Patching fuel tank in place
 

Anyone know of any way to use some sort of space-age plastic and space-age
adhesive to patch the top of a stainless steel diesel fuel tank? Almost no
fluid pressure is involved, and it seems to be overkill to remove the tank
because of a 3" hole. The patch, though, would have to include the filler hose
attachment tube.

I am asking because the hole is larger than the 3/8" that plastic repair kits
say they can fix. But I can't imagine that there isn't a plastic answer to the
problem because they make whole fuel containers (Wal Mart, $3.50) out of plastic.

Thanks,

Patching fuel tank in place
 

Chuck Bollinger wrote:

Anyone know of any way to use some sort of space-age plastic and
space-age adhesive to patch the top of a stainless steel diesel fuel
tank? Almost no fluid pressure is involved, and it seems to be overkill
to remove the tank because of a 3" hole. The patch, though, would have
to include the filler hose attachment tube.

A 3-inch hole is a bit large for a mechanic in a can solution. If you
have access to the top you are far better off to mount a new flange and
replace the filler tube.

If the old filler tube cracked due to vibration or flexing, there is
nothing in a can or tube that will solve the problem. Fix it correctly,
fix it once, fix it safely.

Rick

Patching fuel tank in place
 

Chuck Bollinger wrote:

Anyone know of any way to use some sort of space-age plastic and
space-age adhesive to patch the top of a stainless steel diesel fuel
tank? Almost no fluid pressure is involved, and it seems to be overkill
to remove the tank because of a 3" hole. The patch, though, would have
to include the filler hose attachment tube.

A 3-inch hole is a bit large for a mechanic in a can solution. If you
have access to the top you are far better off to mount a new flange and
replace the filler tube.

If the old filler tube cracked due to vibration or flexing, there is
nothing in a can or tube that will solve the problem. Fix it correctly,
fix it once, fix it safely.

Rick

Patching fuel tank in place
 

Yes: ask a welding shop to weld a stub of stainless tube for the
filler to a flat (or curved) plate that will fit the tank. Drill holes
every 1/2 inch around the plate and tank (care!) and take
a space age plastic gasket roll cut to the right size and bolt up,
with a gasket sealant if you will.

Brian W

On Tue, 09 Dec 2003 16:35:59 GMT, Chuck Bollinger
wrote:

Anyone know of any way to use some sort of space-age plastic and space-age
adhesive to patch the top of a stainless steel diesel fuel tank? Almost no
fluid pressure is involved, and it seems to be overkill to remove the tank
because of a 3" hole. The patch, though, would have to include the filler hose
attachment tube.

I am asking because the hole is larger than the 3/8" that plastic repair kits
say they can fix. But I can't imagine that there isn't a plastic answer to the
problem because they make whole fuel containers (Wal Mart, $3.50) out of plastic.

Thanks,

Patching fuel tank in place
 

Yes: ask a welding shop to weld a stub of stainless tube for the
filler to a flat (or curved) plate that will fit the tank. Drill holes
every 1/2 inch around the plate and tank (care!) and take
a space age plastic gasket roll cut to the right size and bolt up,
with a gasket sealant if you will.

Brian W

On Tue, 09 Dec 2003 16:35:59 GMT, Chuck Bollinger
wrote:

Anyone know of any way to use some sort of space-age plastic and space-age
adhesive to patch the top of a stainless steel diesel fuel tank? Almost no
fluid pressure is involved, and it seems to be overkill to remove the tank
because of a 3" hole. The patch, though, would have to include the filler hose
attachment tube.

I am asking because the hole is larger than the 3/8" that plastic repair kits
say they can fix. But I can't imagine that there isn't a plastic answer to the
problem because they make whole fuel containers (Wal Mart, $3.50) out of plastic.

Thanks,

Patching fuel tank in place
 

I tried to fix a bad seal on a fuel sending unit located on the top of
my aluminum tank. It didn't work, so I took it to three different marine
mechanics, one of whom tried three times to fix it. After taking who
knows how many gallons of gasoline out of my bilge because all of these
failed, I tried "Plan B."

I covered the whole damn thing with a pile of grey Marine-Tex after
checking with the company about its compatibilty with gas and aluminum.
It looks like some animal took a **** right on my tank. I feel guilty
about such a repair and know I'm never going to be able to get that
sender out, but I don't have any hint of a leak anymore. I use a fuel
management system to figure my consumption anyway, and i have a
gasoline/CO/propane sniffer.

A 3" hole is too big for such a repair, but if you made up a 5" plate
with your fuel connector, drilled some holes, put down a gasket and then
sealed it all up this way, it might work for you. Be careful with sparks
while doing all this.

By the way, I have absolutely no qualifications as a marine mechanic
whatsoever to recommend anything like this to anyone, so if you blow
yourself up because it leaks someday, don't say I didn't warn you....

Patching fuel tank in place
 

I tried to fix a bad seal on a fuel sending unit located on the top of
my aluminum tank. It didn't work, so I took it to three different marine
mechanics, one of whom tried three times to fix it. After taking who
knows how many gallons of gasoline out of my bilge because all of these
failed, I tried "Plan B."

I covered the whole damn thing with a pile of grey Marine-Tex after
checking with the company about its compatibilty with gas and aluminum.
It looks like some animal took a **** right on my tank. I feel guilty
about such a repair and know I'm never going to be able to get that
sender out, but I don't have any hint of a leak anymore. I use a fuel
management system to figure my consumption anyway, and i have a
gasoline/CO/propane sniffer.

A 3" hole is too big for such a repair, but if you made up a 5" plate
with your fuel connector, drilled some holes, put down a gasket and then
sealed it all up this way, it might work for you. Be careful with sparks
while doing all this.

By the way, I have absolutely no qualifications as a marine mechanic
whatsoever to recommend anything like this to anyone, so if you blow
yourself up because it leaks someday, don't say I didn't warn you....