How To Fix A Cracked Plastic Gas Tank

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5 жыл бұрын

Is your plastic fuel tank cracked, leaking or punctured? You have two options, replace it or repair it. Why not try to fix it first?
Over time, through regular use, your tank may get damaged and the entire fuel supply will be compromised.
Have you tried other patch options such as soldering trimmer line to the crack and then it just peeled off? Different compositions of plastics do not bond together properly.
Instead of using Seal-All, other sealants or epoxy, do it yourself with a soldering iron. I'll show you how. Watch now.
If this doesn't seal your plastic gas tank, then it's time to replace it.
This repair applies to weedeaters, hedgers, chainsaws, leaf blowers etc.
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@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 4 жыл бұрын

Click here for a soldering iron---- amzn.to/2Uinwxg Click here for my website--- www.stevessmallenginesaloon.com/ Click here for my Parts and Tools Store---- www.amazon.com/shop/stevessmallenginesaloon

@pietrosenerchia1786 3 жыл бұрын

Steve great video by the way about soldering fuel plastic tanks..would you also recommend using a bit of epoxy resin for fiberglass after a plastic weld been done on it..for some one that doesn't do it very often..

@mongomay1 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Steve for your common sense approach after trying many different repair methods and seeing what works and lasts for plastic type gas fuel tanks! Try carb cleaner or acetone to draw the contamination out of the crack/defect to get it cleaner. One tip I read about was to preheat the repair area with hot-air gun. This I think will help in sweating out the defect/crack contaminants and also as in metal welding make the plastic more acceptable to the concentrated heat zone. The cleaner the better your repair! I cut up clean milk jugs into strips to use as raw filler and the red caps for use on gas jugs. There is a symbol and usually a recycle code that will tell you what your plastic source is made from. HDPE is pretty common, look on your different products stored in plastic to understand more of the chemicals and solvents it has a safe use with. Use similar materials, I have the neck of my mower gas tank shear off from being too thin. I will be laying in milk jug material and metal mesh screen layers to build the neck back thicker to support the cap twisting. It is over a hundred bucks to replace the gas tank, which I have done before, so that for now is going to be my path forward in repair. I bought an inexpensive electric plastic welding kit from HF. HDPE Polyethylene Semi-flexible, melts & smears when grinding, usually semi-translucent, waxy or greasy feel. Overflow tanks, inner fender panels, water storage tanks, gas tanks, kayaks, canoes, playground equipment. Method AW-1 or N2-1 with high density polyethylene rod (R12 series). Link to plastics information and how to tips and videos: www.polyvance.com/identify.php

@Mike75575 Жыл бұрын

Just get a new tank . Forget about this. Its a fire hazard waiting to happen 💣⏰️💥

@boastyy 11 ай бұрын

A couple of tips. Make sure you sand the repair area fully and make sure the soldering iron tip is clean before melting the plastic as you will transfer the black bits and into the plastic. A large flat head tip is easier to use on the soldering iron. I bought a cheap soldering iron just for doing plastic repairs. I normally take the fuel tank off, empty the fuel out, remove the tank and flush it out with water and leave to dry before starting the plastic welding. The tanks I have repaired have been made with ptfe, white plastic milk cartons are made out of the same material and create a solid repair that does not leak and looks like the original white tank. You can cut them into strips and melt them easily as a filler material to build up the thickness.😀

@dickfitswell3437 28 күн бұрын

I was just wondering what whitish clear plastic will I find that will match my paramotor fuel tank and BOOM you answered my question. Gonna try this. Gracias senior

@alistersibley2155 5 жыл бұрын

If you check out the videos on you tube of people repairing cracks on plastic kayaks/canoes, you'll find they all use hot air guns. This method stops the plastic burning and producing the black scab that Steve had here but Steve's method shown in this video does work and it does produce a permanent fix. Thumbs up!!!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Thank You...

