Repairing gas tank leaks?

[Blazlnout]

Ok, so I have used the search feature to some extent but can't find too much info on repairing holes in your tank.. many opinions on dents but not holes.. I have a couple small holes in my BR 200 es gas tank and am wanting to repair them. I am considering brazing it this evening.. I have it all cleaned up and ready for the repair I was just curious if anyone had tried this before? If so how did it turn out? Also if anyone has any other ideas or has used any other methods I would like to hear about that as well..
Thanks

[rugman316]

The only thing I have ever had work is soldering the tank. Brazing seems to be too hot and for every hole you fill you make two more. I have repaired two fairly bad tanks with good permanent results by soldering up the big holes and then using a tank coating from KBS coatings. Thats my experience anyway.

[Blazlnout]

The only thing I have ever had work is soldering the tank. Brazing seems to be too hot and for every hole you fill you make two more. I have repaired two fairly bad tanks with good permanent results by soldering up the big holes and then using a tank coating from KBS coatings. Thats my experience anyway.

Ya know, I was gonna try that first, but when I went looking for solder I couldnt find any "acid core" solder.. which I would imagine would work better and be more forgiving.. so I thought brazing would be better..The holes are very small.. Were you able to sand it smooth to repaint it or no? I figured I would have to push it in slightly to be able to properly fill the hole and sand it down..

[bcredneck]

like rugman said brazing is hard to do but if your good at it its the best way you can fix them my dad fixed one for me but hes been doing it for 20 years and it wont come off when you grind it down solder seems to peel if you hit it with a grinder
but i was restoring a tank so it had to be smoth if its a rider tank and your not painting just solder

[Blazlnout]

like rugman said brazing is hard to do but if your good at it its the best way you can fix them my dad fixed one for me but hes been doing it for 20 years and it wont come off when you grind it down solder seems to peel if you hit it with a grinder
but i was restoring a tank so it had to be smoth if its a rider tank and your not painting just solder

Well, I havent been doing it for 20 years, but it has been probly 8-10 years..I don't need it to look perfect, I mean, I have about 15 dollars into this thing.. Although I don't want it to LOOK like it has 15 dollars in it lol.. So brazing works well if you know what your doing?

[RubberSalt]

I found/created a very effect way for pin holes that are all over... JB weld with acetone mixed in - makes the jb weld pourable, pour it in, let it run down and around everywhere then let dry for a coupla days.

[RubberSalt]

If the holes are big enough, you need to put tape or something to on the back side so the jbweld doesn't run out.

If i had the tools for brazing, i would do that first, then the jb weld trick.

[Blazlnout]

If the holes are big enough, you need to put tape or something to on the back side so the jbweld doesn't run out.

If i had the tools for brazing, i would do that first, then the jb weld trick.

Ya, I considered JB weld but figured the vapor/fumes from inside the tank would eventually just eat through it.. So that worked for you? I think I'm gonna try the brazing here this evening and if that doesnt work I'm gonna try some alternative methods.. Thanks guys!

[RubberSalt]

Yeah, the jb weld method works, jb weld is like.. gasoline proof, i got the acetone info off there website, i just used 5 times as much acetone to get it watery enough, tooks 3 days to dry

[coolpool]

Ok, so I have used the search feature to some extent but can't find too much info on repairing holes in your tank.. many opinions on dents but not holes.. I have a couple small holes in my BR 200 es gas tank and am wanting to repair them. I am considering brazing it this evening.. I have it all cleaned up and ready for the repair I was just curious if anyone had tried this before? If so how did it turn out? Also if anyone has any other ideas or has used any other methods I would like to hear about that as well..
Thanks
Go to advanced search, type in "gas tank repair". I got 6 pages worth of info. I used POR-15 to fix my tank. Worked great. I'm sure the brazing idea is more durable though.

[beets442]

+1 kbs..............

[bcredneck]

if you got brazing experiance you should be fine jb weld dose work to but it cracks over time if your hard on it that what i used before i got it brazed lasted 6 months but if you repaint you want it permitent braze it you can grind it thin to so you wont notice it the main thing i learnt working at a auto body shop is the best thing to fix metal is more metal

[Dirtcrasher]

I brazed mine, you can't get it too hot and the 3/32 flux bronze rod seems best.

