Dent in gas tank....

Dave H (MI) · Oct 15, 2009

Anyone have a clever way of getting a pretty good dent out of a gas tank from a tree branch falling on it? Guy left this thing sitting under a dying oak and the expected happened.

Wardner · Oct 15, 2009

There is no way you are going to get a good answer without posting a photo. Do you think autobody shops would give collision damage estimates over the phone? Same deal here.

John G. Hasler · Oct 15, 2009

Do you have a compressor? A plumber"s helper?

ScottyHOMeY · Oct 15, 2009

I've heard stories of people riggin' fittings and popping tank dents back out with compressed air, so that's one possibility. Another would involve drilling a hole and putting a slide hammer to it, or cutting a slot in the bottom of the dent so that you could get a tool under to pull it back up on both sides of the slot, adn then have it welded back shut.

How severe is it? Farmall tank? Just the top or did it get the side seam, too?

Ken Christopherson · Oct 15, 2009

If you live in a cold climate, I was told by a feller that you can fill the gas tank about half way or so, and let it freeze. this will pop the dent out. Course it is a bit risky because you can bust the tank if you fill it too full. Just leave the cap off..

glennster · Oct 15, 2009

two ways we get dents like that out. tank must be clean and fume free. method one, stud welder and dent puller. gun spot welds studs to the dented area and slide hammer pulls the dent out.
second method. get some 1/2 inch or 5/8 cold rolled round stock. round one end up n a grinder and smooth with a sanding disc. then make some bends in the rod to make kind of a hook so you can go in thru the filler neck opening and pick the dent out from the inside. sometimes you will need to apply heat to help push the dent out. or take the tank to your nearby body shop and have them take it out for you.

hoof print · Oct 15, 2009

he is not asking you to fix it over the innerwebs, just toss some ideas for fixing a dent.

geeze man, chill out.

armand tatro · Oct 15, 2009

I agree. Pictures are worth a thousand words. Please post some if you can. Armand

CNKS · Oct 15, 2009

You didn't name the tractor. If a letter series or early hundred series (later ones have sheet metal over them anyway), salvage tanks aren't too expensive.

Dave H (MI) · Oct 15, 2009

That's just the way he talks sometimes. He don't mean nothing by it. AND...he is right in his way!

Dave H (MI) · Oct 15, 2009

Shoulda snapped a picture but I am layed up in here with some kinda virus and that cold air outside really troubles me today! It's a Cub I bought for a project. I have had the compressed air idea suggested to me but I have a hard time believing it will work. Leaning toward the body shop idea right now. I'll get a picture of it if I can get my kid to go out and snap one with her phone. Thanks all!

Haas · Oct 15, 2009

Compressed air will push out the flat bottom of the tank before it pushes out any dent. The Cub tank is pretty heavy gage metal and it would take a lot of pressure to push out a dent. You're going to have to use the body shop set up to pull it out, or just use body filler to fill in the dent.

Dr. Bert · Oct 15, 2009

Dave, I removed a dent from a gas tank by capping the gas outlet and fabricating a cap that would allow me to add air. Then I filled the tank with water until nearly full, applied the cap and with a high pressure hand pump slowly added air until the dent was almost completely forced out. Had some body work to do afterwards to make the surface dimple free.-------Bert

Brian Schmidt · Oct 15, 2009

Just bondo it up and be done with it. Pretty thick wall to try pulling a dent out with a stud welder gun. I tried it on my Cub unsuccessfully. Just bondo it and go. Not what guys in the tractor world like to do. But once it is done, no one will ever know but you.

Zach Bouchard · Oct 16, 2009

If its not too bad and isn"t severely creased you may be able to use a cap rigged up to an air compressor with the outlet plugged. I had a gas tank on my m where the top was pushed in a bit but not creased and blowing it out worked weel, but you need to be careful if you do this because you can blow a hole in the seem around the edge. If its creased bad this wont work.

CNKS · Oct 16, 2009

Thick Bondo cracks, can even fall out -- that's why it should be used only for minor imperfections, not a big dent. It can be used if and when the dent is pulled out "satisfactorly".

Brian Schmidt · Oct 16, 2009

Thick bondo can crack and shrink if a single thick layer is put on all at once. It peals off due to the heat it creates when curing. This can create moisture and rust under the surface. Thus preventing a good adhesion.

Recommended procedure is to apply body filler over an epoxy primer. Then seal it in with a final coat of epoxy primer. If bondo is put on in thinner layers and allowed to cure in between, it is fine for many years.

CNKS, I know you are an expert at painting and body work and highly respect your opinion. But I have been doing body work for nearly 25 years too and it does work if done properly.

Dent in gas tank....

Dave H (MI)

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Wardner

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John G. Hasler

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ScottyHOMeY

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Ken Christopherson

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glennster

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hoof print

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armand tatro

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CNKS

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Dave H (MI)

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Dave H (MI)

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Haas

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Dr. Bert

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Brian Schmidt

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Zach Bouchard

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CNKS

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Brian Schmidt

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