Gas leak

well I went out to my shop this morning and noticed gas under my bike. Coming from between the frame and tank. Pulled the tank and looks like its leaking where they welded the front mount to the tank. Whats the best way to proceed, I sure don't want to change the tank, this one is less than 2 years old.:witsend:

Sorry to hear that...fix the weld with a new one is the only way I can think of to fix it...heading up my bud's place for a few wobbly pops and he's fixed a couple so far this year, I'll ask him...are they split tanks or one piece??

Its a one piece tank Lucifer, think I'll bring it to a pro welder, I weld but usually just structural stuff. I guess when they welded the bracket on they penetrated too deep because there is no seam in the tank at that position.

Hey Lucifer ask your bud the best stuff to get the gas completely out so it can be welded, thanks

What they do is fill the tank with an inert, non-flammable gas.
After you pull the tank and drain it good. Follow up with blowing clean dry air through it to evaporate any wet gasoline. Then what I've seen done is fill tank with an inert (non-flammable) gas (not liquid of course).

Many times when they stamp tanks out of flat stock, stress is applied and weakens the metal on a molecular level. Then when vibration is introduced or any other stresses, the metal seperates. I've had it happen to me on 3 Japanese bike tanks over the years.

He uses water...flush the tank a couple of times...Then fill it with water to as close to the break as possible(stand up the tank,so you're welding the top) and still be able to lay a bead....you wanna minimize air space in the tank as much as possible:cheers::drunk: Good Luck

More than one way to skin a cat...pretty cool method there chuck....ever get any pucker factor "poof's"??

I think this way is the safest. When I was looking at relocating my petcock everyone that I talked to (including this site) suggested to pump it full of exhaust fumes. Hey BG, I would go this rout....JMO

Thanks for the suggestions guys, talked to some other guys I know and they use the exhaust off a vehicle like chucktx said. chucktx are you gas welding or just testing with the torch. I have a lot of silver soldering experience from my job so possibly I could repair it this way if I can get it clean enough. Soldering steel is a little tricky but definitely doable. What ya'll think?

:roflmao: gotta laugh or go nuts:witsend: I filled the tank with water and put on the bench, saw it leaking around the mount bracket weld as I said. Drained the water blew out the tank, decided to wire wheel the weld and surrounding area to get it clean, then filled with water again to see if I could pinpoint leak, the darn thing won't leak now going back out to try a figure a way to pressure it up some.

From my years of experience with solvent based coatings and then having the switch over to water-based I can tell you this: water molecules are larger than gasolines AND steel will rust/corrode dam fast so, I suspect you have corrosion starting in the crack which makes it seem like it's fixed.

Yea I pressured up the tank some and it started leaking again, think it just got plugged with the dust from the wire wheel. Got it all prepped will either bring to a welder tomorrow or try 45% silver solder myself haven't decided. Just a weekend for breakdowns, now my house a/c compressor went to ground, will be changing it out tomorrow:witsend: at least thats something I very versed in doing.

Do I need to worry about the coating inside the tank getting burnt, It probably will but should I try to recoat that area or will it be ok. I usually always keep a full tank but will more coating start flaking of fromm gas getting under it?

One thing that I have done since I do not have a welder. I use Mapp and O2 to get a really hot flame. I bought some wire for a welder and welded what I needed by using that. I had some baffles that I needed to fix and I used that. Just a little hand held thing, fed the wire by hand.

thats a good idea JB, I used a lot of clothes hangers in the old days, but the last time I tried they are not the same metal now. Cheaper like everything else I guess

This is what I use. I bought it at Menards....

thats a neat little set up, I have access to a small oxy/act torch rom work to use. I had my own but all the hoses rotted away and tanks rusted out from it sitting up unused for too long. don't use my tools at work very much anymore since I made shop foreman a few years back.