Fixing hole in tank

[Stump Shot]

Well I acted quick yesterday and used the putty instead of the standard JB. I smooshed it in from the outside and tamped it down on the inside using the blunt end of a chain file through the gas cap hole. It is all dried and holding fuel now for the last few hours. Not sure if I should try to grind it flatter or just leave it be.

Just rub it, it'll get harder.

 

[jacktheripper]

Well I might be needing some redkote after all… the hole is definitely not leaking, but the case halves are seeping. See the shiny gas in the picture. I assume that it would take care of things like this pretty well, correct?

 

[hacskaroly]

Well I might be needing some redkote after all… the hole is definitely not leaking, but the case halves are seeping. See the shiny gas in the picture. I assume that it would take care of things like this pretty well, correct?

Does that tank come apart? If so a new gasket and permatex aviation gasket seal will fix that right up without having to coat the inside of the tank.

I had a Stihl 075 fuel tank that someone attempted to use the pour in sealer. It didn't work so well the tank still leaked badly, when I pulled it apart all of that coating was pealing up on the inside. Had to scrape it all out, got a new gasket and used the aviation gasket seal and it is now solid. I have another older saw that has glued seams on its gas tank, I will probably fill the seams with JB Weld.

 

[av8or3]

Permatex Aviation has been a go-to sealer for me for years. It’s been used on VW engine case halves since forever. These case halves have no gasket, just a smooth surface. Just so’s you know, alcohol is used to thin it or clean it up.

 

[heimannm]

I have sealed 40+ tanks using Red Kote with only one mishap, in that case I did not allow the Red Kote to fully cure and the tank weeped a little staining the paint red.

The key to an effective result is getting the tank very clean to begin with, then allowing the Red Kote to fully cure. I think from a time/material/hassle perspective, cleaning the tank and sealing with Red Kote beats separating a tank to replace a gasket, particularly if the entire crankcase is involved. In the case of the McCulloch AV 10 Series saws, the tanks and screws are sealed with epoxy so getting the tank apart requires a significant effort including drilling and tapping the broken off hardened screws.

On saws like the Homelite SEZ models, sealing the tank with Red Kote is far more cost effective than splitting the crankcase to replace gaskets and reseal everything.

That's my perspective anyway.

Mark