fuel tank leaking again

37 chief · Apr 8, 2021

My JD 401 B fuel tank started leaking a year or so ago. VC cummings was correct he said it will leak again if I try to fix it. I took it to a radiator shop. They soldered up the crack. The crack is on the front of the tank. Nothing rubbing to male a hole. It is just a small crack right in the open. In a few months it started leaking again. I tried JB Weld it held for a while. Now it is leaking again. All I can do now is JB weld again. I guess I will start looking for a used tank. Part no AR72996
The air cleaner hangs off the center. That may be causing the vibration. may see about mounting it different. Stan

MarkB_MI · Apr 9, 2021

Consider Pro-Seal. It's a polysulfide sealant that's intended for sealing aircraft fuel tanks. It's flexible and fuel-resistant, unlike JB Weld.
Pro Seal

caterpillar guy · Apr 9, 2021

Braze it or weld it should hold. Stronger than solder and JBweld. I've done both to tanks with success. I rarely use JB weld.

K-Mo · Apr 9, 2021

A couple of times I have had success by stabilizing the crack with a pop rivet or two.
Just drilled a hole in the crack, installed a pop rivet and seal with JB weld.
On a Farmall 140, I had a crack at the spot weld holding the internal baffle. JB weld would only hold for a while. Drilled a hole in the crack, installed a truss head, sealed with JB weld. Hasn't leaked since.

wore out · Apr 9, 2021

Years ago we had a good radiator shop nearby.

With a cracked tank he would have soldered a large copper sheet patch over the crank and it wouldn't have leaked again.

He used some fairly thick copper sheet.

Tim in New York · Apr 9, 2021

Had the same problem with my IH 2424 tank. The radiator shop that fixed it for good said the metal fabricator who tried the first time used the wrong process - can't remember now what was correct vs the wrong way. Anywho - the tank no longer leaks but the fittings do now. So another pain in the butt patch up that needs to be done.

Tim

M-MAN · Apr 9, 2021

If it were me and a good tank couldn't be easily found I would repair it. I would drain and clean it good. Grind off the jb weld. Drill a small hole just past the crack on both ends. Put a fitting in the drain to hook up the hose and push about two pounds of dry nitrogen through while I brazed it. The nitrogen is inert and will remove the oxygen so you don't get a fire or boom. If you aren't equipped a buddy in the hvac field may help you out. Just make sure it's super clean before you start.

timcasbolt · Apr 9, 2021

I've had good luck repairing gas tanks with ribbon epoxy.

jacksun65 · Apr 9, 2021

Just bite the bullet and buy a new one plenty available.

Geo-TH,In · Apr 9, 2021

X2, when the inside of my Jubilee tank started flaking some gray crap off the sides. Instead of fighting it, I bought a new tank from YT.
George

Blackhole49 · Apr 9, 2021

If it is on the flat, I had 2 spots with pin holes in the bottom of my first 8n. I had no money, so I cleaned them up real well and added 2 galv. duct work patches held on with Seal All. I wedged them in place for 24 hours. The were still holding when I sold the tractor 14 years later.

dr sportster · Apr 9, 2021

Seal -all will completely stop it .It will last for awhile before requiring further application.

37 chief · Apr 9, 2021

The crack is on the flat about a third way up from the bottom. The tank sits upright in front of the radiator, and is easy to access. Stan

Stephen Newell · Apr 9, 2021

I've never seen any kind of epoxy that would hold up to the gas they make today. You might get someone remove the solder and braze it. If you have access to a low amp wire feed welder you might be able to weld it enough that it will stay together. Then use a fuel tank liner like Red Kote to seal it.

Steve@Advance · Apr 9, 2021

The reason it failed is there is a stress that caused the crack in the first place.

The proper fix will be to drill a hole at each end of the crack, then braze a steel plate over the area.

If there is something stressing the tank, try to relieve the stress by isolating the stress with a rubber mount or redesigning the mount.

37 chief · Apr 9, 2021

That may be my problem. There is an air cleaner attached to the tank, with the precleaner on top of that. Below that is the leak. Stan

Nordic · Apr 9, 2021

I am thoroughly pleased with Permatex Gas Tank Repair. I fixed it first with JB Weld but after two years it came off like banana peel. I fixed it with the Permatex, the second time, all five see-through holes on the bottom. Now, several years later the tank is still 100% leak proof.

timcasbolt · Apr 10, 2021

(quoted from post at 22:00:35 04/09/21) I've never seen any kind of epoxy that would hold up to the gas they make today. You might get someone remove the solder and braze it. If you have access to a low amp wire feed welder you might be able to weld it enough that it will stay together. Then use a fuel tank liner like Red Kote to seal it.

neadatite ribbon epoxy works very well on gas tanks.

Determined · Apr 10, 2021

JB weld is as hard as a rock when cured so it is prone to cracking in a high vibration environment.

If you want to try patching it again get yourself a tube of Seal All and cut a piece of old blue jeans big enough to cover the crack with an extra inch in every direction.

Saturate the denim real good on both sides, you need it basically soaking wet in the stuff then apply it to the tank.

Wear disposable gloves as it gets real messy.

I have lost count of how many patches I have done like this over the years and I have yet to see one fail.

SVcummins · Apr 10, 2021

I have never gotten jb weld to stick to anything with oil or fuel

fuel tank leaking again

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