Old MM soldered gas tank

F-MM · Feb 8, 2015

I have an old 38 UTS MM that has a bad gas tank. It was pretty good everywhere except the bottom on one end where it rested on a rubber pad is all pitted and rusted through. I cut out that area and made a replacement piece to weld over it but it has to extend over to the edge where the metal is doubled and maybe rolled but when I try to weld it there I just melt the solder out of the old seam or joint. Is there any way to fix this, can I solder my piece on good enough to hold? It is about 6 inches long and the full width of the tank and I curled the ends to follow the rounded tank curve. Any ideas would help. Thanks

87nassaublue · Feb 8, 2015

I believe If the seams are soldered, I'd use solder to make my repair just like the did when they built the tank.

dr sportster · Feb 9, 2015

You will have to stick to solder at this point. Best way is to tin the area so it takes solder and use a stick of solder and a tallow rag to smooth it once you get some built up. This involves just lighlty playing the flame oveer the work area until the solder becomes plastic and lets the rag shape it.

F-MM · Feb 9, 2015

That's interesting, when you say a tallow rag do you mean just a rag with tallow rubbed on or into it? To tin it you mean to heat and melt solder onto the tank surface before trying to make the splice to join the new and old tin pieces. I do know how to solder to some extent but I am just not familiar with the terms that you used here so any help is appreciated.

dr sportster · Feb 10, 2015

The tinning compound has solder in it but it is a prep p[aste that should flow out with the torch first ,then it will allow build up of thicker solder.The tallow comes in a small tub and you rub any cotton rag through it first so it will not stick to the solder. Auto body guys use wooden paddles to work the lead but a rag works much better and gives more control over the shape.Eastwood company supplies everything you need.

F-MM · Feb 10, 2015

Thanks very much, I'll get the supplies and post a picture if it turns out good someday, if not, well then I'll have to find a pro to fix it. It's snowing hard here in ND now so it might have to wait a while.

Old MM soldered gas tank

F-MM

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F-MM

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dr sportster

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F-MM

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