Fuel Tank Repair

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

So the vent tube fell out of my fuel tank, which is a typical metal tank.  How best to secure a new vent?

Options:

1. Epoxy.
2. Solder using a Weller 140/110 soldering gun.
3. Solder using a typical soldering iron, likely 40 watt.
4. Solder using a Bernzomatic torch.

[Dave_Trible]

#3 please.

Dave

[Massimo Rimoldi]

Hi.
I would exclude the option n. 1 because epoxy does not resist glow fuel.
Personally I use a 70 Watt soldering iron, but 40 should do the job.
I don't like welding gun because the tip has little mass, so it is difficult to heat the area to be welded correctly and on objects that dissipate a lot of heat I have never been able to get good welds.
On the contrary, with a Bernzomatic torch there is the risk of heating everything too much too quickly, with the result of melting the pond on too large an area and untiing part of the tank.

Massimo

[Howard Rush]

I would use #3, because I don't have a 40-watt iron, and I can't find my torch.

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

Job is done.  Used a small soldering iron, a 25 watt Weller.  Leak tested the tank and mounted it.  Ready for more practice on Saturday to get ready for Brodak's.

thanks for the advice,

Peter

[Tim Wescott]

2 or 3.  Not epoxy, because it's not a good match to metal saturated with castor.  Not the torch, because unless you really know what you're doing (and sometimes if you do) it'll overheat the metal and make it unsolderable.  Either the solder gun or iron will work, but usually a small iron is easier.

[Brett Buck]

So the vent tube fell out of my fuel tank, which is a typical metal tank.  How best to secure a new vent?

Options:

1. Epoxy.
2. Solder using a Weller 140/110 soldering gun.
3. Solder using a typical soldering iron, likely 40 watt.
4. Solder using a Bernzomatic torch.

   2 or 3 is acceptable. I would always use the most powerful gun available, to avoid collateral heating of areas I didn't want to disturb, but with care, you can use the small ones effectively.

   Epoxy won't work (for long) and a torch should NEVER used on soldering tin-plated steel tanks, the chances to overheat everything are astronomical. It can be done, I have done it, but one false move and you are out of luck.

    Brett

[Howard Rush]

...a torch should NEVER used on soldering tin-plated steel tanks, the chances to overheat everything are astronomical. It can be done, I have done it, but one false move and you are out of luck.

Someone (not me) convinced John Gladfelter to use a torch on a tank that was full of fuel.  That was a bad idea.

[Tim Wescott]

Someone (not me) convinced John Gladfelter to use a torch on a tank that was full of fuel.  That was a bad idea.

Better than on a tank that's just got a smidge of fuel in it.  My dad ended up in the hospital a long, long time ago in an incident involving a 55 gallon drum that had just been emptied of gasoline and a cutting torch.

[Steve Helmick]

Better than on a tank that's just got a smidge of fuel in it.  My dad ended up in the hospital a long, long time ago in an incident involving a 55 gallon drum that had just been emptied of gasoline and a cutting torch.

BAD idea. Once upon a time, many years ago, the place I worked had a forklift with a leaky gas tank. I was tasked with taking the tank out. It got flushed many times and filled with water before the welder would get near it. The steam created was a lot more appealing than fire or explosion. I don't recall whether it was stick welded or MIG welded, but I stood well back. Putting it back in required more welding of stuff I had to saw off to get the tank out. I hate forklifts, and after that I always denied knowing how to drive or fix one.    Steve