Plastic Fuel tank Repair
- Thread starter hasco
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yhprum
Well-known member
Is it cracked? I’ve had ok luck welding plastic using a soldering iron and a tie wrap for filler. Never did a fuel tank though. I think most epoxy or glues will tend to lift off over time.
that type of plastic doesn't like to play with glues .
JABgj
Well-known member
There are plastic repair kits available, they come with a mixed bag of success. I did read that there are no more available, but I betcha you could find something close enough to work. Maybe used on ePay.
djbmw
Well-known member
As others have said... plastic welding is the best option.. followed by a 50/50 success with epoxy for fuel tanks.
Having said that, there are tons of aftermarket fuel tanks that will mostly fit. You might have to use 1 bolt hole and zip tie or fabricate something for the other side... but at least it will be a new tank.
Having said that, there are tons of aftermarket fuel tanks that will mostly fit. You might have to use 1 bolt hole and zip tie or fabricate something for the other side... but at least it will be a new tank.
I used JB Weld plastic version on a fuel tank.
Some ******* "installed" an aftermarket suction kit before I bought the truck and blocked the vent.
Well it eventually sucked the tank and punched a hole from the fuel pump sliders. Took a while as I rarely drive more than 50 miles at a go. Truck was bought in 2020 and I've put about 12k miles on it.
truck broke down twice because if it before I found the problem.
First I ran out of fuel with 1/8 tank almost 20 miles from the nearest station in BFE. Ended up spending the night in my truck, thankfully wasn't very cold.
Found out a 5500 Dodge towing a 14k trailer and little 5k warehouse forklift gets a whole 7 mpg too. I expected 10 at the worst.
Next I was in Fairbanks, a year or so later pulled in the auction yard, go to unload the trailer and about wipe out on the deck. What I thought was water was diesel.
Luckily the auction yard was awesome and helped me with tools, forklift, a loaner truck to get parts and I got it temp plugged. Easy tank to pull aside from it being over 50 gallons.
Was only that winter I pulled it to figure what was going on. Wasn't leaking, but the gauge quit working.
New tank was $800.
Tried plastic welding and had no luck.
Maybe a real welder that uses really hot air vs those soldering gun style ones. Not near enough heat. It could barely melt the zip ties, bermind do any actual fusing.
Some ******* "installed" an aftermarket suction kit before I bought the truck and blocked the vent.
Well it eventually sucked the tank and punched a hole from the fuel pump sliders. Took a while as I rarely drive more than 50 miles at a go. Truck was bought in 2020 and I've put about 12k miles on it.
truck broke down twice because if it before I found the problem.
First I ran out of fuel with 1/8 tank almost 20 miles from the nearest station in BFE. Ended up spending the night in my truck, thankfully wasn't very cold.
Found out a 5500 Dodge towing a 14k trailer and little 5k warehouse forklift gets a whole 7 mpg too. I expected 10 at the worst.
Next I was in Fairbanks, a year or so later pulled in the auction yard, go to unload the trailer and about wipe out on the deck. What I thought was water was diesel.
Luckily the auction yard was awesome and helped me with tools, forklift, a loaner truck to get parts and I got it temp plugged. Easy tank to pull aside from it being over 50 gallons.
Was only that winter I pulled it to figure what was going on. Wasn't leaking, but the gauge quit working.
New tank was $800.
Tried plastic welding and had no luck.
Maybe a real welder that uses really hot air vs those soldering gun style ones. Not near enough heat. It could barely melt the zip ties, bermind do any actual fusing.
larry4406
Well-known member
I repaired a Toro lawn mower gas tank via plastic welding.
I was able to trim a piece of plastic off of a benign area and use to patch the hole a rodent had chewed. I used a pencil type soldering iron and a heat gun.
I was able to trim a piece of plastic off of a benign area and use to patch the hole a rodent had chewed. I used a pencil type soldering iron and a heat gun.
Funny, I had a toro tank fail at the filler neck and eventually at the bung where the line attached.
Used some sort of fuel safe RTV at the filler neck.
Could not get it to last at the bung. Eventually fabbed a new tank out of a 2.5 gallon red can.
Old tool guy
Well-known member
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- Apr 13, 2023
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For less than the cost of a large starbucks …
jack stand
Well-known member
jack stand ,Where do i get one ?
jack stand
Well-known member
I just searched Ryobi gas trimmer.
lolaetype
Well-known member
Maybe this stuff?
www.hotmelt.com
Adhesive for Creating Permanent Bonds to Polypropylene and Polyethylene Plastics
Plastic products are found in almost every aspect of our everyday lives. From the automotive to packaging industries - plastic is everywhere. There are two types of plastics that are notorious for being difficult to bond to - Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE or HDPE). These are the two...
www.hotmelt.com
Dodgeboy2020
Active member
I had a fuel tank that leaked where the 2 halves were 'welded' together and was able to clean it up really well with brake cleaner and then used an RTV type gasket maker to seal it up. In fairness this was about a 2 or 3 gallon tank on a piece of power equipment and it has been holding up fine for aver 4 years now.
LopezBart
Well-known member
I've had good luck fixing plastic tanks w/ a soldering iron.
That's the one I was talking about that is useless. Doesn't make enough heat.For less than the cost of a large starbucks …
The real ones are around 1500 watt.
I forgot to grab one of these last order.
www.temu.com
Next time I have cracked plastic, I'll wish I had
200w plastic welder plastic welding kit 200pcs tools - Temu
Shop 200w plastic welder plastic welding kit with 200pcs at the lowest price at Temu. Check reviews and See of tools & home improvement. .
Next time I have cracked plastic, I'll wish I had
It appears to be leaking at the Seam on the filler neck.I did the Soldering iron thing and it helped ,but i need to Re do it. In the mean time i bought a new Craftsman 4 cycle trimmer from Lowes (Deal of the day sale 159.00) and all my Roybi attachments fit. I am just not ready to dump my 25 year old Ryobi. Yet LOL
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
- Clean well (brake cleaner?) inside and out. You want zero residual fuel,
- Sand area lightly to expose "fresh plastic"
- Use plastic "window screen" material to reinforce
I tapped and threaded in a bolt with epoxy on the threads then took a tube to make like a sono tube and poured epoxy over the bolt head.
But my tank just had a ~1/2" hole in the bottom and ~2" hole in the top.
Top I put tape as a backer and filled the hole with epoxy.
Previous owner had RTVed a piece of street sign. Which actually held up.