I would not use a coat hanger/other, I'd go to my local welding supplier and ask what to use, bring the tank......

[Blazlnout]

I brazed mine, you can't get it too hot and the 3/32 flux bronze rod seems best.

I would not use a coat hanger/other, I'd go to my local welding supplier and ask what to use, bring the tank......

No, I will definitely use brazing rods.. I'm not too sure what I have on hand.. So no opinions on the acid core solder? Just trying to see what everyone thinks. Also, like I said, she's no show trike lol but I would like it to look decent, from a distance at the very least.. Thanks again for the opinions guys!

[bcredneck]

if you grind down the brazeing and prep the rest of it properly it could look like a nos tank its all about how much time you put into it ive made a total pos look good

[bcredneck]

this tank looked like it got it a fight with a crack head with a hammer you will never gess where the brazing is
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=115898&d=1296863966
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=115899&d=1296863999

[Blazlnout]

Cool, so the general consensus is brazing is most likely the best way to go if possible.. Thanks a ton guys for all your input, I really appreciate it.

[swampthang]

I want to try and save my 350x tank. It's got a rip in it near the bottom seam by the seat. I've tryed to use this putty called quick steal and it works great for about 2 weeks then gas seeps through it. Is JB weld a better product to use? should I try the putty or the 2 part epoxy stuff(really runny kind of a pain to work with) The rip is prolly about 3/4 inch long and kind of rusty. Thinking about the hole brazing thing but how do you get a gas tank safe to braze on? Ive drained the tank about 3 months ago.

[Blazlnout]

I want to try and save my 350x tank. It's got a rip in it near the bottom seam by the seat. I've tryed to use this putty called quick steal and it works great for about 2 weeks then gas seeps through it. Is JB weld a better product to use? should I try the putty or the 2 part epoxy stuff(really runny kind of a pain to work with) The rip is prolly about 3/4 inch long and kind of rusty. Thinking about the hole brazing thing but how do you get a gas tank safe to braze on? Ive drained the tank about 3 months ago.

If it has been empty that long it should be fine, I emptied mine just a day or two ahead of time, just leave the cap off and let it air out.

[swampthang]

Been thinking about it some more. Could you use the putty to patch the holes then coat the inside of the tank? Would that be enough to permanently seal it up tight? Just wanting to use something on the outside that I can sand down and put Body Filler over it and get ready for paint. Seems like a metal tank is worth saving expecially for a 350x.

[Blazlnout]

Been thinking about it some more. Could you use the putty to patch the holes then coat the inside of the tank? Would that be enough to permanently seal it up tight? Just wanting to use something on the outside that I can sand down and put Body Filler over it and get ready for paint. Seems like a metal tank is worth saving expecially for a 350x.




I'm sure you could, they make a few different things that I've heard about (por-15, Kreem) and there are people that have used them with success. In my personal opinion though the best way to fix it would be with brazing, or possibly an acid core solder. I would stay away from coatings and jb weld and whatnot unless the tank is too bad, but that's just me.

[RubberSalt]

Nice job on that gastank - you really cant tell where you brazed it, unless your not showing it in the picture:-p

So far, I've had success with the jbweld+acetone mix, but if i had the tools available, i would braze it. then do the jbweld.

use the 2 part epoxy, not the jbweld kwik. mix in way more acetone than needed - 10 teaspoons for 2 ounces. Once it's runny, pour it in the tank and let it seal up all the pin holes, If you don't braze it, you'll need something so the jbweld wont run out and on to the floor. If your ghetto and cheap like me, epoxy the outside, remove the paint, rough up the metal, and epoxy - i used a ton of that quick steel crap - it is crap for gas tanks. Then after it leaked, i did the jbweld - no more leak :) - looks like crap but so does the rest of the trike lol.

I'm going on 3 weeks with the mix and no leaks yet - ill update you if it leaks, jbweld and quicksteel are both 'safe' to use on gas tanks.

[st222]

do yourself a favor & get marine tex, better then jb weld, its the best stuff on the market imo.. if any1 knows anything about it they'll tell ya!!!!!!

[bcredneck]

its brazed on the entire seam on the bottom of the tank on the valve side