Oil & Fuel Replaced BX Fuel Tank

JonSpinosa · Mar 4, 2001

With that big snow storm heading to the northeast, I thought I should stop procrastinating and replace the infamous leaky BX fuel tank I have had in my garage for 3 months. I just figured that would be the time to start leaking just when the tractor was most needed! Isn't that the way things go? It took me about an hour to change it.

I was wondering if any of you guys changed your tank? My tractor was one year old and did not have any problems. After looking over the old tank and new tank, there is not any difference. The only difference with the field recall kit is the mounting bracket. If you guys see the old mounting bracket and the new bracket, you can not help but wonder what is the advantage or improvement of the new kit.

After close scrutiny of the two designs, I am just as concerned now with a leaky fuel tank with the new tank as the old. What does anyone else think who is familiar with the two designs?

Roy · Mar 4, 2001

Never saw the brackets (dealer performed the work), and my tank was leaking at the time. From what I was told, the old design allowed the tank to rub against some metal during vibrations. The metal would eventually cut through the plastic tank. When it was returned, the mechanic showed me where to look, pointing out that some spacers/cushions were added to the new design. Did one of your brackets have cushions, the other not?

JonSpinosa · Mar 4, 2001

Roy,
The old design had a steel spacer between the tank and frame. The new design also uses a spacer, the difference being that the spacer is attached to a bracket that mounts to the frame. There are no cushions of any type. Fundamentally, I just cannot see the big improvement!

Anonymous Poster · Mar 4, 2001

Jon, were you able to just pickup the tank at your dealer?

del

Roy · Mar 5, 2001

Jon; Since it's been a while since the work was performed (last summer), I am doing this by memory (known to be fallible /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif). What the mechanic may of said was 'a spacer to cushion'. Don't think I had 40 hours on it at the time that I sprung the leak. Ever since the service was performed, no problems to date (112 hours). I am guilty of being a little rough with my tractor, lots of hard 'banging and bouncing' (but that's what I bought it for, to work). So, it doesn't surprise me that since the original design problem was movement-related, I had experienced the leak.

Maybe it's simply that with excessive vibrations, the old spacer would fall-off. They may of simply moved it to the bracket itself to achieve a better bond.

Snell · Mar 5, 2001

Why did you change your own fuel tank? Your dealer was supposed to take care of everything. Warranty covered all aspects including pickup and delivery. This was a full recall. Just curious as to how you ended up changing it yourself.

JonSpinosa · Mar 5, 2001

Hi guys,
I purchased the BX tractor out of state so the dealer shipped me the fuel tank kit and he also sent me the updated 3 point kit at the same time. I am about 250 miles away from the dealer and thought it would be easier and faster if I did it. The dealer was very good about shipping me the recall parts.
Jon

cup149 · Jun 14, 2001

I just replaced my leaking tank. The old tank had a hole cut in it so chips could be removed, then a plug welded in the hole. This is where the leak occured, probably helped by the tight mount which stresses the plastic. The new tank is solid even though it still has a mold seam where the hole was in the old tank. The new bracket lets the tank float. The arrow shows the hairline crack in the weld.

r0GuE · Aug 4, 2001

I thought I'd resurrect this post that I found in a search. My tank is leaking too! It seems to be coming from the top left (if seated) side and from the way it is flowing down the tank I think it is leaking at the mold seam.
What is this stuff about a recall? What are the SN#s of the recall. I hate to loose my tractor now that I am a FEL junkie!
Can anyone fill me in on the history and details of the failure and recall?

Rogue

JonSpinosa · Aug 4, 2001

Roque, That is exactly the location of the fuel tank. I am not sure of the serial numbers effected, however, it seems to be a moot point since it sounds like the fuel tank is leaking by your description. If you call your dealer, I am sure he can change the tank for you or ship you a new tank. I changed my own tank, it took me about 45 minutes.
Jon.