Leaking gas tank

[H Suhling]

My gas tank has started to leak a little along the seam at the back of the tank where the bracket that mounts the tank to the frame. What is the best fix for this? Would removing the tank and using a sealer on the inside work?

Thanks

Harvey

[anthonyb]

If the tank is otherwise solid in that area, drain the gas down below the leak and try JB Weld. Once it's cured you should not have a problem.

[grey beard]

Believe it or not, when I worked for a trucking fleet, they repaired leaking diesel fuel tanks with body filler - especially alumimum tanks. I'm thinking you could rough up the leaking area with some 36 grit sandpaper by hand, and slather on a dab of body filler. It would work just like JB Weld, and comes in larger quantities, as it were . . . . . .

Just a thought:)

Good Luck. Tell us what worked once you have the leak stopped.

[bach4660]

I used the JB cold weld and after one year it started leaking. So I removed the tank, cleaned the outside and wrapped fibreglass around the entire seam and then 2" above. That was one year ago, and still good.

[H Suhling]

Drove my truck around last weekend to get most of the gas out of the tank in order to drop the tank to find the leak. Guage showed just above empty, drained about four and a half gallons out of tank good to know guage is close to being correct.

Dropped the tank tonight and found a pinhole behind rear bracket that turned into three small hole when I cleaned the area with a sand blaster. That bracket is spot welded to tank so when I painted the tank it did not get cleaned and repainted. I think I will use fiberglass to make repairs.

Harvey

[Guest Dave Claussen]

Harvey, Use caution when using a sandblaster on a gas tank! The sand creates static from the friction of the sand against the metal. If there's any fuel left in the tank you could have an explosive situation. Static is even more pronounced when the sand contacts any rubber products or painted surfaces. I know this from blasting parts in the sand blaster at work. I can feel the static discharging through the gloves inside the cabinet. Just thought I'd pass along that info for you or anyone else working on a gas tank.

Dave

[H Suhling]

Thanks for the info. I lucked out this time, will not do that again.

Harvey

[H Suhling]

After getting tank cleaned good got talked into using J-B Weld instead of fiberglass. I put on three layers letting it cure overnight between layers. So far so good.

Had it in the parade Sunday at the County Fair and received the Little Mister's Choice Award.

Harvey

[48WingNut]

Congrats!

[Guest Dave Claussen]

Always like to hear good stories like that. Makes you remember you've got something different and special. Good job!!

[greg g]

I have a tank in the garage from an old bug eyed sprite. It shows evidence of many pin hole repairs. They were effected by cleaning the spot, then inserting a sheet metal screw larger tha the hole with a rubber washer under the head, followed by a dollop of some sort of two part epoxy. Before I pulled the tank for a better one, one of the aproximately 15 fixes was weeping slightly. Almost to the point where it was evaporating faster than it was leaking.

Ugly but effective.

[H Suhling]

I have done that before and have had good results using sheet metal screws with small o-rings. I had thought about doing that again. But the holes were right behind the bracket that holds the tank to the frame and it didn't leave enough room for the screw heads.

Harvey