I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will
any glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My
"quality" John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp
the type you tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing
bonds to this type of white plastic.

Replace it.

Bert Byfield wrote:
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will
any glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My
"quality" John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp
the type you tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing
bonds to this type of white plastic.

Replace it.





I agree. You might check with manufacturer. Repair is not a good idea.
I had one on a Lawnboy replaced after they extended warranty after
discovering defect.

"ransley" wrote in message
...
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

You heard right. Buy a new tank.

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:15:03 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski"
wrote:


"ransley" wrote in message
...
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

You heard right. Buy a new tank.


That HDP plastic has VERY low surface energy. It will behave as if it
is impregnated with oil. If you find someting that will adhere to a
surface covered with oil, you can glue it. Otherwise, replacement is
mandatory.

On Nov 15, 8:27*am, wrote:
On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:15:03 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski"
wrote:



"ransley" wrote in message
....
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

You heard right. *Buy a new tank.

That HDP plastic has VERY low surface energy. It will behave as if it
is impregnated with oil. If you find someting that will adhere to a
surface covered with oil, you can glue it. Otherwise, replacement is
mandatory.

And its a 2 stroke so its totaly oiled up.

In article ,
wrote:
On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:15:03 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski"
wrote:


"ransley" wrote in message
...
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

You heard right. Buy a new tank.


That HDP plastic has VERY low surface energy. It will behave as if it
is impregnated with oil.

Interesting! Could you go into a bit more detail on that,
especially the concept of "surface energy" --

And WHY if it's low, it's like it's impregnated with oil.

INTERESTING!

Thanks,

David




If you find someting that will adhere to a
surface covered with oil, you can glue it. Otherwise, replacement is
mandatory.

"ransley" wrote in message
...
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

Aside from replacement as the best option---I repaired a plastic lawn mower
tank that was cracked and leaking by using epoxy. The epoxy that I used was
the solid ribbon type and you mixed two colors together. It's been two
seasons and the repair has held up.
MLD

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:02:41 -0500, "MLD" wrote:


"ransley" wrote in message
...
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

Aside from replacement as the best option---I repaired a plastic lawn mower
tank that was cracked and leaking by using epoxy. The epoxy that I used was
the solid ribbon type and you mixed two colors together. It's been two
seasons and the repair has held up.
MLD

I trust you store this machine outside and away from all buildings...

In article ,
wrote:

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:02:41 -0500, "MLD" wrote:


"ransley" wrote in message
...
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

Aside from replacement as the best option---I repaired a plastic lawn mower
tank that was cracked and leaking by using epoxy. The epoxy that I used was
the solid ribbon type and you mixed two colors together. It's been two
seasons and the repair has held up.
MLD

I trust you store this machine outside and away from all buildings...

Why? Epoxy glues are labeled specifically for use as sealants for
plastic gasoline containers. For example:
http://www.pcepoxy.com/pastepoxies/pastesuper.asp

On Nov 15, 7:33*am, Kurt Ullman wrote:
In article ,
wrote:



On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:02:41 -0500, "MLD" wrote:

"ransley" wrote in message
....
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

Aside from replacement as the best option---I repaired a plastic lawn mower
tank that was cracked and leaking by using epoxy. *The epoxy that I used was
the solid ribbon type and you mixed two colors together. *It's been two
seasons and the repair has held up.
MLD

I trust you store this machine outside and away from all buildings...

* *Why? Epoxy glues are labeled specifically for use as sealants for
plastic gasoline containers. For example:http://www.pcepoxy.com/pastepoxies/pastesuper.asp

The spec sheet mentions gas resistance and use on gas tanks but I
missed the reference to "plastic gasoline containers".

My vote goes with the rest of the guys who said "replace", repair is
possible but HDPE is nearly impossible to adhere to.

cheers
Bob

Kurt Ullman wrote:
In article ,
wrote:

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:02:41 -0500, "MLD" wrote:

"ransley" wrote in message
...
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.
Aside from replacement as the best option---I repaired a plastic lawn mower
tank that was cracked and leaking by using epoxy. The epoxy that I used was
the solid ribbon type and you mixed two colors together. It's been two
seasons and the repair has held up.
MLD
I trust you store this machine outside and away from all buildings...

