…… Patching a lawn mower gas tank?

Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I've got a riding mower that has developed a few hairline cracks in the top of the poly gas tank; the rest of the tank is sound.

Is there a commercial product anyone has experience using and could recommend to seal the hairline cracks in a poly tank?

I'd replace it, and eventually will, but the part is not available just now and would require some down time to disassemble the steering console and all associated cabling to get it done.

TIA.
 
Last edited:
BassMan

BassMan

Veteran Member
Tristan said:
I've got a riding mower that has developed a few hairline cracks in the top of the poly gas tank; the rest of the tank is sound.

Is there a commercial product anyone has experience using and could recommend to seal the hairline cracks in a poly tank?

I'd replace it, and eventually will, but the part is not available just now and would require some down time to disassemble to console to get it done.

TIA.
Click to expand...

Poly? I assume a plastic of some sort. There are plastic glues, but they are somewhat specific to the type of plastic. I recently found some epoxy specific to plastic (worked well repairing a vacuum cleaner), but don't recall if it was JB weld.

Typically, glues for plastic melt the plastic a bit.
 
Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Hfcomms said:
JB Weld

A thousand and one uses or just about any kind of epoxy.
Click to expand...

JB weld is awesome stuff. Repaired an oil pan for a friend once, where he had bottomed out and punched a small hole. It was just until he could 'get a new one'.

It was still on the car when he traded it about 3 years later! Never leaked.

I have some two-part clear (turns yellow, actually) I was considering using but wasn't sure about the resistance or interaction with fuel.

Thanks for the recommendation.
 
West

West

Senior
Go to auto parts store and ask. That's what I did a couple plastic gas tanks ago. Bought what they recommended and is advertised so.

Good luck.
 
West

West

Senior
Macgyver said:
JB weld, just scuff up the area and clean of any oil residue. Rubbing alcohol works.
Click to expand...
White vinegar is my go to to clean surfaces. Also use it as a cleaner before painting. Trick is to use soap and water after the white vinegar, then wash with hot water. The vinegar opens the pores, soap washes them out, and hot water washes out the oils the soap left behind.
 
Dennis Olson

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
I don’t think JB Weld will work on plastic. Metal doesn’t flex like plastic does, and JB Weld is very rigid. Further, I don’t think any adhesive will work for this application. Perhaps one of the FlexSeal products, but even then, I’d pull the tank and coat the whole thing with FlexSeal.

But any kind of glue just won’t work. You might be able to get a used/replscement tank on eBay though.
 
Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
_______________
Dennis Olson said:
I don’t think JB Weld will work on plastic. Metal doesn’t flex like plastic does, and JB Weld is very rigid. Further, I don’t think any adhesive will work for this application. Perhaps one of the FlexSeal products, but even then, I’d pull the tank and coat the whole thing with FlexSeal.

But any kind of glue just won’t work. You might be able to get a used/replscement tank on eBay though.
Click to expand...

I've also used the FlexSeal tape.
 
U

UglyBird

Contributing Member
We had a hole scraped in the keel of a plastic kayak. I have had some bad experiences trying to repair a polyethylene pool line so figured there was no way to fix it. I think polyethylene is a first cousin to Teflon because nothing would stick to it. The local hardware store said to use the blue Permatex gasket material that comes in a tube. That seemed to stick and as far as I know it's still floating.
 
West

West

Senior
Dobbin said:
Owner would probably try two tube epoxy. As in - rough up the surface around the crack with some sandpaper (to give the epoxy something to grab) and then put it on not too thick.

Dobbin
Click to expand...
That's what the auto parts store sold me. It was a two part system. Wasn't JB weld. And it heated up once mixed. Then made a great repair, on three tanks and alike. Need to get more, I'm all out.
 
Southside

Southside

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Replace. Most likely made of some type of high impact plastic. And when it comes to gasoline, it will eat through just about anything it can dissolve, which is just about everything.
 
RememberGoliad

RememberGoliad

Veteran Member
I've had luck using that paint-on electrical tape, the stuff in the yellow can that's kinda the consistency of plasti-dip. In fact, that may be its name. I've seen it in both Walmart and Harbor Fright in the automotive wiring section.

What drew me to try it on a plastic gas tank was when Dad used it one time to paint on a soldered connection in the gas tank on a fuel pump power wire. Ten years later, it still looked the same as it did when we made that repair....gasoline did not dissolve it.

Paint it on several coats thick, waiting ~30 min between coats (long enough to start to cure)

EDIT: Here it is... Starbrite Liquid Electrical Tape

1710375486518.png
 
Last edited:
Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Shadow said:
I used an empty gallon bottle for acetone. I cut it in strips and used a head gun to melt them together. Id does not look new but it works new on a 24 yr old backpack blower.

Search uTube for welding plastic.

Shadow
Click to expand...