@jandecook3302 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks a million. I live in Central America and have no source for parts for my very old weed eater. It worked like a charm. I didn't have a soldering iron so I used a nail and a Sterno. Us gals can fix stuff too!! with a beer :)

@markk3652 3 жыл бұрын

Propane torch and an old screwdriver will work too, nice flat tool to even it out with.

@badgasser 2 жыл бұрын

another good trick, watch for the surplus of hand sanitizer being thrown out, i got 2 gals. free and have made alcohol lamps out of the jelly canning jars with a hole in the lid and a small amount of medical gauze as a wick, diy sterno

@tomt9543 2 жыл бұрын

And if you run out of beer, you can filter the Sterno through a rag and drink it! Desperate times demand desperate measures! Ha!

@unclep1210 4 жыл бұрын

Just a little extra for strength. Cut a piece of wire screen or mesh, like from a kitchen strainer or spark arrestor, slightly larger than the crack. Place that on the melted plastic then work it on all around. I do this for repairs on plastic kayaks. Works great and is strong as hell.

@Wollemand 5 жыл бұрын

Good job Steve.. Love that you had a beer with you.. Im an engineer an work a lot with PE-welding, mostly with electrofittings.. After every welding there is a cooling-off period before you can manipulate/stress the place you have welded.. I strongly suggest that you allow yourself, to finish your beer and maybe even have another one, before you move on further with your checks and refilling the tank😀👍🏻

@tonycook8059 Жыл бұрын

Agreed. And type of beer can make all the difference, but as long as it's cold, might not make as much difference. If one is good, two even better. 🍺🍻

@adamdorris4081 5 жыл бұрын

: "Really polish that crack up the best as you can." Best line ever!

@OOICU812 5 жыл бұрын

Salad dressing?

@dougalexander7204 5 жыл бұрын

Uh huh...

@billl605 4 жыл бұрын

woof woof

@tombal7408 4 жыл бұрын

I guess we all need to go to Poland for this fix!

@ivaerak 4 жыл бұрын

He has great lines, he should use them on t-shirts no cap

@litewatefitr 11 ай бұрын

This is one of my favorite corners of the internet, I swear... Thanks, Steve and company!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 11 ай бұрын

You're Welcome...

@andylibby854 5 жыл бұрын

If you had an old tank you could cut small strips of the plastic and use that as filler. It also looked like the temperature of the iron was too high which contributed to the black burned plastic. But it worked and I believe you’re correct that it is permanent. Great video always interesting.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Right on Andy...

@kirkbeverley4768 5 жыл бұрын

Piece of plastic bucket in toaster oven on tin foil at °450, heat gun on gas tank till about 450 (shiny). Lay the patch on gas tank, will never leak. Love your videos!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Right on Buddy...

@heavysnow8616 5 жыл бұрын

Great work Steve, a fix that works and will last. Just be careful as the fumes off the plastic are bad to breathe.

@Sooflojoe 27 күн бұрын

Great video! I tried using the soldering gun method at first, and it seemed to work initially. However, there were still some tiny imperfections that caused the tank to leak still. So I followed up with using a heat gun to the affected area, and smoothed the plastic together. Then I followed up with a later of black rtv silicone. No leaks now and saved me from having to buy a new tank. 😉

@chesterpelt8882 11 ай бұрын

Thank you for this info: it worked for me and kept me from throwing away a perfectly good gas can!

@thebooman3519 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the straight forward easy guidance on this type of repair. Very helpful

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 2 жыл бұрын

You're Welcome...

@brianpinkham7273 3 жыл бұрын

I did exactly what Steve said on a Toro petrol tank costing £220 to replace new. The repair was so easy to do with stunning results. Milk carton worked like dream. Thanks Steve .

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 3 жыл бұрын

Nice one!

@843292 5 жыл бұрын

Brilliant idea! And they make different tips for soldering irons that may even make that task a little simpler. Thanks Steve!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Right on Buddy...

