Stupid plastic fuel tanks

Destroked 450

Well-known Member
Location
Harned, Ky
Took the 6610 and batwing mower to a neighbors to mow a field that had to many weeds to make hay. One spot in the field has about 4 stumps were they had cut down some dead trees a few years ago, I knew they were there and was watching for them, I felt a light bump and stopped, looking back I saw I had straddled one and bumped it with the drawbar. I backed up and went around making a circle around that area to avoid any more stumps.
About 1 1/2 later the tractor surged a couple times and that's when I noticed the fuel gauge was on empty, what the h--- I fueled it up before leaving the house. I stopped at the end of the field (100 ft away), shut the mower down and stepped down to see if I was losing fuel, just as my feet hit the ground the tractor died, yes it was out of fuel, 35 gallon gone in 1 1/2 hours mowing, nothing leaking but the bottom of the tank was wet.
Luckily I was only 100 yards from the truck with two 5 gallon jugs of fuel, as I was pouring one jug in I noticed fuel leaking on the ground under the tank. crawled under to find a plastic nipple broke off in the tank.
Apparently the stump hit a little metal guard that surrounded that fitting and when the little guard bent back it broke the plastic nipple.
mvphoto61151.jpg

Anyone got any suggestions on how to fix this, that plastic tank is over $1000 if it's still available.
 

Over 55 years running tractors with steel tanks, the one on our old 800 got a leak at the front mounting bracket, we soldered it. one on a 5200 row crop started leaking in a seam, we did replace that one, never had one rust out it the top but most times one can straighten and repair a steel tank.
How do you fix this plastic crap.
 
(quoted from post at 18:24:57 09/02/20) Is that an unused drain? If so cut it flush and try a boat
plug.

It's a nipple for a cross over line when a tractor has the optional right side tank.

Hoping there's enough room at the bottom to install a bulkhead connecter and brass plug.
But that boat plug is a idea I'll consider, Thanks.
 
(quoted from post at 15:42:38 09/02/20) Took the 6610 and batwing mower to a neighbors to mow a field that had to many weeds to make hay. One spot in the field has about 4 stumps were they had cut down some dead trees a few years ago, I knew they were there and was watching for them, I felt a light bump and stopped, looking back I saw I had straddled one and bumped it with the drawbar. I backed up and went around making a circle around that area to avoid any more stumps.
About 1 1/2 later the tractor surged a couple times and that's when I noticed the fuel gauge was on empty, what the h--- I fueled it up before leaving the house. I stopped at the end of the field (100 ft away), shut the mower down and stepped down to see if I was losing fuel, just as my feet hit the ground the tractor died, yes it was out of fuel, 35 gallon gone in 1 1/2 hours mowing, nothing leaking but the bottom of the tank was wet.
Luckily I was only 100 yards from the truck with two 5 gallon jugs of fuel, as I was pouring one jug in I noticed fuel leaking on the ground under the tank. crawled under to find a plastic nipple broke off in the tank.
Apparently the stump hit a little metal guard that surrounded that fitting and when the little guard bent back it broke the plastic nipple.
mvphoto61151.jpg

Anyone got any suggestions on how to fix this, that plastic tank is over $1000 if it's still available.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fuel-Tank-Well-Nut-A3816-MEP-802A-MEP-803A-Military-Diesel-Generator-wellnut-/274167089040

try one of these??? it expands in the hole when you tighten it up with the cross over fitting.
 
(quoted from post at 06:48:07 09/03/20) It looks like they sell one on this website for $165

That one is for the non cab models, it's steel and mounts under the dash shroud. Cab models only have the plastic saddle tanks mounted under the cab.
 
most auto collision shops have plastic welders and the rods for welding. they do a test to find which plastic it is and can fuse it back together if you have the pieces.
 

Update: I trimmed the broken nipple off and found the inside diameter of the tank fitting was just right to thread a 1/8" pipe tap into, so I tapped the fitting and installed a 1/8" brass pipe plug in the hole with plenty of sealer.
Going to let it set over night before adding fuel to see if it holds, if not we'll move up to a 1/4" plug.
 
(quoted from post at 09:44:17 09/03/20)
Thanks for that link, I wonder what size it is, it'll be fun enlarging the hole without getting to close to the bottom.

you can get different sizes. it's called a wellnut. i think the one for the generator is about 5/8 inch diameter aprox.
 
Well nut will work for a while, but after a short time the gas will deteriorate the rubber. Theyre formulated for water. Gas tanks and lines have to be either HDPE or an HDPE/polypropolene blend to last. There are some epoxies that hold up to gas. I used one to repair a mower cap close to 20 years ago thats still good. Unfortunately I cant recall the brand. But the brass nipple will likely work.
 
(quoted from post at 05:28:17 09/06/20) Well nut will work for a while, but after a short time the gas will deteriorate the rubber. Theyre formulated for water. Gas tanks and lines have to be either HDPE or an HDPE/polypropolene blend to last. There are some epoxies that hold up to gas. I used one to repair a mower cap close to 20 years ago thats still good. Unfortunately I cant recall the brand. But the brass nipple will likely work.

the welnut i posted was for diesel fuel and gas.
 

Let the tractor set over night with the brass plug and sealer to allow the sealer time to cure, yesterday afternoon I poured 5 gallons of diesel in the tank and let it set for another 4 hours, no sign of leakage and the tank was dry around the plug when I crawled under the tractor. I filled the tank with another 30 gallons and so far no leaks, if all looks good tomorrow it'll be headed back to mowing fields with the batwing mower.
 

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