, turned out the tank was ok it was the filter that was shagged, fixed it and kept the tank "just in case"......

That's how my Jackdaw Hi-Jet spares collection started. I'll keep this bit "just in case" and nine years
later---- they're everywhere---- flipping kleptomaniac.

well seems to work!,
2 days cleaning up then filled the holes left for 2-3hrs to harden then recoverd by about an inch all round left over night,sanded lightly then used rest of tube to skim most of bottom of tank giveing anotherr covering over the holes.
left for a day then put petrol in been sitting about 24hrs and no leaks!!

looks like the shed will now have a tank sitting in it for that day it might come in handy

Oh Well done Ron.That's taken a bit of pressure off my work load for this week anyway. Please don't feel obligated to have the tank if you feel the repair will last you a while. Will give you a call at the weekend. Woody.

still would rather the tank from you woody as i wouldnt trust this one but thought it was worth a try to see if leak fix was any good for others to try if they need to

OK. Certainly no problem then. Will go ahead and remove one on Thursday/Friday for you. Wednesday is totally mad. Got Planning Pillock coming then huge roof in Bembridge to do plus even worse---I forgot it is our 7th Wedding Anniversary. Oops and double Oops.

welding fuel tanks is not that different all you have to do is fill them with inert gas so either argon or co2 if you have it if not then stuck over an exhaust for half hour or so, A few pin holes leak would be better brazed or tig'ed as when you hit it with a mig it burns back the thin bits till you hit more solid metal.

Fill it to the brim with petrol and it, ll be fine.






Obviously it wont but at least then I could say I knew someone on the news.......

If it was 100% full of petrol, would it burn?

HighlyJetted wrote:If it was 100% full of petrol, would it burn?

petrol as a liquid does not burn it's the vapour thats flamable so if the tank was sealed and you welded onto it without burning through it is possible but as with anything it would be considered mighty stupid and as tanks are vented and we're talking about welding holes up.... we it's your choice to make Logi smile or not.

I'll take that as verbatim then Rich coz I'm as sure as hell not going to try that one. As you rightly say the millisecond you went through the metal it is Goodnight Vienna.

Many years ago an apprentice at BAC Brooklands ( Now Brooklands Car Museum ) was welding up his BSA petrol tank in work time when it exploded and lucky for him went upwards rather than outwards --- straight through the corrugated Asbestos roof.

HighlyJetted wrote:If it was 100% full of petrol, would it burn?

A part empty tank is lethal as there's air to burn in there -- full, its less likely. I did have a Ford catch fire cos I didnt have the cap on an the fumes out of the neck of the tank ignited and it looked like a mini jet engine on afterburn. BCF soon sorted that but it teach me to be more careful ---- for a while.

I have put in a poprivet or selftapper in the hole and then a bit of this over the top

http://www.tradecounterdirect.com/product/fuel-tank-repair-stick_type.html?gclid=CIqT5KfmwrgCFbMbtAodnCsAUg

No problem 3 years on