Way to seal small holes in lawnmower steel petrol tank?

[Phil K]

Hi all,

I have a Briggs & Stratton Classic 35 lawnmower with what appears to be a pressed steel petrol tank. In the bottom of the tank are a number of pinholes, possibly due to internal corrosion. What would be a way to try and seal these? (I ask, because a new tank costs ?35 or so).

An hour ago, I thoroughly cleaned the bottom of the exterior if the tank and painted with a thick coat of smooth Hammerite, for want of a better idea. Then I thought of asking on this NG if anyone has a better method (hindsight is a wonderful thing ;-) in case my idea proves to be a bad bet.

I know you can buy petrol tanl leak sealant twin-pack stuff, but it's pricey and I don't know how well it works.

I opted for the Hammerite idea, because from experience, it seems extremely rhobust once it is cured, but I don't really know how well it will stand up to petrol.

TIA

PK

[tabbypurr]

epoxy? I'd be surprised if the overpriced gloss paint survives.

NT

[tabbypurr]

There is a last option whe all else fails for nonpressurised tanks. Line it with a polythene bag.

In some countries they replace bad car petrol tanks with a 2 litre drink bo ttle.

NT

[F Murtz]

POR 15, did it to my bike 10 years ago.

[Phil K]

F Murtz wrote in news:5593f310$0$47767$b1db1813 $ [e-mail]:

I see it can be got for about ?16. How long did the fix last?

TIA PK

[newshound]

and here's a link

In my biking days there was something called Petro-Pack IIRC. A little bottle of something which smelled like nail varnish, but looking like red oxide paint, and a bit of fabric which you used to provide reinforcment. It worked very well indeed.

The commercial product adverts all seem to make much of alcohol resistance, presumably because of biofuel in other countries. Nail varnish would be attacked by alcohol but not the pure hydrocarbons in UK petrol.

Hammerite might work, but had I been trying it I would have put down a base coat, added a piece of fabric (sheet, old shirt?) while still wet, and then painted over that.

[gareth]

At only ?35 it really is not worth the risk of the dangers of a bodged repair

[Phil K]

[e-mail] wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Thanks! That's got me thinking; I could chop the bottom 2/3 of the tank off and replace with the bottom of a suitably-shaped plastic oil can or suchlike - perhaps shaped to fit using heat.

I only paid ?5 for the mower, and I haven't got it running yet, so I don't want to spend big money on it. Everything looks to be in good shape, exept that the petrol tank had rusty sludge and water in the bottom. I have cleaned up the clogged fuel filter etc, and I'll be very surprised if it doesn't run when it's all back together..

PK

[Phil K]

"gareth" wrote in news:mn10j1$mlv$1@dont- email.me:

I beg to differ!

PK

[Chris Hogg]

Small stainless self-tapping screws screwed into each pinhole, with plenty of Hylomar fuel-resistant sealant applied to the thread before screwing them home, so that it squidges out as you finally tighten them?

Or if that doesn't appeal, read some of these

[tabbypurr]

I don't see how that would work. A thin layer of epoxy would work, if on th e cleaned up inside. Soldering is another option, like old school body fill ing.

cool

NT

[F Murtz]

Bit involved in the application to apply it (a few steps required) But it is still going strong after probably more than ten years.

[michael adams]

Polyester resin and one or two layers of glassfibre.

After you've used resin and glassfibre for the first time - towards the end - its final MOT fail - the floorpan of my Austin 1100 consisted mainly of glassfibre patches - you'll realise just how useful it can be for any number of jobs.

You can buy small tins of resin, hardener, and glassfibre from any number of suppliers - although it helps if you have one near. Although you can always pay extra by buying kits of various types.

For some reason GRP never seems as popular a solution as it should be IMO.

michael adams

...

[robgraham]

.133.4.11...

My first vehicle (in 1960) was a war time Standard 12 pickup. Two of us dr ove to the Cuillins in it and woke up on the first morning with an ominous smell of petrol, and the clear evidence of the tank failure in the form of drips !!

Enough was rescued to get us out the Glen Brittle to the nearest pump after we had patched the rust hole with the top of a tin of beans using a glue t hat said "Can be cleaned off with petrol". We got home home some days late r without any further bother.

Rob

[harry]

Self tapping screws coated in Araldite.