I've got a new-in-box plastic welding kit. Haven't used it yet for it's intended purpose; maybe one day.

Reason I've not considered it for this job is high heat and gas fumes is concerning for me at least.

I'm going to give one of these a try: 2 part epoxy, JB Weld (might have some in hand already), or the Silver Tape, or Superglue/Baking soda.

It is a temp fix, after all...
 
Last edited:
BassMan

BassMan

Veteran Member
Tristan said:
I've got a new-in-box plastic welding kit. Haven't used it yet for it's intended purpose; maybe one day.

Reason I've not considered it for this job is high heat and gas fumes is concerning for me at least.

I'm going to give one of these a try: 2 part epoxy, JB Weld (might have some in hand already), or the Silver Tape.

It is a temp fix, after all...
Click to expand...

Yep, plastic welding is "a thing", but was not gonna mention it. Better empty the tank of gas - and fumes - before using the welder...
 
Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
BassMan said:
Yep, plastic welding is "a thing", but was not gonna mention it. Better empty the tank of gas - and fumes - before using the welder...
Click to expand...

Yep.

Which leads back to the problem of having to disassemble the console to get it out.

When I get a new tank and steering joint, I'll do both at the same time. Get the PITA over with in one go. ;)

Thanks for the ..... (Help), everyone!
 
Shadow

Shadow

Swift, Silent,...Sleepy
Tristan said:
I've got a new-in-box plastic welding kit. Haven't used it yet for it's intended purpose; maybe one day.

Reason I've not considered it for this job is high heat and gas fumes is concerning for me at least.

I'm going to give one of these a try: 2 part epoxy, JB Weld (might have some in hand already), or the Silver Tape.

It is a temp fix, after all...
Click to expand...
Yes, my tank had been empty and airing out for a while before I tried this.

The ideal temp for plastic welding seems to be ~210F.

There are sealants used in aviation that will seal a tank like yours. https://www.ppgaerospace.com/getmed...c7ef6999598d/PRC_SealantBrochure0077.pdf.aspx
They will be expensive and I do not know where to obtain them outside of the aviation industry.
This is the company.
PPG PREFORMED SEALANTS - PPG Industries - Aerospace

Shadow
 
R

rs657

Veteran Member
JB Weld 50133 Plastic Bonder it is NOT the same as J-B WELD PLASTICWELD

J-B Weld's Plastic Bonder Syringe is a quick curing epoxy that sets in 15 minutes and cures in 30 minutes, with a strength of 3770 PSI. Ideal for repairing all ABS, PVC, polyurethane, and polypropylene plastics. Features an easy to use syringe dispenser, with no mess and no waste cap necessary. Also includes stir stick and mixing tray.

www.jbtools.com

JB Weld Plastic Bonder Syringe, 25 ml Quick-Set Adhesive (50133)

Achieve durable, strong bonding on plastic surfaces with JB Weld Plastic Bonder 50133, a quick-setting 25 ml adhesive syringe ideal for various repairs.
www.jbtools.com www.jbtools.com
 
P

Publius

TB Fanatic
Not being able to see what you have does not help, but MTD makes most of the lawn mowers in this country.
If it is mounted on the other side of the console from the steering wheel next to the engine you can find a used replacement and you will need a few zip ties to mount it as that how most of them are done.
 
ShadowMan

ShadowMan

Designated Grumpy Old Fart
There are epoxies that are designed to repair plastic gas tanks. Any good Auto Part store should carry it. Had a big chunk of metal pierce my Dodge Caravan's plastic gas tank. Worked just fine until I could replace the tank.
 
Last edited:
RememberGoliad

RememberGoliad

Veteran Member
Publius said:
Not being able to see what you have does not help, but MTD makes most of the lawn mowers in this country.
If it is mounted on the other side of the console from the steering wheel next to the engine you can find a used replacement and you will need a few zip ties to mount it as that how most of them are done.
Click to expand...

Tristan, if it's the under-hood tank, I might have one laying around, hiding in a dead tractor. PM incoming...
 
mikeho78

mikeho78

Contributing Member
There's another one that uses an epoxy resin that is cured with a UV LED. It used to be called 5-Minute Fix-it, but I believe JB Weld bought them out or came up with a similar recipe.
The stuff cures quickly and bonds well. Even if it doesn't work, the stuff is still fun to tinker with.

I'd try the previously mentioned baking soda/ super glue mix first, though.
 
W

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
Adding: The Seal-All that I mentioned above, last night. It's a resin that holds up under the chemical actions of fuel. I use it in hard to reach parts of kerosene oil lamp fonts. Once the leak is sealed , it stays sealed under the conditions of being immersed in kerosene/lamp oil.

Not saying it's the only product that will work, but whatever you find, make sure it's indicated for plastic, and that it holds up to contact with fuel.

61eYqu+hdcL._AC_SL1000_.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top