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Old 10-22-2019, 12:33 PM   #1
newshirt
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Default Failing gas tank sealant

Question: How effective are pencil-style fuel screens when your gas tank sealant is failing and shedding flakes? (see attachment of screen)

Situation: My gas tank was boiled and sealed less than ten years ago. This was a competent job by a well-known local shop. But, ethanol has done its work, causing the sealant to shed in large chunks. I tried to rinse it out with clean gas, but 1/4" flakes are still coming out.

This is my first time using such a fuel screen.

Will the fuel screen clog up? Will I need another gas tank boil, or will the screen stay relatively clear and functional for years to come?
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File Type: jpg fuel screen.jpg (3.7 KB, 20 views)
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Old 10-22-2019, 01:28 PM   #2
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

It depends on how much is flaking off the tank. That screen is about 2 inches tall so if an inch and a half is covered it would still probably flow enough fuel to keep you going. You can see the screen by looking down in the tank so you can keep an eye on it.
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Old 10-22-2019, 03:19 PM   #3
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

You may be surprised at the size of flakes that you can't see...
-Tim
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File Type: jpg DSCN0139.jpg (169.1 KB, 164 views)
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Old 10-22-2019, 10:02 PM   #4
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

Try to fish as much of the old sealant as you can, then install a pencil filter and give it a try.


The old sealant was fine until the ethanol came along.


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Old 10-22-2019, 10:13 PM   #5
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

I’ve been going thru the same thing. Mine had been working for 20yrs, then came corn gas.
Mine was coming off in big sheets in the beginning. It was covering the gas outlet in the bottom of the tank and shutting the motor off.
I kept pulling the larger sheets out with a coat hanger. They didn’t have the “pencil filter”
When this first started happening. So I happened to have my airless sprayer apart cleaning it and there was a real slick filter in there much like the pencil filters except it screwed in to
The spray wand. I tapped my shut off valve and screwed it in and it has worked great.
It is also a little taller than the pencil filter and made out of stainless steel.
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Old 10-23-2019, 12:12 AM   #6
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

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I think I would forget the pencil filter and build what's called a dirty leg. Do a search on this site to see how it is made and run with it until the flanking stops.
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Old 10-23-2019, 12:41 AM   #7
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

I bought a 56 Farmall that had never seen the inside of a shed...the tank was terrible. I pulled the tank and pressure washed it until clean water came out, drained it and left it in the sun a week (100F) until it dried. I installed a pencil filter and havent had a bit of trouble in 3 years.
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Old 10-23-2019, 02:17 AM   #8
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

why I only use the Hirsch sealer. the white stuff. guaranteed to not flake off and used in airplanes.


the others all come undone.
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Old 10-23-2019, 07:44 AM   #9
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

I’ve seen all of them fail to some degree
What is the guarantee? Send you another quart?
The problem is the ethanol gas....mostly
Run 100% gas
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Old 10-23-2019, 12:37 PM   #10
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

I used the Hirsch sealer, so far so good. If I had to do it again, I would just send my tank out to B. Terry Restorations.

Last edited by 1929; 10-23-2019 at 12:39 PM. Reason: spelling
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Old 10-23-2019, 01:16 PM   #11
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1929 View Post
I used the Hirsch sealer, so far so good. If I had to do it again, I would just send my tank out to B. Terry Restorations.
Wow, I appreciate that referral however I need to make this public and this is probably the best place to start.

Yesterday we shipped 6 restored tanks back to their owners, -and we probably have that many left to do and once those are completed then I am going to quit offering this service. The reason is a simple but very stressful one for me. This service has grown to where it has become overwhelming for us in that we are already overbooked in the shop with other restoration work, and the amount of tanks that people want to send just keeps growing.

In the perfect world, I would like to find someone already in the Model-A hobby that we can just pass the torch on to them and let them start doing this as a cottage industry to possibly help subsidize their hobby -or maybe a sideline business. I would like to pass on the info I/we have learned in restoring these, and assist whomever in learning this where they can help others out there. I probably won't sell any of our fixtures and equipment as we will still restore tanks for vehicles we are restoring, but if someone else is interested in taking this on, please send me a PM.
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Old 10-23-2019, 02:18 PM   #12
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

I’ve seen all of them fail to some degree


I sure hope not. wouldnt want to be up in a plane and have it fail.
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Old 10-23-2019, 02:54 PM   #13
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

Here are some pictures of the so called dirty leg, the sediment trap on the right is the one I made, I used 1/4 inch valves, the other picture I believe has larger valves which would allow for passing larger flakes along with a longer down pipe, all parts from hardware stores, leave the pencil filter off. I do not know who to credit for the first picture
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File Type: jpg Fuel_Filter_Set_Up.jpg (33.7 KB, 62 views)
File Type: jpg SEDIMENT TRAP.jpg (49.5 KB, 59 views)
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Old 10-23-2019, 05:49 PM   #14
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

In aircraft, we use a different sealer. It's not white like latex. It's either gray or brown depending on the brand. A lot of aircraft have wet wings so the rivets also have to be sealed at installation or anytime they start to leak. 100LL Avgas doesn't have any alcohol in it. It's about the best quality gasoline type fuel refined & blended in this day and age.

Last edited by rotorwrench; 10-24-2019 at 10:25 AM.
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Old 10-23-2019, 08:18 PM   #15
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

Probably should correct/amend....
I probably have NOT seen ALL of the sealers!
But the 4-5 used in the somewhat recent past seem to have had issues down the road
Not an indictment of ALL that would be unfair! The real problems could be caused by poor prep rather than product; or a combination tjereif. The only sure way is to open them up as Brent has described in the past
My “mis-speak”!!
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Old 10-23-2019, 08:31 PM   #16
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

Hello ,many of the General Motors cars of this period have filters similar to the pencil ones you have mentioned they seem to work good for the last 60 plus years.
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Old 10-24-2019, 03:39 PM   #17
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

the white stuff from Hirsch is not like Latex........


get it on your hands and try and scrub it off.
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Old 10-25-2019, 06:03 AM   #18
BRENT in 10-uh-C
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

Quote:
Originally Posted by ronn View Post
the white stuff from Hirsch is not like Latex........


get it on your hands and try and scrub it off.
I agree with you on scrubbing it off with soap & water, ...but rub your hands together with some thinner, acetone, or gasoline on them and watch what happens.
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Old 10-25-2019, 09:51 AM   #19
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

I just mentioned that it has the appearance of latex rubber. I didn't state that it was.
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Old 10-25-2019, 10:26 AM   #20
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Default Re: Failing gas tank sealant

Brent, I sent you a pm. Not trying to harass you, just want to make sure you did receive it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C View Post
Wow, I appreciate that referral however I need to make this public and this is probably the best place to start.

Yesterday we shipped 6 restored tanks back to their owners, -and we probably have that many left to do and once those are completed then I am going to quit offering this service. The reason is a simple but very stressful one for me. This service has grown to where it has become overwhelming for us in that we are already overbooked in the shop with other restoration work, and the amount of tanks that people want to send just keeps growing.

In the perfect world, I would like to find someone already in the Model-A hobby that we can just pass the torch on to them and let them start doing this as a cottage industry to possibly help subsidize their hobby -or maybe a sideline business. I would like to pass on the info I/we have learned in restoring these, and assist whomever in learning this where they can help others out there. I probably won't sell any of our fixtures and equipment as we will still restore tanks for vehicles we are restoring, but if someone else is interested in taking this on, please send me a PM.
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