Petrol tank leaks - Triumph but not Stag

[mjb67]

Yeah what you're saying is bringing back memories of the hours spent holding the tank, like a rubbish version of Hercules, shaking it around and trying to convince myself I'd washed it into all of the cracks. It did deposit an impressive amount of gunk when I drained out the Marine Clean. There does seem to be a lot of structure inside the tank (I presume related to the gubbins for injection) which makes it hard to slosh around and to drain. So after draining the Marine Clean mix I thoroughly rinsed it out twice with fresh water to make sure I had removed all the chemical.

When you get to the sealing stage, I don't think it will matter too much if you don't completely coat all of the baffles etc. as long as you coat the rust-prone bits that could cause leaks.

My leaks were in the seams between the top and bottom of the tank, so I concentrated on those areas.

I was following this guide: http://www.frost.co.uk/how-do-i-repair-my-fuel-tank/

[Radenac]

Thanks Matthew, I have just thrown in a few (7 in case I forget how many) large nuts and I can hear them rattling on the baffles. I will give the marine clean a few more hours then drain and wash it all out.

I really want to get this right as I am sick of smelling petrol fumes in the boot and I might as well pour the fuel straight into the boot and save time.
Robert

[mjb67]

That's exactly how I felt. The petrol smell in the boot was pretty demoralising. Now my boot smells of the paint I used on the exterior of the tank :-)

Your plan with the nuts sounds sensible. I used a piece of chain later on when I didn't dry the tank properly after draining the Metal Ready, and got some flash rust overnight.

[Gresley]

Thanks to everyone who posted help and advice, petrol tank is now back in and the car is running again

Brian.

[Radenac]

That's exactly how I felt. The petrol smell in the boot was pretty demoralising. Now my boot smells of the paint I used on the exterior of the tank :-)

Your plan with the nuts sounds sensible. I used a piece of chain later on when I didn't dry the tank properly after draining the Metal Ready, and got some flash rust overnight.

Problem was put 7 nuts in but only counted out 6. I finished the tank seal late this afternoon and everything seems OK. It has been a very hot day here but still the tank took hours to dry out even though I turned it regularly. That seems to be the biggest problem with this stuff.

What was your problem in the end Brian?

[Gresley]

What was your problem in the end Brian?

It was a tiny pinhole where the tin worm had got hold in a lower front corner, the tank had rotted from the outside.

Brian

[Radenac]

Mine is in exactly the same spot, obviously a 'low' point.

[Radenac]

Problem was put 7 nuts in but only counted out 6. I finished the tank seal late this afternoon and everything seems OK. It has been a very hot day here but still the tank took hours to dry out even though I turned it regularly. That seems to be the biggest problem with this stuff.

Everything has gone according to plan, the boot is dry and the petrol smell gone. If in a couple of years I ask for advice on a rattling sound coming from the boot area, would someone just remind me about the seventh nut.

Robert