Forum:
Looks like I'm repairing every component of the Sporty, part by part. This week: Fuel tank!
Had a leak in it, so dropped it, then patched the hole I found, and then undersealed the whole tank and re-fitted it.
Big Mistake! What a rookie. The leak was still there, and I thought I'd tested it. But it only leaked when fitted, so for anyone out there who is having a blond day, rigorously test your tank before fitting it.
And to add insult to injury, the underseal is making a lovely black stain everywhere the car stops as the petrol cuts into it. Now instead of testing a leaking tank, I'll be testing a leaking black sticky tank. Hoefully the underseal will provide a way of showing where the leak is, now though.
So next weekend's part to fix will be: Fuel tank! (again)
Tanked Up
To repair a fuel tank you will need to solder it, or solder a patch onto it, use a good cleaner and a good flux, With a blowlamp or oxy-acetylene torch set onto a soft low flame, work around the edge of the patch slowly and methodically.
Once cooled, block every orifice, fill with water, and insert an air line, pressurise to 10 psi and watch for leaks.
Avoid MIG or gas welding as this often leaves tiny blow holes adjacent to the weld and leaks immediately, or at a later date.
many moons ago i had a mini
many moons ago i had a mini van with a leaky tank, dented it in a bit and filled the dent with plastic padding, it worked till the van died completely.