Has Anyone Repaired a Small Plastic Gas Tank?

[oliver2-44 9,759]

I need to repair this plastic gas tank as I need one with the center nipple. The plastic epoxy didn't hold! 

Has anyone repaired one of these smaller tanks the same way @Aldon and others have repaired the GT14 plastic tanks. 

The GT14 plastic tank looks fairly thick where they drill it out in the corner, do yall think this plastic tank is thick enough for the repair like in the thread below. 

 

 

[ranger 1,750]

From the photos it looks like the damaged area is underneath the filler. If it is you could try sanding/filing off the epoxy repair and existing nipple, get it as flat as possible, inside as well, if possible. Find a couple of “Repair” washers, (size that will fit through the filler opening), solder a 5/16”/3/8” set screw to one of the washers. Drill through the centre of screw for fuel to pass through, remove part of thread for fuel hose to fit over the end. Drill a hole in the tank where the original outlet was. Apply  “Fuel” proof sealer/epoxy (NOT SILICON) to the washer with the screw attached, insert through the filler opening, screw through the original outlet hole, second washer, with sealant and nut on outside. If outlet is directly under the filler opening you’re laughing, you can  use a socket and extension to hold the bolt head whilst tightening the nut on the outside. Fit an in-line filter and fuel tap and job done.

Doug.

[Maxwell-8 4,277]

I have plastic welded my raider's tank. It leaked in the same spot as yours.

 

I used a soldering iron and zipties. be prepared for the smell.

 

[ranger 1,750]

7 minutes ago, Maxwell-8 said:

I have plastic welded my raider's tank. It leaked in the same spot as yours.

 

I used a soldering iron and zipties. be prepared for the smell.

 

I’m not sure going by the photos whether the tank was cracked, or if the nipple itself was damaged. But plastic welding is certainly the way to go if you know what type of material you’re dealing with as many different types of plastic “Welding” rods are available online nowadays. I personally hate plastic tanks with nipples which don’t have brass reinforcement tubes in to prevent people using worm drive hose clips and over tightening them, crushing the nipples.

Doug.

[rmaynard 15,512]

Those tanks are made from polyethylene. It cannot be glued. Plastic welding is the only way to mend that kind of tank.

[DennisThornton 4,769]

What he said. 👆

Might be some mechanical way but I'd suggest forgetting gluing.  There's some new stuff and probably someday there will be a glue but so far very carefully welding is my approach.  400F or so with either hot iron or hot air.  And I still like flushing with hot soapy water and still mostly filling with water up to the spot I'm "welding".  Old habit from using a torch on metal gas tanks...  So far I haven't blown one up. 

[oliver2-44 9,759]

So with the plastic already covered in epoxy I decided to try the rubber grommet method.  I cut the tank nipple off and belt sanded the epoxy flush. Drilled a hole to just fit the rubber grommet.  I was fairly sure drilling the hole would remove all of the crack at the base of the plastic nipple  Then soaped up the steel fitting to get it worked into the grommet. It was a tight fit to GE it in there   It held water over night, so I’m thinking it’s good to go. 

Edited November 9, 2021 by oliver2-44

[Handy Don 12,235]

20 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said:

So with the plastic already covered in epoxy I decided to try the rubber grommet method.  I cut the tank nipple off and belt sanded the epoxy flush. Drilled a hole to just fit the rubber grommet.  I was fairly sure drilling the hole would remove all of the crack at the base of the plastic nipple  Then soaped up the steel fitting to get it worked into the grommet. It was a tight fit to GE it in there   It held water over night, so I’m thinking it’s good to go. 

Clever.

As long as you very thoroughly smoothed the inside circumference of the hole there is a good chance it'll hold, I'd say. However, gasoline is a LOT sneakier than water for finding leaks so I'd try it with a small amount of gas for a while before trusting it with a full tank! 

Edited November 9, 2021 by Handy Don

[oliver2-44 9,759]

12 hours ago, Handy Don said:

 

. However, gasoline is a LOT sneakier than water for finding leaks  

 I agree!

[oliver2-44 9,759]

Well the grommet held gas setting in the shop for several days.  But when I installed it on tractor the the nipple is so close to the bottom of the tank that once it goes through the steel tank tray the hose puts side pressure on the grommet and it leaked. 

Moving on to the next idea, a Bulkhead fitting from the Jungle site

.https://www.amazon.com/Litorange-Lead-Free-Bulkhead-Fitting-Coupling/dp/B08PB8DBR2/ref=sr_1_21?crid=1P1S8B1T7YT4P&keywords=bulkhead+tank+outlet+fitting&qid=1649724148&sprefix=bulkhead+tank+outlet+fitting%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-21

 

 

 

Looks promising, so we'll see how it works.  I'm wondering if those orange sealing washers are going to be fuel proof?  But I can always replace them with some Viton rings.

Edited April 13, 2022 by oliver2-44

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

5 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

orange sealing washers are going to be fuel proof?

 

I don't guess that they'll last very long.  Probably 'red rubber'.

 

Your idea of using Viton would be my suggestion.

 

 

[ranger 1,750]

You could perhaps try a’smear’ of the plastic fuel tank repair stick compound on each side of the opening before the fitting is inserted?

This is the two part epoxy type of product sold in ‘stick’ form, you cut a piece off the stick, work it between your fingers and apply. It’s supposed to withstand any type of fuel, and is specifically for plastic fuel tank repair. Whatever you use, Don’t use a silicone sealer, (unless you’re burning 100% methanol). If you use “O” rings, and have access to a lathe, machine a groove in the faces of the fitting and nuts to help retain the rings, otherwise they tend to ‘extrude’ outwards. If you use a flat washer, use ones wider than the fitting to give it more support. Solid rubber doesn’t really compress, it deforms!

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

There's really no point in trying any type of adhesive on HDPE plastic.  Nothing will adhere for any length of time.  Everyone has tried every glue before and there's no point in repeating history.

 

Yes, it says it's for plastic tank repair but I believe the fine print says EXCEPT HDPE.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 12, 2022 by Jeff-C175

[ranger 1,750]

54 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

There's really no point in trying any type of adhesive on HDPE plastic.  Nothing will adhere for any length of time.  Everyone has tried every glue before and there's no point in repeating history.

 

Yes, it says it's for plastic tank repair but I believe the fine print says EXCEPT HDPE.

 

 

 

 

Yes I agree about trying to ‘Glue’ it, my suggestion is to use it as a possible ‘Sealer’ applied before the fitting is fully tightened. The idea being to fill and level any imperfections in the mating surfaces. In the UK, milk cartons are made from HDPE, If the tank is made from HDPE, perhaps a washer cut from a milk carton and heated with a heat gun almost to the point of melting, and then assembled before cooling might work?

[Handy Don 12,235]

 HDPE is exasperating stuff! When the part is whole and correct it's amazing--when damaged its nothing but frustration.