Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank External Repair

April 20, 2020 20

The first goal is stop the leak and defer future leaks. This is a job for the professional, so a radiator shop having the proper equipment and expertise to repair radiator and fuel tanks should be able to fix the leaking tank.

IMPORTANT: Fuel tanks carry petrol fumes/vapors that are very dangerous if welding is done at the tank. The tank should be filler with water to "gas free" the internals. if this is not done welding will ignite the vapors with fatal results to the operator.

The repair shop has also stressed out this hazzard and proposed to solder the tank rather than welding it. Soldering does not involve sparks or arcs so it is safe to work on. it has highly recommnded to patch all welds (16 in total) as the welds pose weak spots on the tank bottom.

Fuel Tank > Fuel Tank External Repair
The spot welds are located and wire wheeled.
More wire-wheeling around the tank bottom.
All welds should be free from old paint.
All welds are back to bare metal.
The round shaped hammer makes sure that the welds are flat.
Flat spot welds will ensure perfect soldering.
The surface is wiped with thinner in order to ensure proper soldering.
Patches being prepared.
Patches are almost ready in round shape.
Brass patches ready to be soldered.
This is the soldering iron being prepared. It is not an electrical powered one but a liquid gas one. A flame heats up the soldering tip as we want rapid heating that the electrical one can't provide.
Solder is being applied on the hot iron tip.
The first layer of solder is applied to the tank spot welds.
More spot welds soldered.
Since the soldering iron is cools after a few minutes, the operator must be quick applying as many as possible layers of solder.
A total number of 16 welds must be patched so this makes 16 layers of solder in the first run and another 16 patches on the second run. The procedure involves the first layer of solder applied directly on the metal, then the brass patch will be applied on top of the solder layer and finally a final layer of solder on top of the brass patch.
That's why the operator must be quick in order to be able to finish as many patches as possible taking into account that the soldering iron will not stay hot for too long.
That's the parch while being applied.
This is the second round of soldering; the brass patches are being applied.
That's the final result after the third application of solder.
A layer of black rattle can paint is applied.