Fuel tank repairs

[MKPatrolGuy]

I picked up a second hand long range tank for my Patrol on the w/e, but it has what looks like a slight weep from one corner. Anyone got any recommendations of who could look at it and repair it if necessary?

[ausyota]

If its just a very small weep you could try that kneadable metal putty to fix it your self.
Otherwise a metal fabrication place or maybe a pannel beaters might be able to weld it for you.
We have a crazy pannel beater over here who welds them up. He just puts a hose from his work utes exhaust and pumps it into the tank then oxy welds them up.
Paul.

[-Scott-]

Fill it with water, then weld. Friends had several goes at fixing a leak in a Suzuki LJ50 tank this way, and had no problems.

Until they got sick of filling it with water. Then the 30 litre tank became a little larger

Fixed the leak though.

Cheers,

Scott

[V8Patrol]

Do it yourself !!!!

locate the exact point of the leak....

scrape away paint/corrosion/mud/road grime etc till its nice n shinny ....
a broken hacksaw blade works well

solder it up ....

paint it ....

save ya self a few $$$$

[bazzle]

Brown Davis often fixes tanks for people. Give him a ring

Bazzle

[MKPatrolGuy]

Couple of probs with the fix it myself idea are, I can't weld to save myself and knowing my luck I'd blow myself up.

I will find the exact point of the leak and probably go see Brown Davis or LRA and see what they say.

Thanks for all the input Guys

[Nev62]

Fill it with water, then weld.

We used to do this turning jerry cans into tanks for speedway cars.

[V8Patrol]

Do it yourself !!!!

locate the exact point of the leak....

scrape away paint/corrosion/mud/road grime etc till its nice n shinny ....
a broken hacksaw blade works well

solder it up ....
paint it ....

save ya self a few $$$$

solder it up .... <<<< this isnt welding !!!

[MKPatrolGuy]

Do it yourself !!!!

locate the exact point of the leak....

scrape away paint/corrosion/mud/road grime etc till its nice n shinny ....
a broken hacksaw blade works well

solder it up ....
paint it ....

save ya self a few $$$$

solder it up .... <<<< this isnt welding !!!

Excuse my ignorance but what exactly is soldering in this example, I'm assuming nothing like that used on circuit boards

[V8Patrol]

MKPatrolGuy wrote:

Excuse my ignorance but what exactly is soldering in this example, I'm assuming nothing like that used on circuit boards

yep only a bigger version of the soldering iron ..... borrow one from a plumber or get one from a hardware shop.... bloody cheap !

I can get pics if ya need em will be doing a radiator in the next day or 2... same principle !

[MKPatrolGuy]

MKPatrolGuy wrote:

Excuse my ignorance but what exactly is soldering in this example, I'm assuming nothing like that used on circuit boards

yep only a bigger version of the soldering iron ..... borrow one from a plumber or get one from a hardware shop.... bloody cheap !

I can get pics if ya need em will be doing a radiator in the next day or 2... same principle !

Pics would be fantastic.

Are the soldering irons the ones with the chunk of metal on the end that you have to heat up with an oxy or other flame?

[bj56]

dont weld it ur slef dude i work for a panle shop u will blow ur self u we send them away to repair man evern if u drian the fuel and leave it for 10 years u can still blo ur self up dont know how tru this is but at tafe for my apprentuship (panle beter) they tell us the fuel soaks in to the steel and to never weld a fuel tank solder is supose to be ok as a temp mesure but its not very $$$ to get a tank fixed i think we pay 50 bux a tank for a hole

[awill4x4]

Dave, if you're interested I can tig weld repair it for you. I work in Carrum Downs and could probably do it after work sometime for you if you want.
If you like, give me a call on 97750558 during business hours.
Regards Andrew.

[awill4x4]

Dave, I forget to say I'll be going into work tomorrow (Saturday) until lunchtime if that helps you.
Regards Andrew.

[MKPatrolGuy]

Dave, if you're interested I can tig weld repair it for you. I work in Carrum Downs and could probably do it after work sometime for you if you want.
If you like, give me a call on 97750558 during business hours.
Regards Andrew.

Andrew thanks for the offer, I will definitely take you up on it if the tank does have a leak. I am going to Tassie for 2 weeks from March 6th, so i will be cleaning up the the tank and checking it after then.

[BundyRumandCoke]

In 92, on the way to the cape, my Sierra scored a crack in the tank. Temp solution, scrape a cake of soap across the hole. I had it repaired at Cairns. The guy who repaired it (Northern Drivelines, or something like that) pulled the tank, flushed it for an hour or so with water, then connected it to his work truck (diesel) exhaust and ran exhaust through it while he brazed it up. Worked excellently.
Diesel tank repairs are a little bit less dangerous.

As for soldering, this is fine if it is somewhere where there is no flexing in the metal. Soldering adds no structural strength, so if the tank can flex at the repair point, it wont take long for the solder to crack.

[+dj_hansen+]

Soldering it could be fun.. depening on how thick the steel is youd need to heat the steel up to get a good join.. sitting there for ages with a soldering iron and getting nowhere id imagine.

Take up the TIG welding option i think... heaps stronger and less hassle +}