@smuglet1180 5 жыл бұрын

Yet another great video tutorial, Steve. Long may they continue. From a dedicated Irish fan.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Thank You...

@rogermccaslin6750 5 жыл бұрын

Fuel tank is probably polyethylene, most likely high density polyethylene (HDPE). Cable ties are nylon. You are correct, the dissimilar plastics don't bond well. Many things are made of polyethylene - milk jugs come to mind. You might be able to find a compatible plastic from common materials. You can also buy plastic welding rods that would probably work.

@bradhill5822 5 жыл бұрын

I have also done this with a 10” 3/8 “ Nail Spike. Heat up the spike with a Torch while holding on to the spike with Vise Grips.

@Shu77ered 3 ай бұрын

Perfect! Saved me $85.00. I tried epoxy and plastic welding. Both methods failed almost instantly. Thank you for this great tip.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 3 ай бұрын

Glad it helped!

@DV6000victim 5 жыл бұрын

I used to work at a winery/brewery and the owner used to have me "weld" up the cracks in the 300 gallon fermentation tanks in a similar fashion. Worked perfectly on most of the tanks. Thanks for the quality infotainment again my friend.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

You're Welcome...

@MacheteBushcraftAustralia 5 жыл бұрын

Always gold Steve!! I did the same thing on a Grillo ride-on tank a few years back but I cut excess plastic from the tank to use as filler material. That was about 6 years ago now. Not a single leak since.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Right on Buddy....

@littleshopintheshed 4 жыл бұрын

Great fix Steve. The tank for my mower is discontinued, I will be doing these shortly. My dad “fixed” it last year with rocker panel spray, and well.... we all know how that turned out!! Thank you, reminds me of a stir welding technique.

@Bob-ns4od 5 жыл бұрын

I have a Craftsman mower 42" rider that has a crack in the tank. I used to work building service stations, and when a tank needed to be pulled we had to remove the fumes before transporting we used a lot of dry ice because when "melted" the fumes were heavier than air so it pushed all of the fumes out of the tank making it less of a bomb. Thanks for the tip on the tank. They don't make the tank any longer so my old mower will give me a couple more years of use.👍

@timcoe457 5 жыл бұрын

Thanx Steve, another great video! I’ve had to order new tanks before and that would put my machine out of commission till the tank came in and then I got time to remove the cracked one and install new one! Again your video will save me time and money!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Right on Tim....

@keithfisk5854 3 жыл бұрын

Steve you put it in words that even the most untrained persons can understand and you are my most used information channel thank you keith

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 3 жыл бұрын

Thank You...and You're Welcome...

@tbyrdsr1 5 жыл бұрын

Good work Steve . I have done auto body work for over 30 yr. and used to repair damaged battery with the same tools but I used a paddle blade on the heat gun to v out the crack then smooth over the top. Works great and keep up the good work.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Thank You...

@robertwhite537 5 жыл бұрын

Great idea Steve! I don't currently have this problem, and I hope I can REMEMBER the fix when the time comes...and it will. Keep the videos coming!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Rob....

@terencejenner5935 5 жыл бұрын

Brilliant ! I use this method a lot on transport water tanks on the trucks. I haven’t had any returned with a leak in the same place. Thanks Steve

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Right on Mate..

@rickwashek478 5 жыл бұрын

Your right, I finished 1 beer while you did that repair Steve. I would most likely started to look for replacement tank, good video.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Thank You...

@ralph5469 5 жыл бұрын

Good fix Steve. That technique also will work on handheld pump sprayers too. Like the ones you use to spray weed killer or insecticides. The plastic on those are pretty thick also, and will take well to this technique.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Great tip Ralph! Thank You...

@FlyingAxblade_D20 5 жыл бұрын

@@StevesSmallEngineSaloon i have 5 tanks because all my pumps give out due to bleach. I'd like to know how to fix that, Tractor Supply won't just sell me the pump. Anyone want to buy a 1.3 gallon tank for shipping, aka free?

