Small hole in oil pan fix? To braze or not to braze?

[brain55]

here's my sugestion.

get a epoxy repair stick for repairing gas tanks. most say that thaey will stick to gas and oil wet metal.

use carb spray and spray the joint and wipe down the immediate are till dry. have the stick balled and ready to go. put it on.

after hay season. pull the pan off and weld/solder-braze, etc. whatever.

Agreed

 

[Coyote machine]

One other thought to throw in the mix. Depending on hole size/location you might be able to put a rivet in the hole with JB weld as a cover after the rivet insertion. And Grace bituthane, (ice/water shield) could be a patch over the JB weld as a third layer of defense. Not saying this will work- just throwing out possible solutions.

One thing to keep in mind is the oil pan area is not under pressure, it's just a container for the pump to suck oil from, so there is no real positive pressure to push the oil from the pan except gravity.

You're really lucky the damage was limited to what it was.

When you say disc mower are you referring to a brush hog or something else? I'm not well versed in the types of mowers used to do haying, obviously.:confused3:

Thanks, and good luck with the temp fix.

 

[Soundguy]

You're really lucky the damage was limited to what it was.

When you say disc mower are you referring to a brush hog or something else? I'm not well versed in the types of mowers used to do haying, obviously.:confused3:

.

disc mower. he's cutting hay....

 

[Midniteoyl]

I need to fix a small hole in my oil pan. I think it is only slightly larger than a pin hole but I would rather not leave it go. I was mowing hay the other day in a newly rented hay field and found a 1' tall stump about 20' from the fence and when the disc mower hit it, it sheared the blade bolt and sent the blade under the tractor. Caught a steel hydraulic line and my oil pan. The line has been ordered but I would like suggestions on fixing the oil pan. I really don't want to pay for a new pan since it is such a small hole. And it is right on the lower corner of the pan.

I have heard of some brazing oil pans, but I'm afraid I would cook the oil without taking it off the tractor. It looks like a several hour job just to get the pan off the tractor. I was thinking about just having the tractor running while brazing to keep the oil flowing throughout. Any thoughts on that plan?

Also thinking of using something like JB Weld for a patch until I have the time to take the pan off and braze it that way.

If its just a 'pin hole' you can use a rubber washer/grommet and a self-tapping metal screw to seal it. Simply slip the washer over the screw and run the screw in to the hole... Repair correctly in the winter.

edit: I see some others beat me to it

 

[JerryG]

A sheet metal screw with the rubber gasket has worked for me on a racing oil pan for years.

 

[CliffordK]

I had a hole that was oozing a bit on my disc mower.

Someone recommended tilting the blade away from the hole, and welding.

How good is your access to the bad spot?

Perhaps try this.

Drain the oil from the pan.
Jack up one side of your tractor, or put it on blocks so the remaining oil runs away from the hole.
Let sit overnight.
Clean up the area around the hole, and either tig, braze, or tig-braze it.
Add some fresh oil, and you're good to go.

I suppose there would be a lot less air in the cutter bar for oil to burn, so any smouldering would have been self-limited. Is there a risk of burning up the engine?

 

[Jeepnford]

I wouldn't try welding until the pan has been taken off and cleaned. I've seen an engine or two catch fire with oil from leaking valve covers. Any welding process will be hotter than an exhaust manifold.

 

[cowski]

if it was mine i would braze it on the tractor.by the way we just brazed one on the tractor a couple weeks ago.

 

[mbmrang]

A lot of good suggestions here. And I was lucky that the 4" blade only took out a hydraulic line and very small hole in the oil pan. A few inches either way and it would have taken a tire out. The hole in the oil pan is in a bad spot as it is on a lower corner, so I am not sure the screw and gasket idea would work. I kind of think that I can make it until we are done with the hay. It only leaked a very small spot during the 2 days it has sat so far. It will probably leak more once the oil warms up though. I can just be sure to check it every little bit.

I appreciate the ideas. Probably just see if JB weld will stick and remove the pan in a couple of weeks to fix it correctly.

 

[Soundguy]

use the stick type that says it will stick to oil impregnated metal. deffinately makes a difference...