Fuel Tank Hole

ENTS · February 11, 2020, 09:00:25 PM

Working on an old 044. While cleaning up the handle/fuel tank I noticed that one of the handle bar attachment points has a self tapping screw that appears to screw right into the fuel tank. I can push a piece of wire right thru that hole into the tank. Not good. Previous owner had a full wrap on this and must have used a screw that was too long. Now the question is what to seal that hole with that will 1. Not be affected by the fuel and 2. Allow that self tapping screw (of proper length) to screw into it.

Hope all is well and have a great one.

Fred

doc henderson · February 11, 2020, 09:07:53 PM

how about fiberglass, and or epoxy style sealant (JB weld ect.), or use a longer screw again and fill it with the screw.

ENTS · February 11, 2020, 09:15:27 PM

Longer screw -- Since this was an auction buy, don't know saws history nor problems. From the looks of the saw it worked hard for a living and with that screw embedded in that tank. Must not have leaked. However, that may be due to the screw going in for the first time and making a solid seal. Not so sure the second time in.

Now some fiber glass (bondo) might just do the trick. Gotta see what I have laying around in the garage.

Thanks and have a great one.

Tom King · February 11, 2020, 09:31:34 PM

For curiosity, I checked ebay, and there are many choices for a replacement, starting at $40.

I wouldn't trust Bondo for this job. JB Weld, or some other such epoxy might do it, or even some specialty sealant for fuel tanks.

Air Lad · February 11, 2020, 10:00:38 PM

A little expensive but a product called Devcon in the slow dry /super strength category will work

scsmith42 · February 11, 2020, 10:13:06 PM

A former employee once threw a board in the back of his truck with a nail sticking out of it and poke a hole into the side of the fuel tank on my brand new 461.

A small self tapping screw with some silicone sealer on it solved that problem.

That was three years ago, still holding.

BLink · February 12, 2020, 12:31:51 AM

We were driving home from California and saw a sign for an Earthquake Fault in Nevada. We had to take the side trip!
There was larger crushed stone and one slammed into my gas tank. It was draining fairly quickly so we wasted no time getting to the next town.
It was about 6:00 pm and they were rolling up the sidewalks for the night and the only gas station had no gas tank sealant. I figured we were up a creek.
A customer suggested I rub it with a bar of soap.
What did I have to loose but a half tank of gas!?!

It Worked!!!
We made it home and it held for about 3 weeks, until it rained! ;D

At that point I ran a lag bolt into it with a bunch of silicone on it.
It was still there, not leaking, when we parked it 7 years later!

Ianab · February 12, 2020, 03:56:23 AM

Soap and petrol forms a sort of "jelly", actually similar to Napalm. So in an emergency it will gum up a small hole.

But yes it's water soluble. :D

Al_Smith · February 12, 2020, 06:27:27 AM

Using the wrong type of screw is a common mistake .I've never had one get the fuel tank but had one puncture the oil tank .In that case the long wood screw type by the vibration chewed it's way through the metal tank over time .The fix was heliarcing the case halves which is e-coated .I don't have a heliarc rig so I took it to work and the welder had to use about 3 types of filler rod before he got the right alloy .The e-coat is about like glass and needs to be completely cleaned off .It doesn't leak now and has the proper screws which are much like blunt nose wood screws .OEM screws were about a buck a pop . .

ENTS · February 12, 2020, 01:53:22 PM

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

Devcon Wow, there is a boat load of different types.

I have some JB Weld in the garage.

Lots of after market handles out there. I only found 1 that was not flippy cap.

At this point in time I think I'll go with the JB Weld since I have some. Need to get this saw up and running to see if a new handle/tank is worth it.

Hope all is well and have a great one.

Fred

ENTS · February 13, 2020, 03:11:07 PM

O.K. That one non flippy cap turned out to be flippy cap. Anyone have a good handle/fuel tank non flippy for this 044?

Later,

Pine Ridge · February 13, 2020, 03:38:29 PM

HL supply has lots of aftermarket parts for an 044, they have treated me great ordering a few parts from them.

