This past week, I was working in the field, and managed to back over a t-post thet was firmly in the ground. Just a scratch on the bumper, but I backed over it completely, and it went into the undercarraige. The post smashed my trailer plug (no problem, as that is an easy fix. It also poked a ¼" hole in my aft fuel tank (which I had just filled, thank you). I was just going to get a new tank through JBG. Until then, I'm looking to plug the odd size hole to keep the fumes down. What would work the best? Some kind of silicone? Mind you this wouldn't be holding fuel, as it is mostly drained out. Just looking for something to keep the fumes in.

(BTW), I was able to catch a good portion of the 18 gallons in 5 gallon buckets, and fuel a friends truck via bucket & funnel).

 

I fixed a hole in my side tank with epoxy resin and glass mat...and it holds fuel just fine.

 

Thanks! I'll give it a try.

 

big screw and rubber washer ?

 

i hope you are being scarcastic my friend LOL rubber is a no no with fuel...well least from experiences ive had it turned out to be a big no no...


but could always use the nut/bolt and washer idea lol!!!


@OP: did the post poke the bottom or side of the aft tank? any pics?

 

there are some stuff can be used and rubber was the only thing that i could think of at that time

 

Two-part epoxy putty. No glass mat needed, and much easier to do.

Jason

 

He is just looking to keep fumes in so the big screw and a rubber washer would do just fine if he is not going to put gas in until tank replaced or permanent repair compleated.

 

OK, Here's what I did to fix it. When the T-post contacted the tank, it pushed it in about 3/16"(dented it), before piercing it, leaving a 3/16" x 3/8" hole at the rear of the tank, about 1" from the bottom. After draining as much gas as possible by parking on an incline, I cleaned the area around the damage with lacquer thinner, and scuffed the surrounding area with sandpaper. I folded some fiberglass cloth to fill the dent with a hole in the bottom of it, then soaked it in epoxy, pushed it in the dent (thereby covering the hole & filling the dent). Put some masking tape over the plug to hold it in place while the epoxy set. About 8 hours later, I removed the masking tape, lightly sanded the repaired area, then applied glass cloth & epoxy over the repaired area. Seems to have sealed it. I'll let it set up for the rest of the month, then put in 5 gallons and check for leaks. I'll still order a new tank so I'll have one ready in case the repair leaks. A friend of mine fixed a hole in a tank (hit a rock in the boonies), with JB weld, that held for five years (until he sold his car).

The real bummer about all of this is:
1. I just filled the tank
2. If I contacted the T-post 8 inches toward the center of the truck, I just would've poked a hole in my old spare tire.

 

On my snowmobile I had to move the tank outlet, so a brass pipe plug was threaded into the hole. Well that leaked, so out came JB weld. Worked like a charm.

Usually when people have fuel tanks leaking on these trucks, its from rust, in which case just replace it. But with just a puncture you'll probably be fine patching it. Just keep an eye on it.