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Fixing leaking metal gas tank. Fixing leaking metal gas tank.
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Bodger Fix What they don't show you in the repair manual - tales of duct tape, bailing wire and WD 40. Bodge, Bush Mechanics, farmers fix, patch, temporary repair, or whatever your definition, tell us YOUR best story of a bodge that got you home!
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 17 Nov 2012
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Fixing leaking metal gas tank.
Fixed a hole in a metal gas tank with "builders bog" aka "wood in a can".
I was surprised it was still stopping the leak after a five more days. As sort of a test I left it to see how long it would last. Right now 27.600 km and still holding on as if applied yesterday.
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Old 17 Nov 2012
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Mate..... It's made for wood. It will fail eventually. Petrol will eat through almost anything in time. Your repair will most likely go brittle and fall off.

The only way to fix a metal tank is to get it welded.


10/10 for a temp bodge though.
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Old 17 Nov 2012
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It probably will come off, eventually. Gives me a good reason to look for a bigger tank (wife in mind here)
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Old 18 Nov 2012
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The Heinrich tank which came with my '83 G/S had been repaired by its original owner 15 years previously with araldite, it was still on there and still holding petrol. I did have it welded when I found somebody prepared to do it and they filled the tank with argon before doing the job.
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Old 8 Dec 2012
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Running exhaust gasses into the tank makes it safe before welding. Don't know how long but think 10-15 minutes will do the job.
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Old 10 Dec 2012
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Sunlight soap will fix a small leak in any metal tank, just rub the soap over the crack and it will block up a leaker. We used this on fuel tankers for years as a way to stop leaks in an emergency.

As aside - welding tanks can be lethal to the novice. The only safe way to degas a tank/drum is to wash it out with hot soapy water then apply steam for about 30 minutes. Every few months I hear of someone either cutting or welding drums that have not contained flammable liquids getting blown up as the residues exceed their flashpoint. Aluminium tanks are worse as the aluminium seems to absorb petroleum products and will "sweat" vapour when heated.
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Old 23 Dec 2012
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Soap, chewing gum, Isopon, all have been tried - have seen Opal Fruits work really well, goodness knows what they do to your stomach. Worth packing some! Works-Citroens did this on a Dakar a few years ago with success...
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