(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

How to fill in pinholes on a fuel tank without welding

E

EM Iowa

Member
I don't want to weld on this gas tank, but I need to fix a tiny pinhole somehow. The gas tank (F-20) was just painted and there is now a balloon forming in the paint where the leak is at. I will take the tank off the tractor, remove the paint where the leak is, but I don't know what I should do now. It needs to be an immediate fix. I thought of JB Weld, can it resist gasoline? or put a bit of fuel tank liner on the pinhole from the outside? I wanted to check with you guys first. Thanks for any responses
 
I have taken the ball end of a ball peen hammer and hammered the pin hole area inward then fill it in with body puddy or resin. Let it dry sand it flush with the rest of the tank and you can't even tell it's was there. I also put gas tank sealer inside.
 
Napa sells a 2 part putty for fixing gas tanks the works great. Don't know what it's called but you get 2 short strips of putty on a card and you mix them together and stick it on. Works even with gas leaking out, I know this for fact.
 
I have had great success with a product that you can sometimes find at good autoparts stores. The kit consists of a little abrasive, a temp sealer similar to a syptic pencil that one might use to plug a leak on one's face when they nick themselves shaving, an epoxy and a small piece of fiber cloth. It works great.
 
Whatever you do, I'd recommend getting the inside of the tank coated with a sealer. This will help prevent the leak from the inside and will probably help with any external solution you choose.
 
If it's a pretty tractor, the epoxy repair kits seal nicely.
Peen it in a little bit as John B. said so you leave enough on it.
Sand it down smooth, check for leaks and repaint.

I have seen a screw put in them with a piece of inner tube as a gasket.
Doesn't look pretty at all, but it was still holding and the head of the
screw was rusted so bad you couldn't tell if it was slotted or phillips.
 
Look up a product called "Seal All" It is made to be used with petroleum products. You would just need to clean the area that is leaking. Apply the Seal All. It works better if it is applied flat. It spreads out and will smooth itself. Once it is dry it will hold for years. I have used it to repair Car gas tanks for years. Some of them had hole an inch or bigger. On them I cleaned the area up and put Seal All around the hole then put a piece of screen wire over the hole cover all of it with Seal All. When it drys it will last a long time.

You can find it at many places. Walmart has it. Advanced Auto has it. I am sure you would be able to find it locally.
a123186.jpg
 
I'll go along with Colekicker. Have it lined. This is the first one and there will be many more to come in the future if it isn't lined. It isn't all that hard to do and you shouldn't hurt the new paint job if you don't spill any liner on the paint.Jim
 
I heartily endorse Seal All. Gasoline does not aFFect it. Also the peening and epoxy fill is a good method.
 
I have real good luck with JB Weld. I have it on a leaking fitting on my MF 203 tank, and the drain plug on the bottom of a Aluminum fuel tank on a large truck.The area needs to be absoluty squeeky clean. It will harden over night. It's a little runny at first. I would guess about any two part epoxy will also work Stan
 
If I was dictator of all the world the first thing I would do is outlaw JB Weld.
In just the past couple years I have repaired half a dozen leaking tanks that someone puckied up with JB or equivalent.
If you want the patch to last SOLDER IT.
 
I have used the putty that you have to tear off a piece and work it with you fingers to mix it then apply it to the cleaned and lightly sanded area then wait 15minutes or so and repaint. Did a chevy love tank that away bout a year ago still holding. Can't remember exactly what it was called, they used to display it in the parts stores with a penny stuck in it. it's a lot less messy than jb weld and others since it's a putty.
 
I accidentally drilled into the gas tank on a cub several years ago. I JB welded it and have not had a problem in over two years. If for some reason the JB weld started leaking after that amount of time I will gladly spend the 6 or 7 dollars for a new tube to patch it back up. JB weld has worked for me in so many situations it's ridiculous. I think outlawing JB weld is a ludicrous proposal.
 
(quoted from post at 15:29:20 07/26/13) I don't want to weld on this gas tank, but I need to fix a tiny pinhole somehow. The gas tank (F-20) was just painted and there is now a balloon forming in the paint where the leak is at. I will take the tank off the tractor, remove the paint where the leak is, but I don't know what I should do now. It needs to be an immediate fix. I thought of JB Weld, can it resist gasoline? or put a bit of fuel tank liner on the pinhole from the outside? I wanted to check with you guys first. Thanks for any responses
Click to expand...

Temporary repair only: self tapping screw,washer,"O" ring.
 
I have fixed pinhole leaks that a chased with a welder for way to long by heating the tank and then applying green sleeve retainer locktite to the area. I didn't think it would work asm it was on a shovelhead, but it did. The green locktite is spendy though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
Plastic fuel tank
Replies
6
Views
884
MJMJ
M
T
How to measure gas in tank?
2 3
Replies
53
Views
2K
Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse
R
Fuel Tank Leak
Replies
12
Views
667
caterpillar guy
C
M
TO-20 gas tank and repair questions?
Replies
13
Views
1K
Mad Farmer
M
O
630 fuel tank and wiring harness
Replies
4
Views
325
PJH
P
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

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.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top