Why? Epoxy glues are labeled specifically for use as sealants for
plastic gasoline containers. For example:
http://www.pcepoxy.com/pastepoxies/pastesuper.asp

And Protective Coating (manufacturer of the pcepoxy brand) makes great
products even though they are an evil family owned business.

Knowledgeable people answer the phone and they are very interested in
making quality products.

Kurt Ullman wrote:
In article ,
wrote:

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:02:41 -0500, "MLD" wrote:

"ransley" wrote in message
...
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.
Aside from replacement as the best option---I repaired a plastic lawn mower
tank that was cracked and leaking by using epoxy. The epoxy that I used was
the solid ribbon type and you mixed two colors together. It's been two
seasons and the repair has held up.
MLD
I trust you store this machine outside and away from all buildings...

Why? Epoxy glues are labeled specifically for use as sealants for
plastic gasoline containers. For example:
http://www.pcepoxy.com/pastepoxies/pastesuper.asp


Even if the repair works, there may be another part of the tank getting
ready to fail. Plastics are very valuable engineering materials when
properly used but often designers do not test their products thoroughly.

Kurt Ullman wrote:
In article ,
wrote:

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:02:41 -0500, "MLD" wrote:

"ransley" wrote in message
...
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.
Aside from replacement as the best option---I repaired a plastic lawn mower
tank that was cracked and leaking by using epoxy. The epoxy that I used was
the solid ribbon type and you mixed two colors together. It's been two
seasons and the repair has held up.
MLD
I trust you store this machine outside and away from all buildings...

Why? Epoxy glues are labeled specifically for use as sealants for
plastic gasoline containers. For example:
http://www.pcepoxy.com/pastepoxies/pastesuper.asp

Right there on their site it states that their product
will not bond to Polyethylene. Did you not notice?

TDD

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:33:43 -0500, Kurt Ullman
wrote:

In article ,
wrote:

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:02:41 -0500, "MLD" wrote:


"ransley" wrote in message
...
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

Aside from replacement as the best option---I repaired a plastic lawn mower
tank that was cracked and leaking by using epoxy. The epoxy that I used was
the solid ribbon type and you mixed two colors together. It's been two
seasons and the repair has held up.
MLD

I trust you store this machine outside and away from all buildings...

Why? Epoxy glues are labeled specifically for use as sealants for
plastic gasoline containers. For example:
http://www.pcepoxy.com/pastepoxies/pastesuper.asp

That link specifiacally states that it will NOT stick to polyethelene,
which is what Ransley's gas tank is made out of. Here is the exact
quote from that website:

***Note: PC-Super Epoxy® will not bond to wax paper, Teflon®,
Polyethylene, and some other plastics. There are hundreds of plastics
in thousands of combination. Test a small area when in doubt.

"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message
Why? Epoxy glues are labeled specifically for use as sealants for
plastic gasoline containers. For example:
http://www.pcepoxy.com/pastepoxies/pastesuper.asp


This is why
***Note: PC-Super Epoxy® will not bond to wax paper, Teflon®,
Polyethylene, and some other plastics. There are hundreds of plastics in
thousands of combination. Test a small area when in doubt.

It may work on some tanks of some plastics, but not on very many as
the ones on small engines often are polyethylene or a compound containing
it.

wrote in message
...
On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:02:41 -0500, "MLD" wrote:


"ransley" wrote in message
...
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

Aside from replacement as the best option---I repaired a plastic lawn
mower
tank that was cracked and leaking by using epoxy. The epoxy that I used
was
the solid ribbon type and you mixed two colors together. It's been two
seasons and the repair has held up.
MLD

I trust you store this machine outside and away from all buildings...

Why?? If the repair fails the gas leak is obvious--how do you think I
discovered the leak in the first place. Add one more year to the repair as
I'm now completing the third season since I repaired the tank. Getting a
replacement tank wasn't a good option, no having to get rid of the mower as
a result
Too bad you didn't have better advice to offer instead of looking down your
nose.
MLD

MLD wrote:

wrote in message
...
On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:02:41 -0500, "MLD" wrote:


"ransley" wrote in message
...

