Aluminum gas tank repair

Temporary repair rub a bar of soap over the crack then slap a trailer patch over it. Permanent fix probably none.
 
Your best bet is to replace it. Once aluminum starts to crack it tends to keep on cracking. You would not believe how many boats got cut up for scrap while I worked at Tracker Marine due to crack and that is how they covered the warranty. They cut the boat up the crack and gave them a new boat
 
Use some of that magic aluminum Flea Market welding rod.!

Lots of guys here bought some years ago and have never had a project to use them on.

One stick should be plenty, maybe somebody can mail you a stick.

:lol:
 
Welding a gas tank is just fine if you know how not to blow your self up that is. That is one thing I point out if I am going to tell some one to do welding on one. You and I may know that but many do not
 
Without seeing it, hard to say.

I have found welding a plate over the crack is more effective than just welding the crack.

Might take it to a welding shop, get their opinion and a price.

There are always aluminum tanks on Ebay to choose from.
 
Make a stop hole with a 1/8" drill bit at each end of the crack, otherwise it will just keep spreading. Seal it with JB weld or weld it with low temperature welding rod. I use a small engine and run the exhaust into the tank. I don't even drain the tank. Unless you have done this before,you could kill yourself!
 
it depends on why it's cracked in most cases. If it is fatigue cracked from a design flaw there is likely not much can be done. If it cracked from vibration or twisting it can likely be fixed if you eliminate the issue. Of it got poked or something then fixing is easy. I would not weld on a gas tank, but have on diesel tanks often and successfully. A good welding shop should be able to do that. Napa sells a 2 part putty for fixing gas tanks that works great and lasts for years. I used it on a tractor tank more than 20 years ago and it is still holding.
 
If it is in a flat area how about putting a patch of the same material over it with small sheet metal screws or pop rivets. Or on a leaking welder gas tank I got some kind of putty-like epoxy that you had to knead a little to mix it up and it hardened just fine and never leaked again. TDF
 
RLP ..... well that's nice of you to remember telling him that he could kill himself ...... always a good idea to pass that along .... ha !!!
 
Two Dogs ...... so are you suggesting a person go from repairing a crack to repairing a crack plus a number of holes from sheet metal screws or pop rivets? Hmmm, I can see the question then ...... how do you repair an aluminum gas tank that has holes in it?
 
Just advice on the aluminum. Any type of welding on a gas tank requires CO2 or some type of inert gas. Now welding with alumaloy welding rods was covered last week on here. That tank must be really thin and if you go on Utube and watch some of the videos showing how to use the stuff. If you FOLLOW the instructions to a "T" the stuff works very well.
 
Ever heard of calk or JB weld or even gasket material? You do know there are things to stop small leaks haven't you? If not, maybe you need to get out more or else have someone read things to you.
 
A bit sensitive today Two Dogs. Hmmm, yes I have heard of that stuff and actually I did read it (and I did it all by myself). Here is your post again for you ....... "If it is in a flat area how about putting a patch of the same material over it with small sheet metal screws or pop rivets. Or on a leaking welder gas tank I got some kind of putty-like epoxy that you had to knead a little to mix it up and it hardened just fine and never leaked again."

I see two solutions that you present in your original post ...... the first one using just a patch of the same material as the tank is made from and attaching it with sheet metal screws or pop rivets. No mention made of JB Weld, gasket material or epoxy there. Then a second method (separated from the first fix by the word "or") which suggests a different method of repair.

I was obviously referring to your patch method #1. So it would seem that I can actually read quite well after all. I suggest you lighten up a bit.
 

Wow! I'm quite impressed with your use of the English language. I thank you for repeating what I wrote since I don't have sense enough to look it up myself. And I have a suggestion of my own. Don't be so Quick to show your superior intelligence by talking down to us mere mortals and to save yourself any further chagrin please don't correspond in any way again with me. I ain't interested.
Ta ta. TDF.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top