I have a M6040 that I was bush hogging with and the fuel tank cover(skid plate) was ripped off leaving 2 holes where it was bolted in to the tank. Does anyone know how to patch the holes and replace the bolts?
Busted fuel tank
- Thread starter Pharmere
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North Idaho Wolfman
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Yes I do,
It called remove the original tank and replace it with a new non damaged tank.
And replace the slip plate while your doing that.
Yeesh, you guys gotta be RICH ! That tank is $1000-$1300 CDN so well worth the time and maybe $100 in materials to repair it. Would take less than a day to do and I'd find another way to secure that 'skid plate'.
A thousand dollars of Monopoly money is infinitely preferable to half-assing something as critical as a fuel tank.
Cost of doing business.
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IT CAN'T BE FIXED!
No matter how may episodes of Macgyver you've watched!
That's not a skid plate, it's a slip plate, it's so that the tank can expand and contract and move within the hangers.
There is also a drain right about where all of that is bent and mangled and I'll bet it's damaged too.
This is what I was hoping to be able to do. I've looked at multiple tank patches but I have not found one that I am happy with. Its a farm tractor so its not like it is making money to pay for a new tank
There isn’t a patch that exists that you should be happy with.
I completely understand that it’s expensive, as my tractor isn’t used to generate income either, but there simply isn’t any other option aside from replacing the fuel tank.
It’s never a fun day when ya break things on expensive toys, but it’s sadly part of ownership.
The poster called it a skid plate.....
It can be fixed, 1st step is in finding out what 'plastic' was used to blow mode the tank. Now buy the correct 'repair kit' and follow the instructions. Do that and it will be fixed for far less than the $1000 Kubota Canada wants.
BTW , never watched Macqyver, but worked for several farmers over the past 6 decades, who knew how to FIX stuff as they didn't have a wallet stuffed with money .
I’ve seen it too, and it’s a major reason why I refuse to purchase any sort of equipment from farmers. They constantly are doing hare brained half measured repairs on things.
Polypropylene fuel tanks cannot be properly repaired using epoxy products.
HDPE is especially tricky due to its flexibility and smoothness. Tech-bond makes a “polymer solution” intended to fix hairline cracks, but it is problematic, and will absolutely not work for such large holes. It is intended to cover gouges in tanks that have not yet been actually punctured.
I'm still running the '57 tractor I bought from a local farmer 25 years ago that had been 'repaired', then sat in a drive shed for 20 years. Runs GREAT.so some farmers KNEW what they were doing.
You don't use epoxy on PP tanks, have to read and see what is the proper method and materials. One way that does work is to 'sandwich'. cover plate-gasket-tank-gasket-cover plate.
You don't use epoxy on PP tanks, have to read and see what is the proper method and materials. One way that does work is to 'sandwich'. cover plate-gasket-tank-gasket-cover plate.
Your 1957 tractor didn’t have a HDPE or polypropylene tank, either.
“Sandwich” is a band aid for a gunshot wound on a plastic tank with giant holes in it. It absolutely does not “work”. It’s just delaying a fuel leak.
There is a guy located in Greenwood that does plastic welding. He specializes in repairiig tanks for slaughter plants and food processing plants. That little repair would be right up His ally. But he probably require you to pull the tank and have it flushed out really well.
If he won't touch it because he's certified for doing food processing work and wont want diesel smell in his shop he will surely know who could do that. Maybe even on the side. Google greenwood plastic welding for his contact info.
If he won't touch it because he's certified for doing food processing work and wont want diesel smell in his shop he will surely know who could do that. Maybe even on the side. Google greenwood plastic welding for his contact info.
North Idaho Wolfman
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The main problem you have is how much damage is really done to the tank.
I'm betting more than you think!
You have no access to the area that you've damaged the tank.
You will also need to check all other mounting points to that cover and to the tank and drain.
did all of the fuel drain out of the tank?
If it didn't lose fuel then the area you damaged is double lined or encapsulated, that changes things drastically.
I'm betting more than you think!
You have no access to the area that you've damaged the tank.
You will also need to check all other mounting points to that cover and to the tank and drain.
did all of the fuel drain out of the tank?
If it didn't lose fuel then the area you damaged is double lined or encapsulated, that changes things drastically.
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Russell King
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@Pharmere
Is the tank actually leaking fuel or did the inserts simply pull out of the holes? I don’t think you stated that fact in your posts.
If it is leaking, then you really have nothing to loose by trying to repair it even if success is doubtful. I might look at drilling the hole out and possibly installing a self tapping screw from the inside of the tank if that is accessible from the filling hole.
Alternatively there are some tank clean out ports that you could possibly use if there is enough flat surface on the tank. They are usually added on top but they might be able to be flooded and not leak. But they are expensive
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Is the tank actually leaking fuel or did the inserts simply pull out of the holes? I don’t think you stated that fact in your posts.
If it is leaking, then you really have nothing to loose by trying to repair it even if success is doubtful. I might look at drilling the hole out and possibly installing a self tapping screw from the inside of the tank if that is accessible from the filling hole.
Alternatively there are some tank clean out ports that you could possibly use if there is enough flat surface on the tank. They are usually added on top but they might be able to be flooded and not leak. But they are expensive
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Yes the tank did leak all of my fuel out but not as fast as i would have expected from holes that size. I wonder if that means there are two layers.
North Idaho Wolfman
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