@kenboon1478 5 жыл бұрын

@@StevesSmallEngineSaloon what is the main problem that's causing a lawnmower engine not to start easily when it becomes hot ? Thanks

@pbrstreetgng79 5 жыл бұрын

I use Yamabond # 4. Love that stuff. I mostly use it to seal up 2 cycle engine cylinders, but I have successfully used it to seal up cracked fuel tanks. One repair was on a 5,000 watt generator plastic gas tank; the black ones that sit on top of the frame. The crack was a foot long! I drained all the gas out, did very little prep, applied it, let it dry, and it worked out great. I now use this stuff for all my gas tank repairs. It doesn't come out pretty, but if they want pretty, they can buy a new gas tank. I have never had one leak after doing this repair.

@mongomay1 2 жыл бұрын

@DANimalicious 4 жыл бұрын

As usual, great video and legit fix. I'm surprised you didn't clean the soldering iron tip though. Also, that's at least a 2 beer fix at normal consumption rates. Cheers!

@TomTom-by5sx 5 жыл бұрын

Steve, you are right on, composition of the plastic must be identical or the repair will fail. Nice job, very nice.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Thank You...

@nameuser4406 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much. I have a portable dump station I'm going to try that on. I paid over $300 and had to buy a cheaper one to get me by for my 4th of July camping trip. I would hate to get rid of it because of a small hole. Thanks again can't wait to try it!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 4 жыл бұрын

You're Welcome...

@MrONHcP9 4 жыл бұрын

Great tip Steve! With your method, I was able to fix the $75 tank on my trimmer. Thanks!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 4 жыл бұрын

You're Welcome...

@garthmcgibbon4285 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Steve. What I would do is shave a very small sliver from the filler hole and do what you did to the tank using that little strip to fill in the trough. Plastics will weld together if they are the same plastic. I think that is polyethylene so strips from a milk jug should work as well. Try it and let me know if it works. That way you are not thinning the wall but simply filling in the trough.

@aktrapper6126 5 жыл бұрын

" if it takes two beers I ain't judging" LOL.

@caratcranker5874 4 жыл бұрын

But i drank 2 beers in the same time. Steve, lift your game matey !!. lol.

@Bushman9 3 жыл бұрын

Steve, you are bang on about the Seal-All. Used it on my cracked weed eater tank and it lasted for a good while, then started leaking again. It’s a Tanaka and the tank is no longer available. I know what I will be doing this spring... beer in hand of course! 🍺

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 3 жыл бұрын

Right on

@mikehellekson 4 жыл бұрын

Steve, you are my absolute favorite repairman!! Love your ideas!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 4 жыл бұрын

Wow, thanks!

@jeffpiatt3879 4 жыл бұрын

When I was a kid, my Mom would use a hot butter knife, heated up on the range burner, to fix plastic toys we had broken. Great video, Steve!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome Jeff! Thank You...

@jacquesdorval8173 5 жыл бұрын

Good job Steve

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Thank You...

@johnwayne3101 3 жыл бұрын

Gonna try this on my snowmobile fuel neck. Previous owner broke it off from over tightening the fuel cap. Great job and video thx!!

@billlovett4256 5 жыл бұрын

Interesting repair, the comments were interesting. I have successfully used JB weld for steel before on a chainsaw gas tank that worked fine for years then I sold it.

@darellsunderlin4670 5 жыл бұрын

Good video , also I've used pieces of an old tank to use as filler. We always seem to have a few tanks laying around not in use anymore !!!!! :-) Cheers!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Thank You...

@schlomoshekelstein908 5 жыл бұрын

what's the pplastic used? maybe old milk jugs are the same plastic i'm thinking?

@darkknight145 Жыл бұрын

@@schlomoshekelstein908 Not the same type of plastic, I've actually tried to store veggie oil in milk containers, the oil attacks the plastic and they will leak within a few months. I'd imagine petrol with oil in it would be worse.

