Diesel Tank Repair

[Retired100]

1987 Kubota L2250 with 358 hrs has rust holes on bottom of Fuel Tank (Diesel)
After thorough cleaning of the inside, it doesn’t look too bad. I guess from water sitting in the bottom. I cleaned and wire wheeled the outside and looking for replies on an epoxy that I can use to repair the rusted section
A new tank is $2000

 

[mjw357]

J B Weld makes ‘tank weld’, marketed just for that purpose.
Or take it to a reputable shop that specializes in fuel talk repair to have it welded or brazed.

 

[WinterDeere]

I've tried some of the epoxy repairs on tanks, and they never seem to hold long-term. I wouldn't even risk it again. Just have someone weld or braze a new bottom to the tank, if you don't have the means to do it yourself.

 

[Williy]

I used JB weld on my old ford pickup gas tank the rust area
was over a ft in dia and gas was leaking so drained the tank
plastered the JB weld on it and it lasted for 10 years then
purchased a new tank

willy

 

[pmsmechanic]

I have repaired many tanks with JBWeld. You cut a piece of tin the size of the patch you need. Coat both the tank and the patch with JBWeld and hold the patch in place until it's cured.

 

[mikester]

JB weld is the curb-siders solution to a leaky fuel tank and a quick flip

Just like bondo and newspaper skins

 

[WinterDeere]

I have repaired many tanks with JBWeld. You cut a piece of tin the size of the patch you need. Coat both the tank and the patch with JBWeld and hold the patch in place until it's cured.

If the holes are not near a fitting, I'd guess this could work better than most methods I've seen. Area of the epoxy directly exposed to fuel is very low when bond line is thin, and any fissures would have to propagate a longer distance to reach the holes, if patch is oversized.

My own experience is that tractor and OPE tanks usually crack and leak near the fitting in the bottom of the tank, and so that's where I've both used and found others have used epoxy repairs. It always fails in these cases, it's just a matter of time.

 

[sandman2234]

Red Kote is one way to go with tank repairs.
David from jax