banjoman69
Forum Newbie
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2013
- Threads
- 0
- Messages
- 1
The last 2 I have repaired, I have used a left over older plastic/abs tank. I cut a small strip, from the tank to melt back over the damaged spot. I clean the spot, and about 2 inches around the area to be repaired. Rough it up with a clean wire brush and or very coarse sandpaper.
I then clean again with acetone and use my soldering gun with a wide flat tip, first melting or “fusing” the tank split/hole to itself, then melt in the other strip removed from the old discarded tank as a weld patch, pushing the melting strip slightly into the surface of the tank working further away from where you started, basically for strength. If you don’t have an old tank to get a strip out of, I’m sure any small engine repair shop will have one they’ve tossed out. Of course if it’s a small pin hole of some sort and on a flat surface, the old way I fixed metal tanks by using a small stainless steel sheet metal screw with a silicone o-ring is a great fast fix. Use extreme caution as it’s the gas fumes that just needs a spark. All of the above is how I repair, and in no way am I stating you or anyone else should use this way to do yours.
I then clean again with acetone and use my soldering gun with a wide flat tip, first melting or “fusing” the tank split/hole to itself, then melt in the other strip removed from the old discarded tank as a weld patch, pushing the melting strip slightly into the surface of the tank working further away from where you started, basically for strength. If you don’t have an old tank to get a strip out of, I’m sure any small engine repair shop will have one they’ve tossed out. Of course if it’s a small pin hole of some sort and on a flat surface, the old way I fixed metal tanks by using a small stainless steel sheet metal screw with a silicone o-ring is a great fast fix. Use extreme caution as it’s the gas fumes that just needs a spark. All of the above is how I repair, and in no way am I stating you or anyone else should use this way to do yours.
Either buy a replacement tank or you could try buying a plastic welder from HF. Just make sure to vent all of the fumes before introducing heat.
Assuming it's plastic, not metal.
I've plastic welded several of the PLASTIC gas tanks including the large rear mounted ones. I get best results if I can remove a piece of plastic from the tank I'm welding to use as a filler, but I've used milk cartons and zip ties as a filler.
I use a large 120volt soldering iron. and weld the plastic patch into the tank.
After welding and before re-installing I use soap and water to check for good seal by plugging the fuel line outlet and just use a rag around the fill spout hole and a air gun. This will give about one -2 psi. Too much air pressure can easily cause the seams to separate, etc.
On the large rear mounted tanks on lawn mowers make sure the tank is properly mounted and cushioned when re-installing and not being warped.
Most generally if it's about 1/2 way up on a large tank it the seam of the two halves and quite common. Some of the large plastic tanks are both expensive and or NLA.
You can go on You tube and get some ideas about plastic welding.
Flush the tank good with water before starting.
I've plastic welded several of the PLASTIC gas tanks including the large rear mounted ones. I get best results if I can remove a piece of plastic from the tank I'm welding to use as a filler, but I've used milk cartons and zip ties as a filler.
I use a large 120volt soldering iron. and weld the plastic patch into the tank.
After welding and before re-installing I use soap and water to check for good seal by plugging the fuel line outlet and just use a rag around the fill spout hole and a air gun. This will give about one -2 psi. Too much air pressure can easily cause the seams to separate, etc.
On the large rear mounted tanks on lawn mowers make sure the tank is properly mounted and cushioned when re-installing and not being warped.
Most generally if it's about 1/2 way up on a large tank it the seam of the two halves and quite common. Some of the large plastic tanks are both expensive and or NLA.
You can go on You tube and get some ideas about plastic welding.
Flush the tank good with water before starting.
Graniteman75
Forum Newbie
- Joined
- May 6, 2023
- Threads
- 0
- Messages
- 1
I purchased a HF plastic welder and I use the black zip ties for the black abs tank welds and the white zip ties for the white or clear tanks with great success. I also purchased the heat stitch tool that uses metal staples that you heat up and press into the larger cracks to give added strength to the repair. Of course I have drain the gas tanks of fuel and flushed with water to remove any fumes before attempting these repairs. Do not rush the repairs as going slow and making sure the heat has penetrated the area as well as the filler material will assure a quality repair every time.
Always Learning
Member
- Joined
- May 19, 2022
- Threads
- 4
- Messages
- 16
I've had similar luck with the white plastic tanks and a hot melt glue gun. Push the tip into the tank to melt the base material as you add the glue.
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2020
- Threads
- 106
- Messages
- 12,048
And the IPL shows it venting via a fuel filter straight to the ground or least that how a local Hustler is setup. And it uses a four way connector it makes sense that a fourth line would go to the intake.