@fredbruce6881 4 жыл бұрын

Steve, You have save me so much money. I have all Stihl equipment I just would like to thank you. I thought it's about time for me to subscriber You helped me I am help you. Thanks

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 4 жыл бұрын

Thank You...and You're Welcome...

@ryanmullins7918 2 жыл бұрын

Genius, gotta be the best repair video yet, not only a very cheap repair but a permanent, keep up the good work, thanks time to go fix my leaky leaf blower

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 2 жыл бұрын

Good luck!

@timallen6025 3 жыл бұрын

Oh Steve .I have 4 ! FOUR ! donated 2str strimmers fixed , in use , saved from landfill .. thanks to your Brewski n Can Do channel . Thank you ! 👍👍

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 3 жыл бұрын

That is awesome!

@nateb9207 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Steve! Your channel is very helpful

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

You're Welcome...and Thank You...

@svtirefire 4 жыл бұрын

I discovered that preheating the area with a heat gun on low makes it repair so much easier. I tried it on an old Tecumseh tank today and found that a couple of the smaller cracks pretty much repaired themselves when the heat gun got everything nice and mushy.

@MattyDemello 2 жыл бұрын

Great idea

@fluorescentblack4336 2 жыл бұрын

These are the kinds of repairs I love. Thanks for the video!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 2 жыл бұрын

You're Welcome...

@StingerSecSol 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent information Steve. I have a customers walk behind weed eater with a crack in the tank, and the tank is no longer available. You just helped me save his machine. Thank you.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

You're Welcome...

@ICOWBOYIM 5 жыл бұрын

GREAT REPAIR‼ Its a good day when I start it out by learning something new 🛠..... P.S. I just did the research and found plastic gas tanks are made from high density polyethylene (HDPE) so are detergent bottles, i.r. filler material. Skoal 🍺

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Right on Rich...

@beanolatte2682 5 жыл бұрын

Exactly what I do when repairing plastic. I purchased a plastic welding kit.

@spinnerbaitalways 5 жыл бұрын

Great channel Steve this I found at perfect time I have got an old style gas can with a crack in it. I hate to get rid of it. I have tried everything to fix the crack in it, but I'm going to now, Thanks.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

You're Welcome...

@doc4469 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Steve you have been a champion, now I will go and do my repair to my RC model gas tank. Keep up the good ideas and videos. Doc.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 4 жыл бұрын

You're Welcome...

@jmorrow6913 5 жыл бұрын

Most fuel tanks are HPDE plastic the same as milk jugs. So milk jugs are a good source of plastic for plastic welding. Though match the recycling numbers if at all possible.

@brianwaiting7899 5 жыл бұрын

*hdpe= high density polyethylene. That Google full auto semi word correction struck again ¬.^

@DANimalicious 4 жыл бұрын

Aahhhh! Good ol milk jugs are more useful than the nippled kind. When cut to potato chip size wafers and heated in toaster oven, they can be molded to make mallets, bike chain guides, reinforce stuff, dildos etc. Still prefer nippled tho.

@zooknz1711 4 жыл бұрын

HDPE is high density polyethylene, zip ties and line trimmer cord are nylon - no way they will fuse together. The milk jug idea should work, i am going to find an old fuel tank and try it. By the way, hdpe doesn't break down with fuel so hence they make fuel containers out of it.

@jmc2510 3 жыл бұрын

Zooknz let me know how that goes. I may be doing that later today.

@jmc2510 3 жыл бұрын

DANimalicious Dude this comment is A+. Much appreciated.

@davidsimms3661 4 жыл бұрын

Steve, I was looking for the best adhesive for a lawn mower tank and then I saw your video. I'm in! Thanks.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 4 жыл бұрын

Good luck!

@ryanjoslin2733 3 жыл бұрын

Hey, I'm looking for a lawnmower tank repair... The hole is dime sized, and thankfully on the top corner of the plastic gas tank, (it's an old cheap mower) Any extra advice?

