Ideas wanted for a replacement fuel tank

[nothanks]

The fuel tank on my 5.5HP Tecumseh-engined MTD chipper/shredder has started to crack and my attempts at welding haven't solved the problem - I think the plastic has just reached the end of its life. The tank part number is Tecumseh 36863 and replacements seem to only be available in the US, so I'm thinking of improvising something. Ideas so far include: perhaps a small plastic fuel container in a frame (but the smallest I can find is 5 litre), or an aluminium water bottle ... but both of these need a way to provide a fuel-tight tapping and a way to let air in. What suggestions has the team got (apart from import from the US)?

[Mark]

ebay

[John Rumm]

Might be worth giving these folks a call:

They have a fairly impressive range of chippers and they also service them.

[nothanks]

I didn't know such a thing existed and it seems to be exactly what I need. Full marks Mark. Thanks!

[The Natural Philosopher]

Most of what you need to D-i-Y is here

if you want more than a liter use a milk bottle?

[newshound]

I tried without success to repair the tank on my Tecumseh Flymo using PetroPatch. I started thinking about other DIY routes but in the end found a genuine spare, perhaps second hand, on eBay.

[alan_m]

Ebay or google search for briggs and stratton fuel tank as used on lawn mowers - there are a variety of shapes for different models.

[Harry Bloomfield, Esq.]

Some sort of screen washer bottle, from a car scrap yard.

[T i m]

Depending on all sorts of things (like how the outlet is provided and if it could be replaced, bolt through sort of thing, as with the replacement Mark found) and the willingness of the plastic to take fibreglass resin [1], is to coat it in fibreglass / chopped strand mat and maybe finish with some tissue.

So rather than trying to repair the crack, you effectively re-form the tank via said new external skin, the bond between fibreglass and plastic only being relevant at the filler, vent and outlet.

Cheers, T i m

[1] I have found some really bond well (so that helps) whist others not at all (can still work but you might need to re-make the connections to the 'outer' tank')

[Brian Gaff (Sofa]

Adapt one from another make or model which is available here? I'd have thought the safety aspect might well be the issue if you make one, after all, does not the breather need a one way valve in it or something? Brian

[Harry Bloomfield, Esq.]

Plenty of space on a tractor, you could even mount the tank to the side of the engine compartment cover panels/ external.

[Harry Bloomfield, Esq.]

Brian Gaff (Sofa) wrote on 23/09/2020 :

They usually have a baffle, to restrict fuel escaping via the vent.

[nothanks]

Thanks for the ideas, but "Mark" gave a winning suggestion only 16 minutes after I asked.

[Andrew]

Does modern petrol with benzene +/- ethanol make the plastic brittle ?, or is it just age ?.

[tabbypurr]

One possibility... Years ago I had a 3l plastic water tank break quite badly. Wanting to use it that day I fitted a large sandwich bag inside it, sealing it as well as was quick & practical to the in & outlet - it's not pressurised. The missing section of side I put duct tape on to support the bag there. It worked so well that it hasn't needed any further attention until recently.

NT

[Jimk]

What tractor?