Fuel Leak after Factory Repair

[ponytug]

As an emergency fuel tank, how about using a NATO type fuel can? You can get ones with fuel lines built into the caps.

All the best,

Peter

 

[marrt]

I too would like to have a replacement metal tank. Not too happy with all that heat near a plastic tank. Thought about welding one myself. The angles are pretty straight forward.

Regarding PT not admitting blame...this is standard operating procedure for them. I had a pump repaired. It leaked. Too bad. Only option was to send it back at my expense. If they KNOW they broke something, they'll make it right. Otherwise, they pretty much warranty nothing. On the other hand, it's the price we pay for perpetual free service from Terry. Frankly, it's hard to provide good warranty service in this day and age...as LL Bean recently concluded.

Am I frustrated with this...yes. On the other hand, they are a VERY small company with a lot of employees. Given the way some people operate these days (not the OP), I'm not sure I can blame them. Until you've operated a small company, as I have, you may not understand. It's a shame really. You just can't trust about 10 percent of people. Unfortunately, the 90 percent who are honest pay the price with reduced customer service.

 

[radios1]

it does look like making your own out of metal is the cheapest way, and there are places that sell the fuel caps and neck that gets welded on, looking at custom built fuel tanks, they would run about $368 for a 5 gallon tank..

 

[Marks481]

it does look like making your own out of metal is the cheapest way, and there are places that sell the fuel caps and neck that gets welded on, looking at custom built fuel tanks, they would run about $368 for a 5 gallon tank..

This place will make you one for less than $200.

Boyd Welding LLC — Custom Aluminum Diesel Fuel and Gas Tanks

Just make sure you specify the twist/vented cap.

Twist Cap W/ Aluminum Neck (Vented)

 

[MossRoad]

Boy, that's tempting.

 

[radios1]

Boy, that's tempting.

you think THAT is cheap? look here. 5 Gallon Universal Fuel Tank less than half the price of the OEM plastic junk..

 

[MossRoad]

I saw that but it won't fit.

 

[Marks481]

I saw that but it won't fit.

This almost fits, except it ends up too close to the exhaust manifold in my tractor. Also, the gas cap on this one sucks.

4 Gallon Universal Fuel Tank

Give them a sketch, and they will quote a custom tank. They are very reasonable.

 

[MossRoad]

Considering a 12" by 48" sheet of .125 aluminum is about $50, that's a heck of a deal.

.125" (1/8") 552-H32 ALUMINUM SHEET - Online Metal Store

 

[woodlandfarms]

Al would be Killer but steel would be just fine.

 

[Marks481]

Here is that 4 gallon tank on my PT422 (yes, past due for a bath).

The problem is that the aft end of the tank is too close to the exhaust manifold. I had to scrap PT's heat shield (and the stock gas tank mounts) and make my own, and still would like it to be at least 1/2" further away. Also the valve cap is non-venting, so the tank required another vent.

In retrospect, I should have paid them to build me a tank shaped closer to PT's tank, but this one really seemed like it would fit better than it does. Been using it for at least two years now.

If you do buy from, them, make sure you specify the twist on/vented cap I linked to above.

 

[MossRoad]

Al would be Killer but steel would be just fine.

12 x 48 .125 steel costs more than aluminum? $55.33... but I can weld steel very well, can't do aluminum! :laughing:

.125" (11 GA) ASTM A111 Hot Rolled STEEL SHEET - Online Metal Store

 

[radios1]

12 x 48 .125 steel costs more than aluminum? $55.33... but I can weld steel very well, can't do aluminum! :laughing:

.125" (11 GA) ASTM A111 Hot Rolled STEEL SHEET - Online Metal Store

NO, steel is 12 inches x 48 inches - $28.97.. cheaper.. it's just that Aluminum cannot rust.. but, if you don't have a TIG welder, you can actually use 316 Stainless steel, which welds nicely with stainless steel rods and just about any welder.. 12 inches x 48 inches - $155.58

 

[MossRoad]

NO, steel is 12 inches x 48 inches - $28.97.. cheaper.. it's just that Aluminum cannot rust.. but, if you don't have a TIG welder, you can actually use 316 Stainless steel, which welds nicely with stainless steel rods and just about any welder.. 12 inches x 48 inches - $155.58

DOH! $30 is cheap!!!

 

[radios1]

DOH! $30 is cheap!!!

and it's free if you collect a couple of thrown out BBQ's that are part stainless steel, and cut them up for the stainless.. it's thick enough for a fuel tank..

 

[Clumber]

The crack in in the bottom nipple that holds the elbow fitting. The crack gets bigger as the fitting is screwed-in. Note the remnants of an o-ring.

 

[ponytug]

Great photos, given the many small cracks in the plastic welds in the tank, I would be thinking about a new one, rather than trying to repair this one.
Just my $.02.

All the best,

Peter

 

[coolconnection]

Well that plastic crack does not look like it is part of the tank but rather just a plastic plug reducer. Mine started to crack long ago so I put a screw type clamp on it to keep it from getting bigger. It has been on there for at least 5 years. Works great and no leaks but it does look a littler different than yours. I even have a brass fitting on mine from the factory. If you were going to replace the tank anyway what do you have to lose but just drill it out and go get some plastic or brass pipe fittings to put back in it and see what happens. It might be glued in but glue doesn't last forever. I would do that first before I did anything. You got a hometown hardware store? If you're not to familiar with fittings those guys would fix you up. If replacing with plastic make sure it is for a petrolium product or it will just melt through. That fitting looks in line with the gas cap so with some long sockets you might be able to get some type of compressing fitting on it and tighten it up. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Deere Dude]

I might be wrong but I am not sure that is the right elbow for that coupling. It almost looks like it is supposed to just tighten enough for the o-ring to do the sealing, if that is where that o-ring came from... It looks like a pipe thread elbow and a coupler that seals with an o-ring. The tapered pipe fitting stressed the straight thread coupling. Therefore it shouldn't need any sealant, but a little sealant seldom hurts anything.

 

[radios1]

The crack in in the bottom nipple that holds the elbow fitting. The crack gets bigger as the fitting is screwed-in. Note the remnants of an o-ring.
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it's nice to know you bought a product from a manufacturer that stands by its products 100%.. perhaps there should be a popup that says, "do not buy power trac products" when visiting this forum?. or at least a sticky warning that power trac just don't care about their reputation?.. this is just NOT RIGHT!..