@safariterenas3176 5 жыл бұрын

Spot on there Steve, this is the only "Permanent" fix, except for buying a new tank. Trail and error taught me that too. Thanks for the Video!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

You're Welcome...

@R.N.GPerformance 5 жыл бұрын

works like a charm every time. you can also get the plastic weld glue its great also.

@darvinpreece601 4 жыл бұрын

This Is a great video. Genius fix! Love this. It is a technique I’ll remember forever. Have you ever tried brake cleaner, or polymer safe firearm blaster on the oily part first. It cleans firearms very well and removes all the old oil. I’d bet it would work very quickly and well here. It might even eliminate the sanding step. This is a video I’m sharing and I’ll recommend your channel to everyone I know!!!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 4 жыл бұрын

Great tip! Thank You...and You're Welcome...

@mikesanders902 4 ай бұрын

Will do this on my RM250 dirtbike tank. Thanks !!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 4 ай бұрын

Good luck!

@roach969 3 жыл бұрын

It worked! I hadn't noticed the large crack on my old Ryobi 875r, which was stored in my brothers shed for about 10 years (apartment life). Just bought a house and of course the fuel tank is cracked and discontinued. This fix did the trick. Thank you!!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent!

@antne1113 4 жыл бұрын

Thankfully found this video, excellent idea! Had to do almost an entire seam on a Subaru gen tank that’s absolutely impossible to find! Thanks Steve.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 4 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped!

@johncostin9437 5 жыл бұрын

Good video Steve. You're right about how different plastics won't work for the patch. Those tanks are made from HDPE plastic and if you need more, it's easy to find. It's branded with the recycle 2 symbol. Like you, I've used a plastic welder to achieve the same result and the key is to get the new hdpe hot enough to bind with the substrate. If you use the same white opaque hdpe, you can tell it's good when it turns clear and translucent. You can also groove out the crack with a pointed dremel grinding tip.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Right on John...

@josephjorgensen3282 5 жыл бұрын

Saved me 65 bucks on a job can’t thank you enough

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

You're Welcome...

@myz34 5 жыл бұрын

I used this fix today and it 100% worked. Thanks, Steve!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

You're Welcome...

@sawwbones 4 жыл бұрын

Thanx Steve. I've tried several sealing compounds but always leaked in a short time. This worked. Great tip.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent!

@ChrisNixon13 5 жыл бұрын

I really like this tip Steve thanks! I wonder if a shot of brake cleaner would be useful to clean out the oil from the crack before melting?

@Gyrxiur 5 жыл бұрын

Good video, but I recommend using soldering station instead of just iron, so you can lower the temperature, so you don't burn that plastic to become black, because burnt plastic becomes more brittle.

@davidedwards8282 3 жыл бұрын

what's that?

@Gyrxiur 3 жыл бұрын

@@davidedwards8282 basically soldering iron with temperature setting

@tomt9543 2 жыл бұрын

@@Gyrxiur Harbor Freight sells a good one

@williamnielsen3947 3 жыл бұрын

makes sense to use same plastic type and these tanks are plenty thick i have husqvarna trimmer small leak around mounting ear i will give this a go you saved me making the mistakes love your repair saloon cheers

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 3 жыл бұрын

Go for it!

@kevinhuggins3172 5 жыл бұрын

Good video Steve! I wouldn't think to melt the 2 sides together! Makes sense.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Thank You...

@bigblue3568 5 жыл бұрын

You can buy a "plastic" welder at Harbor Freight. Only same type of plastic will stick to each other. More than likely that gas tank is Type 2 HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene). Most milk jugs are HDPE so just cut and use a piece of it.

@bradhill5822 5 жыл бұрын

At 4:55 “the next thing we want to do is prepare that crack” 😜😜

@tyenbreck1 5 жыл бұрын

I’ve used this same method on trailer lights. Works great and saves a lot of money. 👍🏼

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Right on ...

