Quick Question: what will bond to plastic fuel tank?

bamabikeguy · #1 07-18-2008, 08:05 AM

Headed to town in a moment, weekly grocery run.....two years ago a Zenoah plastic tank got a hairline crack at a mounting bolt, but this was before GEBE got covered up, and a replacement was sent that day.

But I hit a pothole yesterday, and a miniscule drip is happening at the upper rear mount bolt.

What would be the best temporary repair to seal that crack, until things calm down in a month up in Michigan for a replacement?

Thanks !!!!

Paul

bamabikeguy · #2 07-18-2008, 08:25 AM

Well, guess I posted at a slow time, reckon I'll hunt an epoxy or a JBWeld type substance.

Ride on !

Tj Bunch · #3 07-18-2008, 12:32 PM

Bama look for Fuel tank epoxy 2part playdough looking stuff similar to JB weld but for gas tanks should stick. Any good Auto Parts house army navy should have it $2-6 for a crd.

Greg

Venice Motor Bikes · #4 07-18-2008, 12:46 PM

How about model glue, or crazy glue???

Tj Bunch · #5 07-18-2008, 01:01 PM

First the fuel will eat both of those up, and they probably will not adhere to the plastic on the tank. That plastic is not normal it's fuel resistant and even some epoxy's won't stick just use B-12 Carb cleanr to clean and put tank epoxy it will fix.

Jakylpops · #6 07-18-2008, 04:37 PM

Make sure you rough up the surface of the plastic before you apply anything.

I would try "welding" the crack with a hot soldering iron first, I had a crack in my carb float and couldn't get anything to stick to it for more than a week before it would fall off and start filling up with gas again. Just let the iron get really hot and keep it moving back and forth across the crack.

bamabikeguy · #7 07-18-2008, 08:04 PM

My bike shop guy is also a Snapper Dealer, his mechanic said there was an epoxy used on plastic radiators at the Auto Parts places, so I hope this PRO SEAL Fast Set Epoxy was the ticket. (mislabeled on the price, should have been $5, put I paid $3, handy double syringe dealio)

I roughed it up with the drimel, slathered it on about 3 minutes after blending.

It will be about 24 hours before I ride to the county seat tomorrow, so I'll report back the results after it cures.

Saddletramp1200 · #8 07-18-2008, 08:51 PM

There is an easy fix but you got to work for it.

Take the tank off (drained of fuel) Make a trip to a motorcycle place and get some items. I bottle Kream tank cote. Get a bottle of rubbing al k hol, the stronger the better. Don't drink any to test it

Pour the alcl. in the tank. Put the cap in it and play bartender for about two minutes. Shake the stuff out of it. I like to empty the stuff into a CLEAN 5 gal bucket so I can see what condition the fuel is in.
You have to take off the petcock valve! Pay close attention for the next part.
A tree branch works well to block off the fuel hole in the tank. Electric, duct ect, Won't Work. Plug it good. take the Kream and pour it into the tank, and
SLOWLY start to coat the tank by sloshing it around. Turn it upside down. ect, let it set for ONE minute, no more and do it again. Pour the contents out
and let the tank set 24 hours after you take the gas cap off and unplug the fuel cock. Just let it set. Leave it alone. The tank is now just as good as or better than it was new.

bamabikeguy · #9 07-19-2008, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamabikeguy

My bike shop guy is also a Snapper Dealer, his mechanic said there was an epoxy used on plastic radiators at the Auto Parts places, so I hope this PRO SEAL Fast Set Epoxy was the ticket. (mislabeled on the price, should have been $5, put I paid $3, handy double syringe dealio)

I roughed it up with the drimel, slathered it on about 3 minutes after blending.

It will be about 24 hours before I ride to the county seat tomorrow, so I'll report back the results after it cures.

It Works !!

It comes in a double syringe, says 4-6 minutes....the first mix I went to the house to change to some beat up clothes and when I got back it had already hardened. Second batch I waited a bit too long as well...third mix was the charm, and like I said, slathered it (most of the patch is unseen, between the tank and the engine).

Long story short, Pro Seal Fast Set Epoxy works on plastic, as advertised.

Saddletramp1200 · #10 07-19-2008, 10:18 PM

Man I'm happy for you. All I ever get is a mess. I've tryed 3M TO Zelda's sheep poop W/extra string

I hope it works. The stuff I have used works for a while, But the vibration always wins. Never seen it hold more than a week. Your luck maybe better. Let's hope so. Later Tramp