I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

Aside from replacement as the best option---I repaired a plastic lawn
mower
tank that was cracked and leaking by using epoxy. The epoxy that I
used was
the solid ribbon type and you mixed two colors together. It's been two
seasons and the repair has held up.
MLD

I trust you store this machine outside and away from all buildings...

Why?? If the repair fails the gas leak is obvious--how do you think I
discovered the leak in the first place. Add one more year to the repair
as I'm now completing the third season since I repaired the tank.
Getting a replacement tank wasn't a good option, no having to get rid of
the mower as a result
Too bad you didn't have better advice to offer instead of looking down
your nose.
MLD

Laconic, maybe, but he is right. After I had to replace my Lawnboy
tank, I never store it full anymore. They had recommended that when
they gave out their extended warranty.

Frank wrote:
....
... I never store it full anymore. They had recommended that when
they gave out their extended warranty.

What difference unless it's completely empty other than reducing the
area that a crack could occur that would leak during storage does it make?

I'm w/ the "if the repair works, it works" camp. If it fails during
storage, it's no different than if the initial crack begins leaking
during storage.

Not sure about the particular tank/plastic in question, but I've had
some success w/ epoxy on the rougher-textured white plastic which is
very similar in appearance anyway on the stock tank floats. Haven't had
need for it to try on a gas tank, but what's lost w/ the experiment--a
quarter worth of epoxy and a few days experiment, maybe?

I have successfully "welded" a filler neck crack on a heavier plastic
diesel tank on the little 955 Deere tractor w/ an old-style heat-'em up
soldering iron (the heat the iron in the blowtorch then apply it to the
joint type). That's lasted, oh, about five years so far, but, of course
it's not a bond.

If all else failed, I'd not be above at least trying such an experiment
-- if it leaks anyway, a failure is still only an new tank...

--

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:04:45 -0500, "MLD" wrote:


wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:02:41 -0500, "MLD" wrote:


"ransley" wrote in message
...
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

Aside from replacement as the best option---I repaired a plastic lawn
mower
tank that was cracked and leaking by using epoxy. The epoxy that I used
was
the solid ribbon type and you mixed two colors together. It's been two
seasons and the repair has held up.
MLD

I trust you store this machine outside and away from all buildings...

Why?? If the repair fails the gas leak is obvious--how do you think I
discovered the leak in the first place. Add one more year to the repair as
I'm now completing the third season since I repaired the tank. Getting a
replacement tank wasn't a good option, no having to get rid of the mower as
a result
Too bad you didn't have better advice to offer instead of looking down your
nose.
MLD

You are a fool, and a dangerous one at that.

The advice I gave you could save your life or the life of a loved one.
Do you consider that poor advice?

MLD wrote:

"ransley" wrote in message
...
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

Aside from replacement as the best option---I repaired a plastic lawn
mower tank that was cracked and leaking by using epoxy. The epoxy that
I used was the solid ribbon type and you mixed two colors together.
It's been two seasons and the repair has held up.
MLD
Hi,
If replacement tank is not available I'd try that kinda repair.

Permatex makes a plastic fuel tank repair kit

http://www.permatex.com/products/Aut...Repair_Kit.htm

"ransley" wrote in message
...
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

Aside from replacement as the best option---I repaired a plastic lawn mower
tank that was cracked and leaking by using epoxy. The epoxy that I used was
the solid ribbon type and you mixed two colors together. It's been two
seasons and the repair has held up.
MLD

JB weld works just fine also. I've repaired dozens of daily use weedeater
tanks with the stuff. The secret it copious amounts of brake cleaner to get
it good and dry, then a little gouging with a die grinder to create a 'v' ,
(just as if you were making a weld repair) then warm the tank with a heat
gun to dry it completely , and apply the JB weld to the warm tank. I've
also successfully repaired rusty oil pans on ford trucks this way. They
always last AT LEAST two years under daily use.


steve


"Rick-Meister" wrote in message
...
Permatex makes a plastic fuel tank repair kit

http://www.permatex.com/products/Aut...Repair_Kit.htm

"Rick-Meister" wrote in message
...
Permatex makes a plastic fuel tank repair kit

http://www.permatex.com/products/Aut...Repair_Kit.htm


Did you read the last line?
Suggested Applications: Ideal for cars, trucks, boats and RV's; windshield
washer reservoirs, radiator overflow tanks, coolant reservoirs, water tanks,
waste tanks *Not for use on Plastic Fuel Tanks.

