anyone ever fixed a gas can?

[willy3486]

Anyone ever fixed a gas gan? I have one of the old round cans I think its about 5 gallon size. IT is one with the spout on the top you pour. The problem is that the spout has come off. Its not old enough to be a collectible but other than the spout loose it is in perfect shape,surprisingly no rust. I don't think it has had gas in it for years if ever and there is no fumes in it,it may even have had waste oil in it at one time. I hate to just toss it so I have been thinking of a way to fix it. Here is what I have wondered about. I was thinking of cleaning it out the best I can then opening the crimping that held the spout. Then put the spout back in the crimp and crimping it if I can. After I do this I was thinking about filling it with water up to the crimp area. Then heat the outside with a portable propane torch and then use solder to seal the crimp. Would this work? I would not do this if there was any residue or fumes coming out but this hasn't been used in years and you can't smell any fumes in it. It has been outside under a cover for years and not used. Any yea or nays on fixing it?

 

[GarageEnvy]

I'll say nay, only because it's just a gas can. They're not that much money and this one doesn't appear to have any sentimental or collectible value. I've heard guys talking about welding on gas tanks and I've heard everything from boiling them out at a radiator shop to filling them with sand or nitrogen or water. I'm not a professional welder so I won't weigh in on the safety of any of those methods. If I was dead set on fixing this thing I'd probably use something like Marine-tex or another similar type of epoxy like filler. Of course, you'd probably have more money in filler than the cost of a new can.

 

[gorilla]

I've repaired several gas tanks and one 911 oil tank with a large electric soldering iron. If you have a big soldering iron this may be a better choice.

 

[willy3486]

I put some water in it this afternoon with dish detergent in it so it could soak. It was for the most part empty but had a smell of old gas that had evaporated from it. I am going to let it sit with that soap in it then I think I may try my soldering gun to see if it can seal it. I have a lot of solder and I think I might use it to hold used oil until I take it to a recycler. Its not of any sentimental value other than thats the way they use to make them. But I like to fix stuff thats broke,I guess its a hobby.

 

[larry4406]

Had an old metal gallon can, mower threw a rock and punctured it low on the side. Drained the can, filled with water and soap swirled and drained. Let it dry out and then used dad's old massive soldring iron for repair.

 

[onemore]

Never tried but interested to hear how it turns out. Good luck

 

[5lima30]

Don't know if this counts but years ago I repaired an AMF Harley Davidson (remember those?) gas tank that developed a small leak at the seam with JB Weld it was still holding a couple years later when I sold it. YMMV.

 

[Hud]

I hate the new cans because they dont pour right. I take a 1/4 by 1/4 tubing fitting and screw in it with a cap to let it breathe and they tend to work better.

 

[BigMike782]

I fixed the gas tank for one of my old Cub Cadets by cleaning the **** out of it,filling it as full of water as possible,fluxed with Ruby fluid then soldered it.The heat source was oxy acetylene.

 

[srmofo]

A new good metal 5 gal safety cans run from $65 to $100 depending on make and the vendor. Hell yeah you should at least try to repair it.

Skip the epoxy ****.

The guy I take my metal stuff to wont touch it if its been contaminated with epoxy.

 

[Tool Maker]

I'm an old alive welder. and Ive welded literaly dozens of gas tanks over the years. Ive only had one of them change its shape from square to round. But it was exciting. I just wash them out with hot soapy water and weld away. If you can't smell it you cant burn it. Mac.

 

[blaker]

I have welded a lot of gas tanks.Take a hose put on a tail pipe of a car other end in the gas tank. Start the car and fill the tank with exhaust and weld it up.You leave the car running as you weld.The guy who told me about this side when he was in the navy this how they would repair tanks on ships the exhaust removes the oxygen.
Done a lot and still here to tell you about it.

 

[willy3486]

I got out Saturday and fixed it. I just wanted to use it to hold old oil. I was able to open the hole by using pliers to bring up the crimp. Then I was able to get the spout out. After this I hammered the opening back down. I clean and sanded the spout and the opening. I tried to use a soldering gun but it didn't get as hot as I needed so I switched to a propane torch. That did the trick. I had some old solder I used and tacked it on. I then went around it until it was all around. I tested it with water but it leaked some. So I dried it off and heated the leak area and put more solder in. That did the trick. I can use it now for used oil and to take it off to the recycler. I did find another 5 gallon can that says Mobil that I need to check out. So thanks for the replies.