Punctured My Fuel Tank

[Cityboyfarmer]

Well, I finally did it. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Went and tore something up good this time. I was bush-hogging and ran over a limb just right and it levered up and first bent my clutch pedal to where I couldn’t push in the clutch in order to stop and then punched an index-finger sized hole into my fuel tank. It was kind of hairy there for a few seconds until I was able to jam the clutch pedal down and shut off the engine. Luckily, I was only about 200-300 feet from the house. I ran back to the house as fast as I could and grabbed a 5 gallon bucket to catch as much fuel as I could to keep it from draining onto the ground and possibly into the water table. Then it dawned on me that it might be a good idea to get the tractor back to the carport on the concrete where I could better assess the damage before all the fuel drained out. Standing next to the tractor, I grabbed the clutch pedal and pulled as hard as I could and freed it enough to operate it. I waited till the fuel flow slowed some, moved the bucket, started the tractor, shifted to high and scooted to the carport and shut off the engine, and then grabbed the first container I could find, which turned out to be a cooler. At least two, maybe three more gallons of diesel drained into the cooler.

Here are some photo’s to show the damage. This first shot is to show the orientation of the 5205’s fuel tank. It is a 23 gallon tank that starts behind the seat and drops down to the left by the shuttle shift lever.

 

[Cityboyfarmer]

This is a closer shot. Note the orange knob of the shift lever. Part of the fuel tank is just below it with the cup holder molded into it.

 

[Cityboyfarmer]

This is the hole. The picture is kind of blurry, but I think you can get an idea of the size of the hole.

 

[Cityboyfarmer]

One last close-up of the hole. Still a little blurry, but you can see it. Is this depressing or what? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Seems like a design flaw to me to have an exposed plastic fuel tank on the underside of a tractor. I'll be contacting my dealer in the morning to see if it can be repaired or if it must be replaced.

Has anyone experienced a plastic fuel tank puncture? Can this be repaired?

 

[gmsssi]

Man you were sitting on a lauching pad! Last fair I went to I just couldn't believe how many tractors have fuel tanks in some of the most vulnerable places. I saw one of those Duetz tractors and it was hung right under the step. All I could think of was exactly what happened to you. Good Luck!

 

[JayC]

Ouch. Hope you can get back up and running quickly.

 

[beenthere]

Ouch mega-ditto!!
Sure wish things like that wouldn't happen. Amazing what sticks can do pushing up under the belly of a tractor. Gets wiring, hyd lines, filters, AND now fuel tanks. At least it can't explode being diesel.

Per your tank puncture pictures (close-up), is the hole above the floor deck? Or is it close to where the cup-holder shows.
And is that a petcock showing in the second to last pic beside the hole, and is it in the fuel tank?

Probably no way to get in the tank to insert a washered bolt that could be tightened with a nut and washer on the outside of the hole.
Or to make a clean, round hole of a perfect size that possibly a tebeless tire valve stem could be inserted to make a plug.

 

[Cityboyfarmer]

Beenthere,

That is a petcock in the photo. The hole is on the underside of the section with the cup holder, next to the fender, near the fuel pump. Maybe I can pull the fuel pump and reach in to the hole and maybe get some kind of plug installed. I’ll see what my dealer recommends. Maybe they know how to repair it.

Here is another photo showing the hole in relation to the fuel pump.

 

[oldgoat2]

There are lots of patch kits for plastic fuel tanks from NAPA, etc.. JB weld is what most tanks get repaired with. I bet John Deere will put a new one in under warranty in your case. If they refuse, ask if you can barrow a roll of duct tape for a few minutes /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif!

 

[beenthere]

Ahhh, the picture makes it clear to me now.
I don't like that petcock under there in that position either, and certainly needs some armor protection to protect the wires of the fuel pump as well as the fuel tank. Even corn stalks could cause a problem under there, with wires if nothing else. If there was armor, then there also would be dirt and dust and mud caked under there, so it may be a catch 22.

