Stihl 034 av aftermarket gas tank... What would you do?

[RedFir Down]

Evening guys.
Here it goes, long story short.
A local brought his 034 to me to replace the gas tank (it fell off his tail gate and broke it) just over a year ago.
He didn't want to spend a lot of money so he was ok with an aftermarket tank so I ordered an aftermarket tank and put it on for him. Serviced and tune the saw while it was on the bench.

Just this week he brings it by stating that it leaks.
I get it on the bench this afternoon and discover it leaks like a sieve... fuel cap, tank vent, around the fuel line and also leaks at the seam.

So the tank is junk!

Right now i'm at a loss, really not sure what to do and how to make it right.
Whats your thoughts?

Thanks guys.

 

[Milkman31]

When dealing with aftermarket parts that's chance you take. Wheather it be shop or customer. If the customer was aware of the aftermarket repair and the risks I think it's there baby.

 

[RedFir Down]

I understand completely but at this point I dont think its fair to charge him for a new tank that is just over a year old (I will be be eating the labor and I'm fine with that).
Plus what am I going to replace it with?
As you can tell im pretty much between a rock and a hard spot right now.

I also forgot to mention since I replace the tank he has cut about 3-4 cords and he always uses Ethanol free fuel, just throwing that out there.

 

[jacob j.]

Is there a way to fix the leaks or is the tank so badly cast that the plastic mating areas (that you mention) are just not sealing?

I have a used tank you can have, it's a little rough but it's a lot of free.

 

[RedFir Down]

Is there a way to fix the leaks or is the tank so badly cast that the plastic mating areas (that you mention) are just not sealing?

At this point I dont think its worth gambling to see if I can seal up the tank since the tank is going to need a new fuel cap (I already tried a new one and it seals good), tank vent and fuel line. Just guessing those parts at my dealer are going to run probably $30-40, yeah he is high I try to order from Madsen's when I can justify shipping with a large order.

I have a used tank you can have, it's a little rough but it's a lot of free.

Thank you very much JJ!! I sincerely appreciate your kind offer! Honestly im not sure what route im going to take at the moment. Im going to sleep on it and call the company I bought it from tomorrow and run it by them.
I'll let you know.

Thanks again, sir.

 

[RedFir Down]

Was going to call the supplier on Monday by the day got away from me and that didn't happen.
I tried calling 2 different times today with no answer.

@Definitive Dave I see that you sell a aftermarket 034 tank. Can you shed some light with your experience with this tank and aftermarket tanks in general? Are all aftermarket tanks created equal?
Thank you, sir.

 

[Definitive Dave]

Most are similar if not exactly the same, sounds like you got a bad one, which sucks but is the real risk of aftermarket parts - the quality control is a far cry shy of OEM standards.
The tank we sell works well with the rounded MS360 plastics and air filter, the vendor shows it fits the 036 and 034 as well and I have used it for both but it is a direct clone of the MS360 tank if that matters to you.
Sold a fair number with no returns on that model.
On the MS361 I got one shipment where the bottom plate wasn't glued on any of them.
I have had an MS361 that leaked at the fuel filler neck, couldn't get any cap to seal.
One MS660 tank the builder said it leaked but I haven't tested it to see where,

 

[RedFir Down]

Most are similar if not exactly the same, sounds like you got a bad one, which sucks but is the real risk of aftermarket parts - the quality control is a far cry shy of OEM standards.
The tank we sell works well with the rounded MS360 plastics and air filter, the vendor shows it fits the 036 and 034 as well and I have used it for both but it is a direct clone of the MS360 tank if that matters to you.
Sold a fair number with no returns on that model.
On the MS361 I got one shipment where the bottom plate wasn't glued on any of them.
I have had an MS361 that leaked at the fuel filler neck, couldn't get any cap to seal.
One MS660 tank the builder said it leaked but I haven't tested it to see where,

Thanks for the review, I appreciate it!
What brand do you sell?

 

[Definitive Dave]

They come from farmertec but I have a sneaking suspicion they may be made by gelinte

 

[Jimmy in NC]

They come from farmertec but I have a sneaking suspicion they may be made by gelinte

Gelinte being the grass hut one row over?

To the OP... I've had a few bum Asian parts but for the most part they have all held up. At this point I'd ask the customer which way they want to go, used OEM that JJ has graciously offered or try another AM. Parts from HL or Dave...I don't worry about.

 

[RedFir Down]

They come from farmertec but I have a sneaking suspicion they may be made by gelinte

Thanks again. So which tank is generally better, Farmertec or Gelinte? How do you tell them apart?

 

[Definitive Dave]

Gelinte seems to be the manufacturer of the farmertec and all the other Am tanks for the 260 that I have seen, there may be something else out there somewhere
BEWARE the tank vents that come installed on these tanks leak badly to the point of being unusable. Farmertec sells a great replacement that I include with the tank.
Soooo if farmertec wants me to believe they make the tanks themselves but they include a vent that isn't the one they sell and that leaks, do you think they are lying a little bit

 

[Genius]

Gelinte seems to be the manufacturer of the farmertec and all the other Am tanks for the 260 that I have seen, there may be something else out there somewhere
BEWARE the tank vents that come installed on these tanks leak badly to the point of being unusable. Farmertec sells a great replacement that I include with the tank.
Soooo if farmertec wants me to believe they make the tanks themselves but they include a vent that isn't the one they sell and that leaks, do you think they are lying a little bit

The Chinese not being fully honest????

Say it isn't so







Will those Farmtec tank vents fit a OEM tank, or will a OEM vent fit a Farmtec tank?

 

[Definitive Dave]

they interchange just fine oem to farmertec the only place I have seen the crappy no-worky vent is the 260 tank handles all the other models are fine

 

[fearofpavement]

I ordered two MS660 tank handles from Asia. One from Huztl (farmertec) and one from a different vendor. They were definitely from two different manufacturers with the Huztl one being superior.