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Repairing Tractor Fuel Tank

B

Bill Carlton

New User
I have a John Deere AO (styled and 1953 model) where the fuel tank has holes in the bottom. I have gotten a welder to repair it. I need to put some type liquid in the tank to make sure that it doesn't leak before it is remounted on the tractor. Since it could still have leaks, I don"t want to put gasoline in it because it may require further welding. Does anyone have a suggestion what liquid I put in it, as I heard water may not reveal all of the leaks? Thanks.
 
How about using a few pounds of air? Seal off the filler cap with piece off inner tube and a hose clamp and rig up a couple of fitting that screw into the bottom. Wont take much, 10lbs and spray the area in question with soap/water mixand watch for bubbles.

Nate
 
I think water will work because the welded area has been heated to welding temp, and had no water repelling tendencies. It is pretty easy to remove the water with a blow dryer on the outside an air movement on the inside to blow out the moist air.
If flux was used it might be more difficult to assess the leakage with either fuel, or water, due to the sealing (temporary) of fluxes.
If the tank has flat sides do not put pressure in it nore than 1 or 2 PSI or it will bulge the sides. Jim
 
You are right in that water can miss some leaks. I use air pressure and windex to find leaks. The windex works best that I've found. Don't buy cheap windex either. Get the real thong. Never been let down with that system.
 
sorry - just re-read your post - stating you may need to re-weld.

Kerosene's not as volatile as gasoline, but I'm not sure I'd want to heat a tank of it it with a welder...
 
I use drug store alcohol. It evaporates out of the tank easy. I can dump it out on the ground without killing stuff..
 
That worked for me, once, when I was trying to find an air leak in the fuel system on a full sized Blazer with a 6.2 diesel.

Only I made an adapter on a fuel cap to connect an air hose. Then put a regulator in line with the air hose with the regulator turned down to zero.

Gradually increased air pressure a pound at a time. When I hit about 5-7 pounds pressure a fine stream of diesel fuel shot out of a fitting by the fuel filter.
 
Several people mentioned using air pressure to find a leak. It's easy to bulge a tank if you're not careful, or lucky, but you can cut a cheap bicycle inner tube and hose clamp it on a tank and then air up the bike tube until it busts without hurting the tank. It gives you enough pressure to check for leaks using Windex or soapy water. I've used that method on radiators.
 
If you suspect the weldor left some pinholes then. you need to use a dye and spray the bottom of the tank with footpowder. Magnaflux has a system for this but it is very smelly if you have to go back and weld more. Any leaks is a fire hazard.
 
by the way - not sure if anybody mentioned this - but have you considered just lining the tank?

It'd take care of any small pinholes, and you wouldn't have to worry so much about future rust.
 
At the Maule aircraft factory we were high tech. A clamp made of a couple of two by fours over top and bottom. About two pounds air pressure and a soap bottle. TDF
 
The best liquid I could suggest putting in your tank is glass fibre resin....In fact I would not put it in the tank but I would paint it on the outside. Mask off the sides of the tank and turn it upside down and paint it just like using paint.....the masking tape will stop the resin from running over the sides. When it is hard you can sand the edges and paint over the resin and it will not be noticed. I did my tractor tank in 1985 without welding and it is still good.......Sam
 
To pressure test a tank you only need a bit of pressure. When we built fuel tanks we pressure all of the tanks the apprentices welded. One apprentice uses so much he bulged the tank, About .5 -.7 is enough, (see the decimal point!)
 
Go to a motorcycle dealer and get a kit of Kreem. It's made for that exact purpose. You might need 2 for a tractor fuel tank but follow the directions to a T. Comes with the cleaner and the tank lining.
 
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