Al_Smith · February 13, 2020, 05:43:39 PM

It doesn't make much difference .I've put together several with a flippy plus a screw cap .The flippy is not what goes bad but the o -ring stiffens up .I have about a dozen of them I forgot the size of but that's all it is .I got them at work because I had nearly an unlimited supply .I'd imagine you could find them on flea bay for a quarter a pop if you bought a bag full which is not a bad idea knowing how flippy caps go .

doc henderson · February 13, 2020, 05:47:57 PM

the oil and gas caps are different in design, and i got a set for $4 on amazon. fit perfect. i like the old caps better. (non flip type)

ENTS · February 13, 2020, 09:31:02 PM

Push come to shove, I may have to go with a flippy cap replacement. I have a couple implements with flippys and have no problem with them. However, with this saw I'd rather stay with what it came with, screw in cap. Still searching.

ENTS · February 13, 2020, 09:48:07 PM

HL supply -- Looked thru their site. Only handle I saw was (wow, a palindrome) a farmertec and it didn't show the cap side. Sent them a note but I'm willing to bet it's flippy.

I've been everywhere, e-bay, this site, that site, etc. and only see flippy replacement. May have to go that direction.

Later,

doc henderson · February 13, 2020, 10:11:04 PM

If you have an older dealer, not neat and tidy like all the John Deere dealers. they may have a shelf of part saws. I can check with our local dealer. I have an 046 but it is my favorite saw. so are the rest of them!!

Pine Ridge · February 13, 2020, 11:17:15 PM

Quote from: ENTS on February 13, 2020, 09:48:07 PM
HL supply -- Looked thru their site. Only handle I saw was (wow, a palindrome) a farmertec and it didn't show the cap side. Sent them a note but I'm willing to bet it's flippy.

I've been everywhere, e-bay, this site, that site, etc. and only see flippy replacement. May have to go that direction.

Later,

You might dig a little deeper on HL supplies website, they have the old style aftermarket caps, and several different handles for an 044.

Al_Smith · February 14, 2020, 08:30:09 AM

You might check "chainsawR " .I don't know if Scott still owns it or not .Another is Northwood saw .BTW Northwood listed the 0-rings for less than 2 bucks a pop .The flea bay pirates are trying to sell them for more than the entire flippy from a dealer plus 2 bucks to ship them .
You have to know what OEM prices are to compare to flea bay weather or not it's deal or a rip off .I'm in the process of rebuilding two Partner P-100 saws which in this area are rare .I thought it would be a good idea to replace the piston pin bearings .My word they wanted I think nearly 40 bucks for those things Found them on flea bay,12 bucks a pop free shipping .So that was a deal .

petefrom bearswamp · February 14, 2020, 10:10:41 AM

About 9 yrs ago a hole got "nicked" (dont ask) in the side of the tank on my Echo cs600P.
JB weld held for 7 years then I had to put another patch on.
The stuff is great.

ENTS · February 28, 2020, 08:42:36 PM

Sent a note to HL, they don't have old style, Chainsawr has OEM at a price I am not willing to pay. Soooo, I guess it's flippy cap after market. Looking thru ebay they all have the same picture with varying prices. Guess I'll just pick one and go for it.

Hope all is well,

Mad Professor · February 29, 2020, 01:34:07 PM

Three of the AV mounts use a Pan head self-tapping screw IS-P6x19, the one above the coil is Pan head self-tapping screw IS-P6x32.

I bet the wrong 32 mm screw found it's way into the fuel tank.

It's getting hard to find a good 044 OEM tank assy, many have lost fights with skidders or trees. :(

Old saw fixer · March 19, 2020, 09:34:48 PM

Back in the day, we used Marine Tex to fix gas tanks on 066 saws that had the chain break and gouged holes. By the looks of them, it wasn't the first chain that made the breakthrough. Also used Marine Tex to put the little metal squares back in place that closed off the oil tank from the gas tank on the big Pioneers.

joe_indi · March 20, 2020, 02:56:06 AM

The most simple long lasting and effective fix is just winding some ptfe plumber's tape on the screw and tightening it down. Applying some epoxy cement on top of the screw after covering it with the tape is added insurance