elbow42
New member
The fuel tank on my Scotts/Murray lawn tractor developed a hair line crack around one of the four mounting posts at the point where the post meets the tank. Shopping around I quickly found out how high priced they are. On the internet, the ones I saw on ebay, amazon, or parts suppliers ranged from $59.99 to $135.00 plus shipping that was typically $13 and up. So, of course I started trying to figure out how I might repair it instead. "Nothing to lose" I thought. Not only am I cheap, I'm sentimental. My old Scotts and I go back 17 years, mowing several acres of very rough and rocky terrain. Together we have destroyed a lot of blades and other parts as well. 
So, I began trying to find something made specifically for a repair, and then it occurred to me that maybe the best material for the job would be the same plastic as the tank is made of. The tank has a "guard" around the filler cap, for what reason I don't know. On my tractor, at least, there is nothing nearby to guard the cap or filler hole from. It is easy to cut off a short, narrow strip from the guard with tin snips. Next drain, wash out and dry the tank. Then clean the area around the crack thoroughly with solvent or whatever works for you. While gripping the scrap with forceps, pliers or whatever, light the plastic with a match. It will burn and melt very slowly. Following closely along the crack, drip enough melting plastic onto the tank to cover the crack and a little surrounding area. Provided that the plastic stays hot enough, it melts slightly into the tank itself, so you need to be close. Don't linger too long in one spot or it might melt through the tank. This worked well for a crack. I don't know about fixing a hole.
Of course I don't know if this will work for all tanks. I'm sure it depends on what type plastic it is. Some probably behave differently than others. Mine is a white translucent plastic and from what I've seen a lot of them are. But, so far it has worked on mine. Only time will tell.
So, I began trying to find something made specifically for a repair, and then it occurred to me that maybe the best material for the job would be the same plastic as the tank is made of. The tank has a "guard" around the filler cap, for what reason I don't know. On my tractor, at least, there is nothing nearby to guard the cap or filler hole from. It is easy to cut off a short, narrow strip from the guard with tin snips. Next drain, wash out and dry the tank. Then clean the area around the crack thoroughly with solvent or whatever works for you. While gripping the scrap with forceps, pliers or whatever, light the plastic with a match. It will burn and melt very slowly. Following closely along the crack, drip enough melting plastic onto the tank to cover the crack and a little surrounding area. Provided that the plastic stays hot enough, it melts slightly into the tank itself, so you need to be close. Don't linger too long in one spot or it might melt through the tank. This worked well for a crack. I don't know about fixing a hole.
Of course I don't know if this will work for all tanks. I'm sure it depends on what type plastic it is. Some probably behave differently than others. Mine is a white translucent plastic and from what I've seen a lot of them are. But, so far it has worked on mine. Only time will tell.
