Fuel tank leaking

[kpbeddin]

I don't consider myself to be a demanding customer at all, but I would be very upset if I had been waiting 4 weeks for something as basic and necessary as a fuel tank with no known delivery date. I think I would give my dealer the courtesy of letting him know that I would be contacting LS myself for an explanation and a delivery date. I would also be asking them why I should consider LS at my next tractor purchase. We have all been here before, but in today's economy, the customer (or the company itself) should not tolerate anything less than crisp problem resolution and good customer service. Just my $0.02.

 

[I have no memory]

I agree kp

In many posts on here LS owners have issues and LS takes forever to get them parts. This simply is inexcusable.

 

[ProdaddyTX]

Yes, LS has been slower than we'd like to see on some parts orders due to the parts being on back order from Korea, but delivery time on in-stock items has improved a lot over the course of this year. They've also done a great job of getting parts to us quickly, when we've tagged an order as "Tractor Down"....that included a U5030 fuel tank last February. It's surprising to hear that an order has been in for a month and there's no eta....sounds like someone somewhere (maybe LS or maybe the dealer) may be dropping the ball or not fully disclosing info.

Gary, My suggestion would be to ask your dealer for more details as far as back order status, when exactly the part was ordered, etc...and ask them whether it was ordered "Tractor Down"?

 

[ProdaddyTX]

Well it it now going on 4 weeks now and still no word from LS on a new fuel tank. According to the dealer, he has checked with them but no estimate on delivery date. To top all this off, my other tractor starter quit on me. Now I am without a tractor at all. I guess I will try to get my Yanmar starter rebuilt and maybe that will go faster.

Gary, I just talked to LS parts and they said the U series tanks are in stock.... so something's amiss. If your local dealer can't help feel free to give us a call and maybe we can.

 

[ProdaddyTX]

Oooops, Gary, just saw in another thread that you have a P, not a U... well, I was trying to be helpful.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Wife called again this morning and all they could tell her was that it was back ordered from Korea and no ETA. I decided that I would try to patch the hole in the tank. I got it removed which was quiet simple to remove 2 band and the supply hose and return hose clamps. I took the tank into my shop, inverted it, cleaned it several times with acetone to remove all the diesel. I had some JB Weld on hand so I used that to patch all 4 holes that held the skid plate on although it appeared that only one (front inside one) was star cracked. I found some scrap angle iron frame from my old welding rod oven and I had some 4" flat bar so I decided to build a more substantial brush guard. I will get some photos of this after lunch and try to post them here. The guard isnt beautiful as some of the stuff I have seen here, but my scrap pile is very limited. I think it will work to keep sticks from hitting the tank. I welded it all to the frame that holds up the tank. By the way the back bracket that held the tank (two bolts) was loose so I had to tighten them up also.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Finally got the tank fixed and it seems to be holding for now. Got a few photos of the skid plate modification that I did. Trying to attach some photos

 

[Gary Fowler]

I had to go by the dealer looking for some male hydraulic quick connects for my FEL and he said the tank shipped Saturday from North Carolina so it should be in by Monday.
I am going to keep using my old tank with the JB Weld repair till it fails then put on the new one.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Last post just to let everyone know, the dealer called me today. The fuel tank is in. I just noted that this thread started 8/26 and tank arrived 9/30. Glad I wasnt using it commercially. 4 1/2 weeks to get a fuel tank that the manufacturer knows is problematic with leaks is way too long. I did manage to fix the old one with JB Weld last week and it seems to be holding so far. I guess I will keep the new one in storage till the original one starts leaking.

 

[Short Game]

I had a fuel tank leak that I repaired with JB Weld last for years. I coupled the JB with a screw, washers, and a nut to also block the hole. The leak came back, but it was close to ten years later.