How To Repair Any Plastic Fuel Tank On Small Power Equipment

If you've recently noticed a crack, split, or leak on your mower's plastic gas tank, y'all're probably wondering whether you tin can fix information technology or if you should but supplant information technology. Every bit long equally there isn't a gaping hole in the tank, it's most likely repairable!

At that place are many different means people endeavour to fix a broken plastic gas tank, only if yous're looking for something permanent (rather than a temporary solution), read on to learn how to repair your plastic gas tank!

What You'll Demand

• Soldering Iron
• Air Compressor
• Rubbing Booze
• Cotton Swab
• Sandpaper
• Water
• Dish Soap
• Spray Bottle

Step-by-Step

1. Check for leaks

You lot already know in that location is at least one cleft, merely there may be others that are difficult to see. To discover them, fill upwardly your spray bottle with water, and then add dish soap. Shake to mix, then spray this solution on a department of your gas tank. After y'all've sprayed a section, ensure the gas cap is on tightly and slightly compress the tank.

If you run across any bubbles pop upwardly, this means there is a crack there (the air inside is being forced out, creating bubbles in the solution). For maximum accurateness, check the tank in pocket-size sections. Repeat this process until yous are sure yous've located all of the cracks.

two. Remove any fuel from the tank

After you lot've removed any gas, exit the gas cap off of the tank. Accept your air compressor and accident out the within of your gas tank until you are confident that no gasoline fumes remain. Although it's highly unlikely that the soldering iron volition cause whatsoever sparks capable of igniting the fumes, information technology's always best to err on the side of caution anyway!

3. Sand down the surface effectually the crack

Use sandpaper on the expanse effectually the crack, making it smooth as possible. This makes the plastic easier to work with, eliminates surface dirt/crud, and besides removes some of the gasoline/oil on the plastic.

four. Clean the surface around the crack

Since we're going to exist melting the tank back in on itself, we desire the plastic to be as pure as possible. This ways getting all gas, oil, and other contaminants off of the surface we'll exist melting. Soak your cotton swab in rubbing booze, and then use it to clean off the crack. Make the surface area equally make clean as possible earlier moving onto the adjacent pace.

5. Use the soldering iron to create a groove

Taking the soldering iron, push into the plastic slightly and make a groove downwardly the center of the crack. Avoid pushing down too difficult, as y'all don't want to create a hole in the tank. Make sure this groove extends the entire length of the crevice you're fixing, leaving a melted groove in place of the crack.

6. Fill the groove using the surrounding plastic

Now that we've created a groove in your plastic gas tank, it'due south time to make full information technology in! In a scraping motion, use the soldering iron to pull the surrounding plastic (which will be melting as you do this) into the groove. Don't scrape too much from one spot; try to evenly scrape plastic from all effectually the groove to ensure the integrity of the tank.

7. Shine out the melted plastic

Once you've successfully filled up the groove with the surrounding plastic you lot've scraped in there, information technology's time to make it (somewhat) visually highly-seasoned. Making a circular motion, smooth out the plastic in the groove with the surrounding plastic. This will cease up looking quite burnt, so don't worry too much about getting it perfect. If y'all prefer a smoothen surface, you can always run sandpaper over the area after you've smoothed it out with the soldering atomic number 26.

viii. Check your work

Subsequently the plastic has re-hardened, it'south time to bank check your work! Fill the gas tank support, replace the gas cap, and milk shake the tank. If it doesn't leak, congratulations! You've successfully fixed the plastic gas tank on your lawn mower! If it does, simply repeat the procedure until the leak has been sealed.

Although this guide was designed with backyard mower gas tanks in listen, you can use the same process to fix the gas tanks on your weed eaters, edgers, and other handheld tools. Smaller tanks may have thinner plastic, so keep that in mind when creating your groove!

Alternative Options

If you'd prefer to avoid melting your gas tank, you tin also try a patching kit. The procedure is somewhat similar: beginning by removing any remaining fuel and sanding off the cracked expanse.

From here, follow the instructions on your patching kit. Some may require mixing the agglutinative compound, while others may non, so make sure to read the instructions over before attempting your repair.

When Replacing Your Tank Is the Better Option

While repairing a tank is usually the preferred option, there are some times where repairing your tank simply isn't practical (or feasible). Here are some situations where you'd want to consider replacing the tank altogether.

• You accept multiple holes/cracks in your gas tank.
• The crack extends across the majority of the tank.
• Your tank has large holes.
• You've previously attempted to fix a fissure, but it has returned.

Wrapping It Upward

There you have information technology, the 8 steps on how to fix a plastic gas tank on your lawn mower. Let me know how it goes in the comments.

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Source: https://commercialmowerreviews.com/how-to-fix-plastic-gas-tank/

Posted by: kernsaftervince84.blogspot.com

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