@joatamonmodsandrepairs 5 жыл бұрын

Love the idea. I've just used this method but on a different job. An outer ring on a push mower back wheel wouldn't stay clicked in place so now it's welded just like you have shown. Well done Steve. Keep them coming

@joatamonmodsandrepairs 5 жыл бұрын

Honda hre410 back wheels by the way

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Right on Pat...

@splash5974 5 жыл бұрын

Ive tryed JB Weld, as others have suggested in the past, but it doesnt last. It will delaminate! Tried zip ties, doesnt stick! The thing i have found that seems to work if you need filler, is the plastic from windshield washer fluid jug. It melts in and really bonds well! It was the only way i fixed my tank last summer...

@billlovett4256 5 жыл бұрын

I have also used JBweld to repair a gas tank, the steel epoxy one not the plastic one. And it worked great and never leaked.

@splash5974 5 жыл бұрын

@Oops Oops I bought the JB Weld quick setting. And within a week or so, it literally peeled off! I cleaned the area really well and sanded the plastic first. I tried again, and it did the same thing...was thinking maybe the 2 stroke oil breaks it down? Cause i used it to repair a bad sending unit on a car years back, and it never had an issue.

@rider660r 5 жыл бұрын

It doesn't if you do it right.You didn't do it right that's why it came off. Back in '94 or '95 all there was regular JB Weld... Gotta open up a hole large enough JB can be push through to the other side. Then sand around the area to scuff it up but try to keep it small.Apply the JB and make sure to push it through the hole also,let it set a couple min till a slight skin forms then apply it to the inside and make sure to smear it around again staying small. Done right you'll never have another problem.....been 24-25 yrs now bouncing around in truck beds,on skidders and dropped a lot of times and my 2077's tank hasn't leaked again. The long crack like he had in the vid I would have made a hole at each end of that crack.That also helps from the crack wanting to expand further.

@srvmotoman 5 жыл бұрын

You sir...are awesome. Thanks for the video. Will be applying the same technique later today.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Right on ....

@tractorman4461 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Steve. I have a lawn mower tank to repair for my daughter. Two thumbs up !!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Right on Brother...

@TheTrailblazer1974 5 жыл бұрын

Looks good to me

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Thank You...

@alanprudhomme9090 5 жыл бұрын

A good reason to SAVE that junk tank you were going to throw away. Use it for filler on another one. It's amazing , nothing sticks to this shit but its self.

@OrlandoBonsaiTV 5 жыл бұрын

This actually worked. I found that my tank was discontinued so I had no other option than repairing it. Worked perfectly and saved me from discarding an otherwise operational weed eater. Cheers

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Right on ...

@JJ3136 10 ай бұрын

I agree with you 💯 %, once a foreign plastic is use it wont stick and is more like a bandage and by applying heat to the crack and refilling it with the surrounding plastic definitely becomes permanent. BTW, once you finished using your trimmer, take all the gasoline out and started to burned the one remaining in the carburetor make sure to leave your cap slightly loosen to avoid hot temperatures create expansion, it's my humble opinion but it works, I have a SRM230 Echo for 23 yrs and it's still working like it should.

@lavitagus 5 жыл бұрын

If you knew the plastic composition of the Sthil gas tank you can find plastic welding rod kits that come with an assortment of different kinds of plastic. They are usually color coded and with some experimentation you can find the right one for the type of plastic Sthil uses for their tank. But I agree that just melting what is already there is an easier fix.

@manuelv9494 5 жыл бұрын

Yep, looks good. That's how I do it but I lower the temperature of that soldering iron a little so that you don't create so much black carbon in the plastic. You just want to melt the plastic, not burn it. Overall thumbs up, way to be.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Thank You...

