What type of plastic are Stihl fuel tanks made from?

[AlfA01]

I hope you didn't bring me here with the thought that I "know" something lol.

Lol. Of course, I thought you was the resident plastic welder.

 

[AlfA01]

Do you think that weedeater string is the same type of plastic? Did it bond well?

Thanks for your reply, Nathan

I'm not sure if it's the same plastic. I had pretty big hole in the fuel area of a Dolmar tank and welded it with weedeater string and then put a coat of JB over it. Been holding fuel for better than a year.

 

[Nate.]

Little Off topic but How do you like your 044 hybrid? I just acquired a clean 460 cylinder and I planning to put it on one of my 440's pretty soon. I'm going to try and fix the tank in the first set of pictures this afternoon I will let you know how it goes.

Thanks.

 

[AlfA01]

Little Off topic but How do you like your 044 hybrid? I just acquired a clean 460 cylinder and I planning to put it on one of my 440's pretty soon. I'm going to try and fix the tank in the first set of pictures this afternoon I will let you know how it goes.

Thanks.

It's a high revving beast of a saw. I really love the way it runs. There are several guys here that build excellent 044/046 hybrids. @drf256 @Canadian farm boy

 

[Nate.]

Cool, I can't wait to get mine done!

 

[beaglebriar]

I’m thinking that’s what I’m going to do. I will post some pictures when I’m done and let you guys know how it went.

Whatever you do it has to be clean. Scrape down the area to be welded, don't sand. Sandpaper will embed impurities into the plastic. That old tank is your best bet for a matching plastic but probably not ideal. The filler should be as clean as possible as well.

I spent about ten years welding plastic and believe it or not there's certifications for it just the same as metal welding. I learned enough about the subject to bore almost anyone to sleep.[emoji23]

 

[Nate.]

Sounds good, my plan was to scrub everything with hot water and dish soap. It works well to remove the oil on parts. If you think I should do
Something more let me know.

 

[Nate.]

Well here it is I’m happy with it except for the color. I think I must have burned the plastic a little while melting it in and hence the brown color. I think with a little oil and sawdust it will blend in okay. It’s not as bad as it looks in the pictures it’s much smoother than it looks.

 

[qurotro]

L

Well here it is I’m happy with it except for the color. I think I must have burned the plastic a little while melting it in and hence the brown color. I think with a little oil and sawdust it will blend in okay. It’s not as bad as it looks in the pictures it’s much smoother than it looks.View attachment 219965View attachment 219966

Looks pretty good.

 

[Nate.]

I’m thinking about grinding it down and trying it again without burning the plastic. What do you think is it worth it or should I just use it. I’m going to sell the 044 that this is going on.

 

[CR888]

I am pretty sure Stihl labels the type of plastic used on its parts near the seriel no: on the part. You need to know what the plastic codes are to know what to look for.

 

[CR888]

Look under you tank handle & under the serial number will be the plastic code. For example my MS261 is PA6...

 

[Nate.]

So yesterday I was looking at the tank that’s badly crunched. I saw the code and initially felt like an idiot for asking then. But I was wondering how I could have overlooked that, so I went and checked my 044 tank and no code? I didn’t bother to check my 440 tanks that where buried earlier. But it appears that the 440 tanks did but not 044 tanks?

 

[qurotro]

So yesterday I was looking at the tank that’s badly crunched. I saw the code and initially felt like an idiot for asking then. But I was wondering how I could have overlooked that, so I went and checked my 044 tank and no code? I didn’t bother to check my 440 tanks that where buried earlier. But it appears that the 440 tanks did but not 044 tanks?

Some have the code and some don't. Some is PA66 and some is PA6... That's the way it is...

 

[Nate.]

The 44o tank was PA6. Initially when I saw the plastic code on there I had a moment. I was like how did I miss that I covered the whole tank looking for it. So i went and checked my 044 tank and it had just the part number no plastic code?

 

[qurotro]

The 44o tank was PA6. Initially when I saw the plastic code on there I had a moment. I was like how did I miss that I covered the whole tank looking for it. So i went and checked my 044 tank and it had just the part number no plastic code?

Can't tell you why. I own quite some junks and have seen both. There's difference at fuel tank too. Translucent or solid white.

 

[Nate.]

Well this was attempt number 2.

 

[Nate.]

I’m planning to put this bracket I got off an old tree company saw on. It should help the handle be stronger.

 

[Lightning Performance]

Whatever you do it has to be clean. Scrape down the area to be welded, don't sand. Sandpaper will embed impurities into the plastic. That old tank is your best bet for a matching plastic but probably not ideal. The filler should be as clean as possible as well.

I spent about ten years welding plastic and believe it or not there's certifications for it just the same as metal welding. I learned enough about the subject to bore almost anyone to sleep.[emoji23]

Prep is everything!
I do sand with 32 grit grinding disc. 3M auto panel bond. They make two kinds. Flexible and not so much....fix everything with it.

I’m planning to put this bracket I got off an old tree company saw on. It should help the handle be stronger.

View attachment 220134 View attachment 220135

Any stamping or makers marks on that bracket?

 

[Nate.]

No sorry, I think it’s custom made by someone? There is a guy on eBay who sells guards he has ones just for the handle and full lower guards.