Fuel Tanks

FUEL TANK REPAIR SERVICE

In 1985 I recognised a distinct lack of a specialised Fuel Tank Repairers in Brisbane or elsewhere in Australia. I started "Fuel Tank Repair Service". I have since changed the business name to "Fuel Tank and Radiator Service". This has developed into a long-standing respected name.

I do not advertise in the yellow pages as the majority of the fuel tank work comes as a result of Word of mouth or other "Fuel Tank Repairers". I find most radiator repair shops advertise fuel tank repairs, but they don't want to get involved with the more complex jobs, replacing the bottom of 4 x 4 tanks for example. They are happy to do the smaller solder repairs, but are not equipped to tackle the more complex jobs.

Clean Fuel Tank I always have at least one Veteran, Vintage or Classic vehicle tank in the workshop. A great revelation in tank cleaning came with the installation of a dipping line to handle the cleaning of rusty and dirty tanks. This can be done without the need to cut your rare fuel tank. Once cleaned there are a number of different treatments available to coat the inside of the tank (See "Red Kote" below). The coating of the Fuel Tanks can be done for a couple of reasons. One reason is to seal any holes in the tank. The other is to simply line the inside of the tank against any further corrosion.

A regular task undertaken is the cleaning of "rotten" petrol. This is easily diagnosed, as the stench of the remains is impossible to ignore! After time the remains of the petrol turn acidic and can eat through the fuel tank.

Another recent aspect of the fuel tank business was bought on by the trend to replace motors in small cars with updated fuel injected motors. This often means that the tank has to be opened and a SWIRL POT is fitted. This modification can be to replace the existing plumbing with larger tubes, both for pick up and return. The fuel tank can be dipped and cleaned at the same time. The owner is generally making a large investment in the new motor and ancillaries, therefore a clean fuel system is essential.

MOTOR CYCLE FUEL TANKS

In the past, I had avoided repairing Motor Cycle tanks as there has always the problem of keeping the Custom Paintwork on the tank whilst repairing it! When I dip a tank, cleaning it inside and out, the paintwork is lost or at least damaged. In some cases this is not important as the tank is undergoing a restoration anyway, and this cleaning is a positive move.

When the tank has a finish which is to be preserved, the obvious choice may have been to use a liner. A fuel-tank liner may or may not be the answer.

REPAIRING A BIKE TANK

I dip the tank as I do with all other fuel tanks; this cleans the tank of paint, oil, fuel residue and rust deposits.

Once the tank is cleaned and neutralized I assess the damage. Any larger holes bigger than, say, a pin head will be brazed. The tank will again be dipped to re-clean the brazed areas. The heat used whilst brazing will leave an oxide on the inside which must be removed.

Once the tank is cleaned again inside and out, I dip the affected areas, normally the seam region, into a solder dip pot. This "Tins" the tank inside and out, and seals all the smaller holes from the inside whilst coating the areas subject to water damage with solder. When coated with solder, the tank is hot dipped "Galvanized" on the inside preventing any further moisture contact, making this a long term treatment.

Once the "Solder Dipping" is complete, the fuel tank is pressure tested and re-dipped to remove any deposits of flux etc, from the inside of the tank.

The tank is again tested and dried with a large gas torch to remove any moisture from the tank. The Fuel Tank is now ready to go back to the customer for painting.

Sump Wedge fitted to a Valiant Fuel Tank

PERFORMANCE MODIFICATIONS AND SUMP WEDGES

The Fuel Tank can be modified by fitting a Sump Wedge. This allows fuel to be caught in the baffled wedge therefore preventing the pick-up problems associated with a flat bottomed tank with a radius on the rear corner and the standard pickup at the front of the tank. The threaded sockets allow a variation of BSP threaded fittings, eg. dash 8 or 10, to be screwed into the flanges as required.

The Fuel Tank is dipped, cleaned, tested and painted before the sump wedge is fitted.

Red-Kote®

Red-Kote® is a fuel tank liner available from Fuel Tank & Radiator Service to allow the treatment of rusty and pitted fuel tanks. Red-Kote® liquid comes in a quart tin and is a one part product. This allows the unused Red-Kote® to be returned back to the can ready for re-use.