HOLE IN MY GAS TANK

[QuickNCrazy]

I was out 4x4ing and the back end bottomed out in a hole and a rock that was wedged between the gas tank and skid plate poked throught the tank its only a small little hole is there a way to fix it from the out side of the tank?

[tekatlarge]

The correct way would be to replace the tank or have it repaired by a tank specialist.
NEVER WELD ON A FUEL TANK unless you are a professional tank repairer.

Now that said, here is what I have done several times.

1. Drain most of the fuel from the tank or as much as needed to get the fuel level away from the hole. (I am not sure extacally where your hole is)
2. Next clean the area real good with laquer thinner or acetone or a oil free solvent.
3. Next use some steel wool or sandpaper to rough the surface around the hole. and clean again with solvent.
4. Now get yourself some JB Weld or even liquid steel and apply over the hole and liberally around the area. Let it set up till the stuff is completly cured. 24 hrs if ya got the time.

When it is cured spray a bit of paint or undercoating and you are good to go. If it is where something will rub over the area like the strap just cut a piece of inner tube to cover the area under the strap.

Here is a bonus tip for you.
If you accidentally puncture your tank on the trail here is something to help you get back to help. Always carry a bar of soap with you in your emergency kit if you get a puncture and it is not huge take your bar of soap and rub the soap on to the puncture area. Keep smushing the soap into the hole. You will soon find that the raging leak is down to a small drip.

I was skeptical as hell when I heard of that idea. I was in the colorado rockies near Creed Colorado heading up to an old silver mine. I was taking the owner back to hius mine when I bottomed hard on a pile of nasty rocks. It punched a hole in my tank. I thoug the old minor was nuts when he asked me if I had any soap. I did as I was camping. He took the soap and just started mushing it into the hole. He stopped the leak good enough for me to get to his camp and then back to the main town.

[QuickNCrazy]

THX for the help i bought some hole fixer stuff this morning at canadian tire :)

[TJDukit82]

The soap trick is pretty awesome I was out in an '89 Misubishi Mirage driving home from some hot springs in Oregon and ran over a pretty big rock. I had a hole the size of my pinky so I had a friend go to the nearest town and get some soap which plugged the hole for a good couple of days after which I went to a parts store and got some of that gas tank hole repair stuff which worked for about 8 months before we finally replaced the tank.

[Phillippi]

I once used a nail, some gasket maker and a sock stop a leak. I used the "dont waste gas" method of driving my b2 onto a large boulder to move the gas to the other side. I thought I was going to roll. Anyway , used the nail for the small hole, then used a huge amount of gasketmaker and stuffed a sock between the skidplate and tank. Worked like a charm and actually work for several months, as I forgot about it and drove it like this until one day I saw the sock and thought WTF?

A new tank can be bought for cheap as well. I bought the MDT (I think) poly tank the exact copy of the orignal steal and have used it for about 10 years.

[dRiZzLe3]

Just thought id add.....

I joined yesterday and found this forum....well...

While in school today in small engines class, another kid had a hole in his carb, in the main aluminum of it, not the bowl. Was leaking gas like crazy, soaked a shop rag completly in the 5min he was finishing bolting it to the stand. I grabbed the soap, they all thought i was crazy but i thought i would give it a go. Worked like a charm, they couldnt believe it. Nor could I. Thanks for the tip guys!!!

Teacher just shook his head because he already doesnt like me. :/
If i have a question on something im doing....its "Figure it out" if its anyone else in the class he sits down and practicly does it for them.