Repair of crack in Fuel Tank
 

Hello,

A friend has a CJ?? with a plastic or fibreglass type fuel tank in it that
has a crack.
Is there any way to repair it?

TIA

Erik

Re: Repair of crack in Fuel Tank
 

If its a fiberglass tank the repair is very easy with epoxy and
fiberglass tape.
If its polyethylene .... the repair is IMPOSSIBLE -- NO way to repair a
polyethylene tank that is reliable.

ELAhrens wrote:
> Hello,
>
> A friend has a CJ?? with a plastic or fibreglass type fuel tank in it that
> has a crack.
> Is there any way to repair it?
>
> TIA
>
> Erik
>
>

Re: Repair of crack in Fuel Tank
 

If its a fiberglass tank the repair is very easy with epoxy and
fiberglass tape.
If its polyethylene .... the repair is IMPOSSIBLE -- NO way to repair a
polyethylene tank that is reliable.

ELAhrens wrote:
> Hello,
>
> A friend has a CJ?? with a plastic or fibreglass type fuel tank in it that
> has a crack.
> Is there any way to repair it?
>
> TIA
>
> Erik
>
>

Re: Repair of crack in Fuel Tank
 

If its a fiberglass tank the repair is very easy with epoxy and
fiberglass tape.
If its polyethylene .... the repair is IMPOSSIBLE -- NO way to repair a
polyethylene tank that is reliable.

ELAhrens wrote:
> Hello,
>
> A friend has a CJ?? with a plastic or fibreglass type fuel tank in it that
> has a crack.
> Is there any way to repair it?
>
> TIA
>
> Erik
>
>

Re: Repair of crack in Fuel Tank
 

RichH wrote:

> If its a fiberglass tank the repair is very easy with epoxy and
> fiberglass tape.
> If its polyethylene .... the repair is IMPOSSIBLE -- NO way to repair a
> polyethylene tank that is reliable.

Well, perhaps not *exactly* true...

Maybe "financially not worth it" as opposed to "impossible", but:

If all the fuel were drained, the tank cleaned, and the fumes evacuated...

One of those plastic welding units might do it.

http://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/109/html/3108.html

I've used these units to fix water tanks, but never a fuel tank. Ugly,
but when done right, the "patch" is stronger than the original tank.

They sell polyethylene and polypropylene welding rods that go along with
it. Also, McMaster sells sheets of both types of material, which could
be used as a "patch". There may be a handyman or repair service that has
one of these units in his area.

If said handyman or service refuses to work on a fuel tank or warrant
the work, then I'd say for all practical purposes, you're right!

And since we're talking about dropping the whole thing anyway, might as
well get a brand new tank...and a skid plate to prevent it from
happening again.



>
> ELAhrens wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> A friend has a CJ?? with a plastic or fibreglass type fuel tank in it
>> that
>> has a crack.
>> Is there any way to repair it?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Erik
>>
>>
>

Re: Repair of crack in Fuel Tank
 

RichH wrote:

> If its a fiberglass tank the repair is very easy with epoxy and
> fiberglass tape.
> If its polyethylene .... the repair is IMPOSSIBLE -- NO way to repair a
> polyethylene tank that is reliable.

Well, perhaps not *exactly* true...

Maybe "financially not worth it" as opposed to "impossible", but:

If all the fuel were drained, the tank cleaned, and the fumes evacuated...

One of those plastic welding units might do it.

http://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/109/html/3108.html

I've used these units to fix water tanks, but never a fuel tank. Ugly,
but when done right, the "patch" is stronger than the original tank.

They sell polyethylene and polypropylene welding rods that go along with
it. Also, McMaster sells sheets of both types of material, which could
be used as a "patch". There may be a handyman or repair service that has
one of these units in his area.

If said handyman or service refuses to work on a fuel tank or warrant
the work, then I'd say for all practical purposes, you're right!

And since we're talking about dropping the whole thing anyway, might as
well get a brand new tank...and a skid plate to prevent it from
happening again.



>
> ELAhrens wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> A friend has a CJ?? with a plastic or fibreglass type fuel tank in it
>> that
>> has a crack.
>> Is there any way to repair it?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Erik
>>
>>
>

Re: Repair of crack in Fuel Tank
 

RichH wrote:

> If its a fiberglass tank the repair is very easy with epoxy and
> fiberglass tape.
> If its polyethylene .... the repair is IMPOSSIBLE -- NO way to repair a
> polyethylene tank that is reliable.

Well, perhaps not *exactly* true...

Maybe "financially not worth it" as opposed to "impossible", but:

If all the fuel were drained, the tank cleaned, and the fumes evacuated...

One of those plastic welding units might do it.

http://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/109/html/3108.html

I've used these units to fix water tanks, but never a fuel tank. Ugly,
but when done right, the "patch" is stronger than the original tank.

They sell polyethylene and polypropylene welding rods that go along with
it. Also, McMaster sells sheets of both types of material, which could
be used as a "patch". There may be a handyman or repair service that has
one of these units in his area.

If said handyman or service refuses to work on a fuel tank or warrant
the work, then I'd say for all practical purposes, you're right!

And since we're talking about dropping the whole thing anyway, might as
well get a brand new tank...and a skid plate to prevent it from
happening again.



>
> ELAhrens wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> A friend has a CJ?? with a plastic or fibreglass type fuel tank in it
>> that
>> has a crack.
>> Is there any way to repair it?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Erik
>>
>>
>

Re: Repair of crack in Fuel Tank
 

In theory yes.

When I dropped my tank on a trail and tore a hole in the corner I called
around to plastics places and tank makers and found one who said they
could 'try' and fix it, but they wouldn't offer a warranty for the work.

I found a used tank instead.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

ELAhrens wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> A friend has a CJ?? with a plastic or fibreglass type fuel tank in it that
> has a crack.
> Is there any way to repair it?
>
> TIA
>
> Erik

Re: Repair of crack in Fuel Tank
 

In theory yes.

When I dropped my tank on a trail and tore a hole in the corner I called
around to plastics places and tank makers and found one who said they
could 'try' and fix it, but they wouldn't offer a warranty for the work.

I found a used tank instead.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

ELAhrens wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> A friend has a CJ?? with a plastic or fibreglass type fuel tank in it that
> has a crack.
> Is there any way to repair it?
>
> TIA
>
> Erik

Re: Repair of crack in Fuel Tank
 

In theory yes.

When I dropped my tank on a trail and tore a hole in the corner I called
around to plastics places and tank makers and found one who said they
could 'try' and fix it, but they wouldn't offer a warranty for the work.

I found a used tank instead.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

ELAhrens wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> A friend has a CJ?? with a plastic or fibreglass type fuel tank in it that
> has a crack.
> Is there any way to repair it?
>
> TIA
>
> Erik