Fuel Tank starting to leak..what to do

Subject line says it

Funnily enough it is at the very bottom part of the tank, right where water will collect when it separates from the petrol,


all

Is the tank rusting through, or is it leaking where the petcock attaches to the tank?

Good Fortune!

Hi
good point, i've just checked and unfortunately it is clean and dry under the tank and round the petcock. The tank is really bad with flaky rubbery stuff in it. The only good thing is the paint job.
I have another tank that is clean on the inside but has been hand painted (brush) by a previous person.

Question, Can you pressure test a tank if so how would you seal the fuel filler?

NZGlenn wrote: ...Question, Can you pressure test a tank if so how would you seal the fuel filler?

Have never attempted to pressure-test a motorcycle fuel tank, but with the tank removed, would guess by closing the cap and removing the petcock, and introducing water from a household tap through a hose fitted snugly into the petcock hole (perhaps using a rubber grommet to help seal the where the hose enters the petcock hole), water could be seen escaping from inside the tank through a leak source.

This method would not harm the tank's exterior paint finish.

Good Fortune!

I am planning on having my tank repainted one of these days and will probably get something like this for the gas fill so I can keep some Marvels Mystery oil in the tank while it's at the paint shop.
www.grainger.com/Grainger/CHERNE-INDUSTR...lug-2HCF6?Pid=search

Here's another type of plug. I used it when treating the tank for rust. The ribs seemed to grip the filler hole pretty good. For the petcock & low fuel switch, I made block-off plates from sheet rubber & 1/8" oak. No leaks.

Thanks, all good ideas. I am going to try it and see what happens

NZGlenn wrote: Thanks, all good ideas. I am going to try it and see what happens

If you get the tank rigged for a pressure test, keep the pressure LOW. 2 or 3 psi will be enough to find a leak with soapy water on the outside.

The flaky rubber stuff is probably a sealing compound that was used to stop the leak, maybe by a previous owner? It has failed. I see you have another tank. You just need a paint job.

Yet another option would be to submerge the slightly air-pressurized tank in water, and watch for escaping bubbles. Just like locating the pinhole in an inner tube.

The bathtub ought to do just fine. :lol:

Good Fortune!

This is what my friend uses for old tanks with a leak. www.westsystem.com/ss/
He hasn't had to re-do any of them, some were done quite a few years ago. The Ethanol crap doesn't seem to bother it, unlike some of the Tank Lines on the market. Of course proper application, cleaning etc is key to any of them.
Of course a good used tank is always best, if it isn't rusted also.