BRAZING repair to fuel tankTECH 101

[riotwarrior]

OK here is the idea...to repair a severely pitted/leaking rear tank for my truck. I've wire wheeled the crap out of the bad spots...and I'm planning on brazing up the pits...some right through...I just did a test and it's appearing to work out alright. I'll get some pics tomorrow of the bad stuff..and what I braze up.

If this works, I'll be sticking that rear tank back in ASAP...

So here is a scribe pointing to ohttp://www.oilburners.net/forums/editpost.php?p=702127&do=editpostne of the tiny holes I'll be brazing up

You must be registered for see images attach

And here I'm pointing to some of the pitting I'm filling

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

Here you see just above my finger a tiny hole...I've already done some brazing...and filled some of these...at one point I blew a hole through the tank and then brazed it up too!

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

That's about it for now...I'll see about more once I'm done...I have to get some of it to flow a little nicer

Any suggestions for brazing this stuff...I'm doing OK but would like to do great!

Thanks...

Al

 

[77f250diesel]

The shop I worked at 40+ years ago would solder a penny over the hole, quick and easy.

 

[riotwarrior]

The shop I worked at 40+ years ago would solder a penny over the hole, quick and easy.

Um...IFN I could just do that I would..but my pitting is kinda severe....and for now...just filling in lows and holes is all I'm doing...will test when done with some diesel see if it leaks...

Oh ya updated the first post with some pics!

 

[redneckaggie]

it is hard to make brass look pretty, Personally I would have just repaired the whole section with sheet metal or made a different style tank work but that seems like it will work fine.

 

[riotwarrior]

it is hard to make brass look pretty, Personally I would have just repaired the whole section with sheet metal or made a different style tank work but that seems like it will work fine.

Ya this is play for me....practice brazing and repair...I totally have the wrong tip...I should be welding seriously thicker metal with this tip....but eh..I have my small torch setup to a friend...DOH...

I need a second tank and NOW...no coin...gas and O2 and brazing rod...gallore!

Thanks though...

I'll get a 38 Gallon tank when $$ says I can... $$ also known as Wifey

 

[typ4]

bronco tanks are 33 and everywhere in the junkyards. also they make some low melting point brazing rod that works well on tanks.

 

[riotwarrior]

bronco tanks are 33 and everywhere in the junkyards. also they make some low melting point brazing rod that works well on tanks.

Yes...I'm aware of 33 gallon tanks...have two of them....wrong sending unit assembly...rather have 38 gallon one anyway...5 more gallons!

Didn't know that about the low melting point rod...but I got what I got...and LOTS of it..so this is more like said...practice and if it works...great...out not much o2 or acetylene...rofl

 

[sassyrel]

muratic acid,,after you wire brush it,,take acid to the spots,,to get the rust out.. muratic eats rust...

 

[typ4]

muratic acid,,after you wire brush it,,take acid to the spots,,to get the rust out.. muratic eats rust...

but then he may not have a tank left.
riot, what do you mean wrong sending unit?

 

[subway]

muratic acid,,after you wire brush it,,take acid to the spots,,to get the rust out.. muratic eats rust...

yup that will get the little nooks a crannies you cant get with the wire wheel, be careful though, that stuff is nasty and you dont want to breath it. i have heard citric acid is much more safe but it takes longer. that should let your brazing hold better with clean metal.

some water and baking soda will neutralize it.

 

[89greendiesel]

yeah, brazing thread!

 

[icanfixall]

The prep work needs some attension. As posted. Cleaning the area with an acid will work better. Even some old battery acid will clean out the areas the wire wheel wont reach. Remember that some of the "cleaning agent" may enter the tank too so flushing that out when done is a good idea. Just a note about using battery acid. Its around 6% H2SO4. It makes hydrogen gas when its working on something. Be careful around a confined space like the inside of the tank. That could become a bomb. If battery acid is used for the final cleaning and is washed off with water or nuetralized with water and baking soda use some air blown into the tank to remove any possible hydrogen gas. Do that and I'll bet the brase rod with the right flux will flow like butta..... I caunt believe its not butta.... Anyone remember who said that...

 

[riotwarrior]

Its a different size opening 2.5" or so.. I am just being picking and I don't want to use a Bronco tank...rather put a NEW 38 gallon in...for now a brazed regular tank should be addequate

 

[franklin2]

It's not worth messing with a regular capacity fuel tank, a new one is just too cheap at the local store. It may be worth fixing one of the large ones though.

 

[riotwarrior]

It's not worth messing with a regular capacity fuel tank, a new one is just too cheap at the local store. It may be worth fixing one of the large ones though.

Thanks...if'n it's so cheap...please...feel free to pay for my new 38 gallon tank and have it shipped to

Al McCormick
250.499.4070
1306 Main Street
Oroville, Washington 98844


Because as I mentioned....my brazing rod collection and gas are plentiful and the damn tank costs WAY more than I can afford...I can afford the time to fix it...SO PLEASE....feel completely free to buy me a new tank since your so free with my cash....which I don't have!


BTW....don't forget I"M in Canada where it's at least 2x more expensive to buy here!

Thanks for the encouragement

Al