On Nov 15, 3:38*pm, "Ed Pawlowski" wrote:
"Rick-Meister" wrote in message

...

Permatex makes a plastic fuel tank repair kit

http://www.permatex.com/products/Aut..._maintenance_r...

Did you read the last line?
Suggested Applications: Ideal for cars, trucks, boats and RV's; windshield
washer reservoirs, radiator overflow tanks, coolant reservoirs, water tanks,
waste tanks *Not for use on Plastic Fuel Tanks.

I wonder if that statement might be for liability concerns, it bonds
to a plastic few thing will bond to, if it leaks again its ok, it only
leaks when I fill it more than 1/4 full. I still cant believe JD used
a metal screw down band type pipe clamp, anyone could over tighten it.

In article , MLD wrote:

"ransley" wrote in message
...
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

Aside from replacement as the best option---I repaired a plastic lawn mower
tank that was cracked and leaking by using epoxy. The epoxy that I used was
the solid ribbon type and you mixed two colors together. It's been two
seasons and the repair has held up.


"solid ribbon type" of epoxy?

New to me (and no, I am not current in these things!).

The only kind of exoxy I'm familiar is liquid and comes in two *tubes*.


Thanks!

David

"David Combs" wrote in message

"solid ribbon type" of epoxy?

New to me (and no, I am not current in these things!).

The only kind of exoxy I'm familiar is liquid and comes in two *tubes*.

There are two parts either in ribbon form or bar form. You cut off a chunk
and knead it until the two parts mix. Available in any hardware store or
home center under various brands.

On Dec 15, 8:51*pm, "Ed Pawlowski" wrote:
"David Combs" wrote in message

"solid ribbon type" of epoxy?

New to me (and no, I am not current in these things!).

The only kind of exoxy I'm familiar is liquid and comes in two *tubes*.

There are two parts either in ribbon form or bar form. You cut off a chunk
and knead it until the two parts mix. *Available in any hardware store or
home center under various brands.

Since this thread popped back up, an update, I just fixed the tank
with a product from Ace that they use at their repair area, its a
contact cement called Seal-All, a few bucks in a tube that has worked.

ransley wrote:
... My "quality" John Deer ...

There's the problem--musta' been that knock-off Deer instead of genuine
green Deere...

--

ransley wrote:
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

I came across this:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Plastics-...le-plastic.htm

TDD

ransley wrote:
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

I have no idea if it will work on your gas tank but I've fixed various types
of white/translucent plastic containers with molten nylon smeared onto and
in the broken area. I just light a piece of 1/4" nylon rope and push the
melted end around on the area to be repaired.

--

dadiOH

On Nov 15, 3:59*pm, "dadiOH" wrote:
ransley wrote:
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

I have no idea if it will work on your gas tank but I've fixed various types
of white/translucent plastic containers with molten nylon smeared onto and
in the broken area. *I just light a piece of 1/4" nylon rope and push the
melted end around on the area to be repaired.

--

dadiOH

That is an interesting and cheap way to fix things. Once I was doing
that for fun when was maybe 10, I remember a big lump melting on my
hand and hurt for months.

On Nov 15, 8:24*am, ransley wrote:
I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.

I suppose it wouldn't be a good idea to use a cigarette lighter to
warm the plastic to the melting point and then stick the two sides
together and let it cool.

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:24:01 -0800 (PST), ransley
wrote:

I have a white plastic gas tank on a snowblower that cracked, will any
glue, sealer, bond, maybe an automotove silicone sealer? My "quality"
John Deer gas tank was attached with a simple Pipe Clamp the type you
tighten with a screwdriver. I have heard nothing bonds to this type of
white plastic.


Do it right: Contact the manufacturer for a replacement tank.