Rusted Orchard Sprayer Tank

fpappal · Jul 21, 2017

I have an old John Bean G-200TR orchard sprayer, 300 gallon. Where the tank was welded to the frame, the tank has corroded. The previous owner had some sort of patch over the rust holes but they started to fail. The tank is approx 1/8 inch steel and the inside was zinc coated. I am dealing with rust areas about 3 inches by 5 inches (or less). Some of the rusted metal is jagged and sticking into the tank, so the surface is not very smooth. Does anyone have any experience patching holes like this? I am able to climb inside the tank to get to them. I know the best option is to remove the tank and have new metal welded in, but that is going to be a time consuming fairly expensive option. I am looking for something reasonable inexpensive I can patch the holes with that will also be water tight. I had each hole sandblasted to see what I am working with. I can probably hammer each of the holes somewhat smooth with little effort.

One product that I am pretty sure will work is called a Zip-patch made by a company called Devcon. Problem is each patch is $50. Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

paul · Jul 22, 2017

The problems: with the jagged edges it will trap chemicals in the seams you leave and be very hard to clean.

If these places rusted through, others must be close to doing so, reoccurring problem.

A sealing patch is going to have the sealer possibly react to the so chemicals over time, melting out and leaking again.

Any type of welding or soldering or brazing will be difficult with the zinc coating and the new metal will start rusting and reacting right away.

If there was any way possible, I would toss the metal tank and put in a 300 gallon plastic one. Not knowing what your sprayer looks like or how it works that might be a silly idea I donno.

Paul

fpappal · Jul 22, 2017

I only use the sprayer a few times a year, and when I do it literally takes me 5 minutes to spray my hops. The chemicals are diluted quite a bit so I am essentially spraying water. The tank that is on it actually has two shafts running through it. One shaft drives the propeller on the back side of the sprayer, the other is is used to agitate the chemicals. So a plastic tank would not work. I got a quote of $5000 for a new stainless steel tank.

This is just a hobby of mine so I cannot justify putting more than a couple hundred dollars into this sprayer.
Thanks

retired farmer · Jul 22, 2017

Get you one of those twenty five gallon ATV sprayers, they are only about a hundred and fifty dollars.

Leroy · Jul 22, 2017

Do the shafts go thru tubes in the tank or are there seals that just seal the shafts in the sides of the tank. The plastic tank could be made with the tubes for the shafts. They make all types of tanks about 20 mile from me. Sure they could make one that would work.

mazemeister · Jul 26, 2017

are we talking an airblast sprayer? do you NEED mechanical agitation? if you can get by with hydraulic agitation, i'd think about mounting a new plastic tank in a convenient location and leave the shaft(s) in place. maybe cut off the top of the rusted tank, weld in some supports, plumb accordingly.

keh · Jul 27, 2017

Be very careful welding on a tank that has held chemicals, poison fumes can be released by the heat.

KEH

Leroy · Jul 27, 2017

Your reply should have been to somebody else. I did not say anything about repairing the tank. I said plastic tanks can be made with the tubes in tank that made him thing a plastic tank could not be used.

Dune Country · Jul 28, 2017

if its sandblasted clean just patch it with fiberglass mat and be done with it

fpappal · Jul 31, 2017

I have never used fiberglass mat. Will that form a water tight seal against the metal tank and actually bond to it? Where do you purchase it? NAPA?
thanks

Dune Country · Aug 1, 2017

Yes, NAPA,big box store, hardware store.
Just follow directions and do it in a WELL ventilated area. I have used it to line 5000gal. fresh water tanks on ships and for body work, it will stick.
If it were me I would put a patch on the outside and inside, if doing inside ventilate WELL.
Cut mat to size and put on some wax paper, saturate it with resin, brush some resin on patch area and install mat.if it wants to slide off put some wax paper over it and tape it up.

Rusted Orchard Sprayer Tank

fpappal

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paul

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fpappal

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retired farmer

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Leroy

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mazemeister

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keh

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Leroy

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Dune Country

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fpappal

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Dune Country

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