Plastic leaking tank seam repair how to..pix

roncoinc · Mar 4, 2011

This fix is on a husky 365.
like most plastic tanks the seam is overlapped and sometimes loosens and leaks.
All that is needed is a soldering iron to fix it.
I went a little further with my tools to make it easier but with patience one soldering iron will do the job..
these are the tools i use..

A heat gun to pre heat the plastic,a soldering iron with a fine pointed tip,a soldering iron with is what is called a "screwdriver" tip,PVC plumbing pipe cleaner and a wire brush and a rag to wipe..
i could see where the tank leaked by the clean area in the seam and marked it off..

then using the PVC pipe cleaner and a snall wire brush i cleaned the seam out..

then taking the heat gun i warmed up the seam are and used the pointed tip soldering iron to draw a deep line down the middle of the seam..

with the other soldering iron with the screwdriver tip set at 800deg at a 90 deg angle i pushed excess from the edge of the seam toward the middle of the cut i made at first.

then i did the same to the other side leaving a ridge of plastic right in the middle of where the original seam was..
have to add to post to add more pix

roncoinc · Mar 4, 2011

This is the other side done with the plastic pushed up into a ridge..

once both sides are pushe over and a ridge formed the screwdriver tip is used to mold that ridge flat sealing everything in and looks like this..

now you can sand or file or whatever if you want to make it look neat..
this repair took about 15 min taking my time and going slow to let the plastic melt..
the trick is to get the speed right so the plastic melts enough and dont burn..
working it so the soft plastic fills in and seals well.
filled the tank and it dont leak anymore

comments or questions welcomed.

pioneerguy600 · Mar 4, 2011

Good job Ron,..I can attest that your method works very well but don`t let the plastic burn, it will harden and become brittle. It looks like you got it just right and it should last for a good many years.

1steve · Mar 4, 2011

Excellent post very informative, i have done the same and works great. Thanks

redunshee · Mar 4, 2011

Great post. Hopefully I won't need to refer to it but if I do I know where to go. Thanks.
Bob

DarkTimber · Mar 5, 2011

Great post, just wanted to learn how to do a tank seam repair.

rmh3481 · Mar 5, 2011

Great thread. By the way did you have to add any plastic to the job? Ive done some similar repairs but always needed to add a little to it.

roncoinc · Mar 5, 2011

rmh3481 said:
Great thread. By the way did you have to add any plastic to the job? Ive done some similar repairs but always needed to add a little to it.

Didnt need to add any plastic..
There is plenty in that area to melt and push over to the center.
the initial weld is done when making the first groove,that should seal it and the rest is just supporting filler.

RandyMac · Mar 5, 2011

I guess there won't be 6 pages on this repair.

MS260 Fan · Mar 5, 2011

Good job Ron. Very informative!

roncoinc · Mar 5, 2011

RandyMac said:
I guess there won't be 6 pages on this repair.

LOL !!!
Yup,went to smooth without problems.
it may help somebody tho and i guess thats why i put the effort into it.

RandyMac · Mar 5, 2011

Like many types of repairs, even soldering, have many uses.
You did a good job, thank you for your time.

Cantdog · Mar 5, 2011

Gee Ron you didn't ask our advise:mad2:......I'd a tiged it.....then sealed from the inside with Gary Goo......good job anyway...

caleath · Mar 5, 2011

Nice job Ron...I hope to never need to do it...but glad to have the information.

mantis · Mar 5, 2011

J B WELD!! Problem solved:msp_biggrin:

roncoinc · Mar 5, 2011

mantis said:
J B WELD!! Problem solved:msp_biggrin:

Good product but when a proper lasting repair is so easy and even cheaper,and can be used sooner ,why use that ??

Tho i DO use a lot of JB weld on other stuff..

farrell · Mar 5, 2011

very nice and informative post ron!!

mantis · Mar 6, 2011

roncoinc said:
Good product but when a proper lasting repair is so easy and even cheaper,and can be used sooner ,why use that ??
Tho i DO use a lot of JB weld on other stuff..

LOL I'm just bustin your B@LL$ its a nice job,but with my luck I would burn right thru

roncoinc · Mar 6, 2011

mantis said:
LOL I'm just bustin your B@LL$ its a nice job,but with my luck I would burn right thru

Hey man ! ,,not a problem....
JB weld IS good stuff and even may work here.. so your really not far off

the trick is to go lightly and easy and let the heat do the work...
will feel kinda like pushing mud and it will go slow but if carefull you wont burn it..
when making the first groove you can see how thick the first layer of plastic is,,you just want to touch barely the second layer..
after that it's just mold it in and seal it..
and tnx for bumping the thread up,maybe more will see it and make use of the info

pioneerguy600 · Mar 6, 2011

19 posts including your own.... :clap:

Plastic leaking tank seam repair how to..pix

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