OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Briggs & Stratton Engines Quantum Briggs and Stratton Fuel Tank Leak at Seam

I have welded up countless numbers of motorcycle fuel tanks and never have a problem with them, you just have to ensure you have cleaned them properly with liquid soap and flush at least 3 times and they are not an issue. I have found over the years that I have to cut the rusted section out, make up a repair patch, bronze that in and then a wipe of silver solder over the top because I have no idea why but I will always end up with a pinhole in the bronze no matter how smooth it flows on. Then put petrol in it and blow in the filler cap to pressurize the tank to check for any weeps. If I end up with a weep it is go through the whole flushing/cleaning process again.

The flux was the culprit. Been there done that on other tanks except I prefer to using air pressure and a water bath or soapy water sprayed all over for testing.

Also sounds you used the soft silver solder and not the hard stuff. The hard silver solder takes an ACE/OX torch to get hot enough to work on large pieces.

I took my leaky mower tank to an engineering works in town to ask if they could repair it. The bloke behind the counter backed away and said "Definitely not! That thing is a potential bomb."

So I took it to an old bloke who does welding and soldering in his back yard. He is a very good welder and I've got him to weld many things in the past. I showed him the tank and he backed away and said "No way I'm touching that thing!" He added "I will weld anything except fuel tanks." Then he told me how to weld it safely myself.

Clearly this is something you have to do yourself and "at your own risk". lol! The tank is still sitting in my shed.

Why not test it with a flame after washing it out? If anything ignites, it won't after that. Those two sound paranoid.

G'day All,

Please tell me you're joking Mowerfreak, please!

I had a client who is now dead, tried to weld a tank and was thrown against the wall of the shed by the explosion! Was taken to hospital but died some days later. In his thirties, had small children.

Welding of tanks can be and is done by people who follow proper processes which typically includes steam cleaning and nitrogen purging but SHOULD NOT be done by people not trained in such things. NEVER!

Cheers,

Totally agree prd. And I have welded tanks with ACE/Ox torches. Even the unburnt gases from the torch can build up in the tanks and become an explosion hazard as they do ignite later. Enclosed spaces always invites this hazard. An empty tank can be a lot more explosive than a full tank. This is why those of us that cut things like propane tanks fill them with water to limit the hazard but they do great BBQ grills once we safety open them up.

As NormK said the tank must be cleaned properly plus I would add well vented or water filled to do repairs. Even those tanks with the foam type baffles can still be very dangerous.

Sorry, but we all need to use our heads and stay safe. With things like this, we just don't need to take chances with.

I add this too as the following is what happened when someone uses duct tape to repair a fuel line. Believe or not it was a so-called professional shop that did this to the customer.

Hmm, maybe best to replace that dripping fuel tap after all.

I have been repairing/welding up petrol tanks for over 50 years and never had a problem, you just have to be careful and flush them out very well. And MF you are right after I have flushed the tank before I get close I always wave the oxy above the filler cap, that way you cab be sure you can get up close to it to work on it.
AVB when I say silver solder I am referring to the 5% silver type that is used for welding copper pipe, not the 50/50 soft solder used on tin, this stuff is not suitable for repairing petrol tanks but many have tried, sort of works sometimes

G'day All,

Please explain to me how waving a torch over the top of the filler point is in any way safer/ less explosive or dangerous than the actual welding process?! If the thing goes off you're only very slightly better off being at arms length from the thing as opposed to standing over it!

I don't think we should be posting stuff here that in any way encourages readers to start mucking around trying to weld repair tanks. It should not be done by anyone who doesn't have PROPER training in such things. People have been KILLED doing this!

Similarly I've long since banned people at work taking old 44gal drums home (we get bulk oil in them and often they are then used to store fuel) as there is a fair chance someone will try opening up one to make a .....whatever. Same thing. People have been killed doing this!

Hi Mod prd and all other members following this thread.



You're absolutely spot on.

This is definitely a job for a Professional and not the amateurs mucking around at home in sheds. How many more deaths do we have to endure through the electronic media as a result of handy people blowing themselves up and causing domestic explosions.

I to feel that we should not be discussing welding of fuel tanks here on this platform.

As we always promote here on ODK, "If in doubt throw it out", it's just not worth the high risk involved.


Cheers,
BB.

BB Said:........................ "I to feel that we should not be discussing welding of fuel tanks here on this platform".


I have to disagree with this sentiment. If someone is considering welding a tank then they should be able to come to a forum such as this and see the pro's and cons of attempting it. They should be able to read the discussion on its safety , how dangerous it might be, the legal ramifications and so on. They should be able to make up their own minds, using the information gained in places such as this and other places, to make their decision. Anything else is a form of censorship. There's enough of that nanny state stuff already.

Hi Sparker,

Sorry but we at ODK have a duty of care to follow, thus it's best to stop it before an uncontrollable situation starts.

This is why we have Moderators, because if we didn't all hell would break loose and we don't want that.

What you guys do in your sheds is your business but we can't be seen to encourage / promote any risky practices which would reflect badly upon us.

Just as an example, We've just recently had a situation where a whole company here in South Australia was burnt to the ground and the loss of hundreds of jobs because of a bad welding situation. Just imagine had we given any advise on that issue prior to it happening. No thanks.

You can call it a Nanny State if you like but unfortunately litigation is rife in today's society and using the terminology of "a Nanny State" just doesn't cut it as a defence in a court of law anymore. So we must defend ourselves from it to begin with.

Hopefully this clears this matter up.


Cheers,
BB.

Respectfully disagree. enough said.

Yep, the days of cracker night are over, even in N.T. There has got to be something said for personal responsibility though. We are becoming a society of scapegoat seekers. Search for anyone to blame down the chain of events leading up to the incident. The 1963 epic It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World is coming to fruition and we unfortunately have to abide by the current reality for our own interest. Very suffocating to everyday life though.

As Mod BB said we do discourage the average civilian from doing these type of repairs. Those that I've learned are the proper safe way of these repairs that I can do, but there are a lot of precautions that must be adhered to. Even the professionals can make mistakes. It is best when in doubt don't do it and just replace instead.

I have seen mechanics smoking around open flammable liquids. This something I highly discourage which is why if a smokers approaches my shop I stop them until they put their ciggies out as there is a high chance that I am working with flammable fumes within my shop even though it's a well ventilated area.

I promise I will never discuss fuel tank repairs here ever again

Hey Norm now you seen how an explosive subject this can be. As one said it is a sue happy world today. They also use the threat of suing as a weapon too.

I had a guy several years trying to sue me because his already broke starter finished failing while in the shop even though I informed him it needed replacing before he left the mower for repairs and he declined. He also claimed I didn't install OEM belts even he was the one that provided the belts. I finally had to have the local sheriff department go by his home and inform him that if he didn't stop the harassing phone calls cussing especially cussing my mother out I was the one that would legal action.

Hi AVB,

Thank you for your understanding regarding this matter.

To all our valued members, I'm personally not against it at all, it's just the pitfalls that we as a public domain could ultimately leave ourselves open and fall in to, thus I'd hate to see this wonderful medium go under due to sheer negligence on ones behalf.


Cheers,
BB.

I understand, but it's ridiculous. Sooner or later, you're still gonna die! Look up the song of the same title. It's hilarious but so true!