Field expedient fixes?

[Ghillie]

First off, let me say, I am not looking for a permanent fix...

ie... We arrived at a job the other day and got one of our top handle saws out of the box and it had a hole in the oil tank.

We did have another top handled saw on site and work was not slowed, but if there is something that I can keep in my tool box that will make quick (1 hour or so) repairs instead of trashing a whole day driving for parts.

I would like to hear what others have used in the field for "expedient repairs" not just on tanks but other repairs in a pinch.

Fred

 

[Ghillie]

Changed title...

Changed the title on the thread because I followed my own advice and did a search.

 

[pops21]

What about that putty I've seen that billy mayes advertises. :monkey: Other then that I would have to say maybe some shoe goo.:monkey:

 

[g.moore]

Your going to call me insane but......
Hole about 1/2" in the side of the gas tank on my Scout II, had to fix it or I'm not making it home. Found a nice green stick a little bigger than the hole, stripped the bark off of it and pounded it into the hole. Got me home, all that mattered. I would assume it would work on a plastic tank just don't use a hammer to put the "plug" in. You could even caulk it with a little JB weld or some of the JB weld putty.

 

[Ghillie]

Your going to call me insane but......
Hole about 1/2" in the side of the gas tank on my Scout II, had to fix it or I'm not making it home. Found a nice green stick a little bigger than the hole, stripped the bark off of it and pounded it into the hole. Got me home, all that mattered. I would assume it would work on a plastic tank just don't use a hammer to put the "plug" in. You could even caulk it with a little JB weld or some of the JB weld putty.

Not crazy at all. I have used wooden wedges and tapered dowels to stop haz-mat leaks... They even sell them specifically for that if you don't want to make your own.

 

[Ghillie]

What about that putty I've seen that billy mayes advertises. :monkey: Other then that I would have to say maybe some shoe goo.:monkey:

LOL, I think Billy Mays should have stopped at OxyClean!!!

 

[pops21]

LOL Yeah I have NEVER seen oxi-clean clean much of anything. You would be better off using powder dish ditergent then that :censored: .

 

[pops21]

Never mind I just looked up shoe goo and it need 24 hours of drying time. They have the quick cure gasket stuff. That might work. I would also keep a can of break clean in the truck too. A can of WD-40 would be good if anything electrical got wet. I used to keep 5 or 6 cans of WD-40 in my trail truck. Just incase the distributor got wet.

 

[zz rich]

Duct tape ofcourse ! Works everytime. I have a mobile home and its my best freind ! Ok, now back to my beer....... Or. I have a pull-on that the oiler doesnt work on. I just keep a quart sized bottle of bar lube handy with a spout on top and apply as necisary. Ok......back to the quart......

 

[Lakeside53]

The problem with any epoxy type repair is that you'd need to degrease before use... and mix gas or oil is very greasy...

 

[excess650]

I would have suggested JB Weld or something similar for metal cases. Some of those 2 part epoxies set up pretty quickly and work well. Some of the guys that I rode dirt bikes with learned the hard way that carrying epoxy could save the day.

I wouldn't have even thought about duct tape, but it should work on an oil tank leak.

 

[Ghillie]

I always degrease with BrakeKleen before using any epoxy, Carb kleen will melt a lot of plastics and some have a lubricant in them so you don't wash down a cylinder wall by spraying too much through a carb while the engine is running.

 

[ropensaddle]

I always degrease with BrakeKleen before using any epoxy, Carb kleen will melt a lot of plastics and some have a lubricant in them so you don't wash down a cylinder wall by spraying too much through a carb while the engine is running.

I like electronic cleaner leaves no residue.

 

[Taxmantoo]

I can tell you right now that shoo goo / goop is not gasoline resistant. I tried to glue a Briggs gas tank with the stuff, and it dissolved. I've got to patch an oil tank and I'll be using either JB weld, a similar gas tank epoxy, or maybe MGS aircraft epoxy, but the latter stuff is pretty thin and hard to patch a hole with. I'm leaning towards hot JB Weld, packed into the hole as soon as it starts to set up. If you float a container of JB Weld in a 150 degree pan of water, you'd be surprised at how fast it starts to set/thicken. I found that out by accident once when I tried to thin it by floating the mix cup in hot water.

 

[zz rich]

Actually there is a product that works very well on gas tanks, its a two part putty strip deal that you need together and apply. Not sure if it works on oil tanks do to the oil factor. Athough I once used jb weld on my old galaxie 500 oil pan when I punched a hole in it. Worked til I sold the car years later.


Oh, and make sure you clean off any oily residue with oxy-clean before making the repair ! JK

 

[LazyJ]

I keep a can of compressed air in my tool bag, "Dust Off" or such. Blow dirt from around a spark plug, clean around tank caps, clean air filter. Cheap, handy, and a can goes a long way...

 

[zz rich]

I keep a can of compressed air in my tool bag, "Dust Off" or such. Blow dirt from around a spark plug, clean around tank caps, clean air filter. Cheap, handy, and a can goes a long way...

OMG ! And to think I live in the "Land of fruits and Nuts". :monkey:

Haha, funny picture though !

 

[Brian S]

OK, that pic just got a laugh from me, an uncomfortable nervous laugh but ya gotta take what you can get.

I recently had to reseal the fuel tank halves on my Mac 10-10. I tried a couple but they were eaten up by the ethanol in our gas here. I ended up using "Seal All"

http://www.eclecticproducts.com/sealall.htm

Fuel tank repairs are what this stuff is inteded for, and it works really well. It is just thick enough to patch holes maybe up to 1/4" or less, requires no mixing, and sets up quickly. The only solvent that can touch it is acetone, and after its cured I don't know if it still would. This stuff is good! It reminds me of thick super glue and even has a similar aroma, but is sets up much slower.

Found mine at Auto-Zone and paid too much, just saw it last night at Wally World and it was less than $2 for about a tooth paste size tube! Getcha some!

 

[Ghillie]

I keep a can of compressed air in my tool bag, "Dust Off" or such. Blow dirt from around a spark plug, clean around tank caps, clean air filter. Cheap, handy, and a can goes a long way...

Is that fix-a-flat????

 

[Stihl051master]

I have used this stuff by permatex called gas tank and radiator repair - or something along those lines. It is a play-doh like stick with 2 different kinds of putty. You break off a chunk, mix it together between your fingers, and apply it to the surface. I've used it to patch gas tanks and also fixed a leaky radiator with it (that lasted about 5 years until I sold the truck). It sets up quick and then hardens up very solid. It's supposed to be resistant to gas and oil, so I think it would work well for a temorary field fix on a gas or oil tank on your saws.