Leaking petrol tank

Post by **ian.mcdougall** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:12 pm

while under my 53 MM taking off a rear shock i noticed a small weep from bottom of petrol tank on further investigation i found that the bottom of tank was patched with what appears to be fibre glass while investigating further the weep became a drip so stopped and drained tank looks like a new tank needed if i fit a bigger capacity tank will the spare wheel go back under the boot floor on top of tank or will the tank interfere with it

Post by **alex_holden** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:15 pm

Apparently the high capacity tanks prevent you putting the spare wheel under the boot floor. Also someone was saying recently that they have stopped making them so you might have trouble finding one.

Post by **PSL184** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:15 pm

The bigger tanks are bigger at the top so the spare wheel won't fit anymore in the usual space. Also, I believe they are not available at present - JLH were looking to have them remade though.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:16 pm

I understand it ruins spare wheel storage. Not sure larger capacity tanks are available at the moment anyway - I believe JLH are going to have some made.......

Post by **ian.mcdougall** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:31 pm

It seems every time i do something to the car another problem appears I think I will have to close my eyes and plug my ears when driving or i will be forever spending money but then I would crash the car and have to spend even more money

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:37 pm

I'm having all sorts of problems 'posting' at the moment - and obviously my post has crossed with others! Same message though!

Post by **PSL184** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:51 pm

bmcecosse wrote:I'm having all sorts of problems 'posting' at the moment

Looks like Alex, myself and yourself were all trying to post at the same time ?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:54 pm

And like you - I get double and sometimes even triple posts!

Post by **mike.perry** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:30 pm

You can replace your 5 gal. tank with a 1098 61/2 gal. tank. The only problem I think you will find is that the fuel pipe into the tank is a different thread. You can get around this by cutting the fuel pipe and joining the two sections with a length of rubber fuel line. You may also find that your fuel gauge is a little out of calibration.
The other thing you will need is a 1098 spare wheel clamp. The spare will fit with room for a spare set of gaskets on top.

Post by **MikeNash** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:53 pm

Just a thought, but for a quick fix why not rivet on a patch of aluminium with adhesive between the faces? Araldite would do, but you might chose others from here.
http://www.adhesivestoolkit.com/Introduction.xtp

MikeN.

Post by **mike.perry** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:07 pm

Be very careful what adhesive you use with petrol as a lot of products are soluble. I think that Araldite is one of them. I tried it many years ago without success.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:45 pm

I really don't think this is a good idea - AT ALL !

Post by **forbesg** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:33 am

mike.perry wrote:You can replace your 5 gal. tank with a 1098 61/2 gal. tank. The only problem I think you will find is that the fuel pipe into the tank is a different thread.

Didn't have this problem with my `54. Just screwed straight in.
Did have to modify the float sensor though. I cut the 1098 float off and attached to the `54 sender to get the gauge to read more appropriately.

Post by **MikeNash** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:59 am

Ah bmceccose, you are a dear old thing! Go out into the garden and look up at the sky. You'll see airyplanes, and these are mostly held together with rivets and glue ESPECIALLY the intregral fuel tanks. Of course, you can rivet badly and for the same effort do it well, but the point is its an easy technique to get right (unlike, say, welding) and in this case, its just an outside idea for Ian to consider that might get him up and running fast if he's not got a spare tank at hand. MikeN.

Post by **mike.perry** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:17 am

Maybe I just couldn't undo the pipe and did not want to risk shearing it off. It was a long time ago, one of the first mods on the MM

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:37 pm

Sorry - I still don't think the petrol tank patch is a good idea! I seriously doubt airiplane fuel tanks are patched up with a few rivets and some Araldite! New tanks may well be made with carefully designed rivets and adhesives - but there's a world of difference to pop riveting a patch on a rusty old petrol tank.
My advice remains firmly - DON'T DO IT !

Post by **leyther8008** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:43 pm

I must admit years ago I patched a cortina tank with fibreglass (money was tight) and it lasted for five years untill I scrapped the car, I told myself that (then) lots of motorbikes had fibreglass tanks, but of course they banned them about a week after I did mine.
I have read about people welding tanks whilst running the exhaust from a second car into the tank via a hose pipe, never seen it done or met anybody who,s done it, but no doubt somebody will have.
There used to be a product called petropatch as well for exactly these situations but hav'nt sen any for years.

Post by **britab1967** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:39 pm

There's always this option

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp? ... &subCatID=

Not tried it myself, but something, I'm thinking of when I get to start putting Molly back together as I know the tank is pin holed. My dad was telling me the other day that he patched a tank up on his A30 van in a similar way (but standard gloss house paint) which worked until the chassis legs gave up and it went for scrap (40 or so years ago).

Brian

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:02 am

I have welded up a petrol tank before now - but only after much washing out with water, both cold and hot !

Post by **ian.mcdougall** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:55 pm

since tank is now empty out and dry and have found 5 small pinhole will be attempting to solder holes taking care not to blow myself up if this does not work will glue patch with metal to metal 2 part adhesive

Morris Minor Owners Club