Your odds of getting access to the inside through that fuel pump port might be reasonably good. Then a bolt with flat washers both sides would be what I'd try if Deere doesn't warranty. They very well could, knowing them as I do.

 

[ddivinia]

That sucks. How old is the tractor? Maybe a warranty item? Never know with JD - they might do it. Bad luck, could happen to many of the new tractors.

D.

 

[mikim]

Why I have a TC45 instead of a TN55 is the location of the fuel tank. On the 55 it was right under the step and I brush hog in the woods all the time - it wouldn't have lasted 2 weekends. The TC45 has it behind the driver's seat.

 

[hobbyfarm]

And, after you finish fixing this... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Next mod...ADD a skid plate and a fire extinguisher!
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Soundguy]

As much as I complain about having to scale the side of my tractor to re-fuel the top mounted fuel tank.. i think I like it more and more now.

Any chance you can drain the fuel down low.. clean the outside of the hole and sourounding area with carb cleaner, and then use an epoxy stick that is made to patch fuel tanks. the good ones state they will stick to gas and oil 'wet' metal.. but for best results.. clean area. They make ones for batteries with burst seems too.

I've patched a hyd sump with an epoxy stick before.. lasted as long as the fellow kept the tractor anyway..

Soundguy

 

[pekabu]

A few years ago the cable got caught on the fuel filler neck/cap on my fathers Ranger skidder. It ripped a pretty good sized hole. The fuel level was low so he was able to have someone weld a plate over it. Granted, it was 1/4 steel.

 

[Cityboyfarmer]

Chris,

The hole is just about as low in the fuel tank as you can get. I removed the petcock you can see in the previous photos and maybe a few ounces of fuel came out.

Attached here is a photo of the repair I made yesterday afternoon. I used Permatex Cold Weld and followed the instructions precisely. I blew out the tank with compressed air until all fuel stopped leaking from the hole. I then roughed up the surrounding surface with sand paper and a wire brush. I cleaned the area with alcohol several times and made sure it stayed dry. I mixed up a batch of epoxy and applied it and let it set. I did this for three applications and let it sit for 16 hours per the instructions.

 

[Cityboyfarmer]

Here is another shot. Note the better picture quality in these last two photos. It's a lot easier to get a good shot without diesel fuel dripping on you and the camera. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I don't know if this repair will hold up or not. We shall see. For now, I'm only going to run with about 5 gallons of fuel at a time and refill more frequently until I am confident it will hold.

 

[Cityboyfarmer]

I'll add here that the Deere dealer said NO-GO on the warranty replacement for a puncture. Maybe I'll send these photos to Deere and maybe they will armor the fuel tank, pump and other vulnerable items in the future so maybe this won't happen to someone else.

Apparently this is not too common according to my dealer. He said there are no service bulletins and only one other reported incident on the dealers web access page, in which Deere recommended a repair kit they sell for $30.00.

Oh well, live and learn.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I have never heard of anyone punturing a fuel tank on a TN or a JD 5000 series around here. These tanks are quite tuff and in CBF's case it was most likely that he was the 1 in a millionth time a tractor hit a stick.

There are a lot of TN's and JD's running here and I know I drive my TN thru brush that any sensible person wouldn't. So far the only problem I have is I had a stick come up and pop one of my shifting levers loose. It was a simple fix though as I just needed a new retainer ring on it. I use my TN to clear red brush and anything under 1.5 inches thick and reclaim the land under the power lines. Can it happen on a TN, probably. But with my luck on breaking things if it could happen it would have by now.

As for a repair, JB Weld would be your best bet.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Does your 7610s only have the hood tank? I am just curious as I have a lower tank on my 7710 that gets its fuel thru the top tank. Have a rocker switch on the dash that tells me how full both tanks are even though it only pulls fuel from the lower tank. Also, how much fuel does your tank hold. I think my combined total is 46 gallons.