@jimbeaver3426 5 жыл бұрын

I use a variac to lower the voltage to 75 - 85 VAC for the iron, i.e., just below the plastic's charring temperature. With a little experimentation you'll find the right settings for your project. For 1/16" or thicker plastics during the welding process you can also add short lengths of bare fine wire (#26 to #30, etc.), imbedded across the crack at the surface. This is a highly effective technique especially for repairing acrylics. For example a ¼" thick, 6-inch broken off corner was reattached, in addition to solvent welding, using fine wires on both sides of the cracks, staggered so they weren't opposite each other. The project has been in service for several years without breaking again. If you don't like the aesthetics then there's always the scrap bin and buying a replacement.

@grasshoppaMedia 3 ай бұрын

Gonna try this on a puncture.... Thanks for the video and all the tweaking and consenting comments! Together, we can do this!

@danielgrenier3288 5 жыл бұрын

No judgment from the Saloon! Cheers! Thanks for sharing.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

You're Welcome...

@tim-ber2606 5 жыл бұрын

I used this idea on my coleman canoe and its been 20 years and no leaks yet

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Right on Buddy....

@michaelsutton4149 4 жыл бұрын

Had a fuel cap that cracked & eventually the whole top of cap separated from main part.Have tried glues/epoxy, no luck.Clamped both parts together & did the plastic weld with soldering iron around the whole circumference of the top part of cap..all good.👌Cheers, from The Hunter Valley Australia...👍

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 4 жыл бұрын

Right on

@spidyrmen1 Жыл бұрын

Awesome fix, first time I tried something like this and got it first try. Thanks Steve, appreciate you.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon Жыл бұрын

Great to hear!

@alejandro1924 4 жыл бұрын

Hi there, thanks great info. I wanted to add if people are working on a gas tank like a huge tractor one, what I did is put some soapy water in tank after I removed from tractor and rinsed the tank well, I then plugged in a air pump trough the supply line and pumped air which made bubbles come out trough cracks I would shut of pump dry and the small little bubbles still told me where cracks were. It worked awesome . Thanks, I enjoy your videos.

@willythemailman3911 5 жыл бұрын

Aaaargh! Melted plastic smells like Toronto

@lmdetect 5 жыл бұрын

Great vid.

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Thank You...

@18eClerk Жыл бұрын

Just did this on my generator fuel tank today and saved $160! Only took me about 30 min to repair the crack. Going to work on a pump sprayer next weekend. Thanks for the video, Steve!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon Жыл бұрын

Great job!

@urschristen5920 4 жыл бұрын

It worked and it is not leaking, thanks again Steve, you are a champion !

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 4 жыл бұрын

Great to hear!

@staff4837 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome video I loved it, quick question, WHAT CAN YOU REPAIR WITH A CORONA BEER🔧😁🔨🤗🛠😅

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

LOL! ANYTHING......

@JohnJohn-wr1jo 3 жыл бұрын

Anything but the Corona virus

@kennycoye3907 5 жыл бұрын

U know Steve, you should be receiving a lot more money from u-tube! U have saved me quite a bit of money! Thanks sir! I'm going to try it now!!

@StevesSmallEngineSaloon 5 жыл бұрын

Right on Kenny....

@jimbeaver3426 5 жыл бұрын

There's nothing stopping you or anyone from giving Steve a substantial donation, say, $25 - $50 +, for saving you quite a bit of money, which is far less than it would of cost you at a pro-shop. C'mon Kenny and guys, unlock that wallet and make a one-time donation right now, while you're reading this before you forget, OK! And, Steve, thanks for all your hard work creating these informative videos, saving us lots of money!

@WeBeeJamming 4 жыл бұрын

@@jimbeaver3426 Well said!! I didn't need any repair. I just heard he was fun to drink beer with🤣🤣🤣

@marvinsalvador1208 4 жыл бұрын

Thank You sir, steve tomorrow i gonna try this process to fix my Motorcycle Plastic tank.

@thomasz4981 4 жыл бұрын

All kinds of these videos on youtube from years ago, make sure you donate to the right guy.