Bugye Fuel Tank Leak

[jkclassics]

This past weekend my '60 Bugeye's fuel tank started leaking. Obviously this was an old problem as someone before me had tried to seal the area around the fuel line connection with some sort of putty, which has now started to lift away from the tank. After emptying the tank, I removed the all the putty and filled the tank with water. Sure enough, right about the 8 o'clock position is a very tiny pinhole. Does anyone know of any reliable way to repair such a leak? If so, I'd like to pursue that before buying a new tank. I've heard of people welding repairs to fuel tanks after thoroughly cleaning the tanks. Do-able?

 

[Joe Schlosser]

First you should post this on the Spridget board. You will probably get more replies.
Second, IMHO, the tank is 57 years old and is probably at the end of its useful life. If there are pin holes around the fuel line connection there is most likely this spots at other places on the tank. Common place is connection area around the Fuel filler to the tank (remember one piece of BE)
The cost of welding the tank would be a way towards the purchase of a new tank and the metal wont be 57 years old. Plus the labor to remove and replace the tank is the same.
BTW, the hardware to connect the fuel line to the tank is virtually unobtainable (sometimes on Ebay) so try not to hurt the fittings when removing

 

[Bob_Spidell]

... If there are pin holes around the fuel line connection there is most likely this spots at other places on the tank. Common place is connection area around the Fuel filler to the tank ...

Absolutely. We installed an (apparently) solid used tank in our BN2. When we got the engine running the fuel pump behaved erratically; a new fuel pump and thorough inspection of the fuel lines and carburettors revealed nothing. Finally, my dad cut the connector out of the tank and discovered pinholes in the connector right at the underside of the tank. Dad surmised the flux used to solder the connection caused corrosion over the years, leading to the leaks.

 

[jkclassics]

Thanks for the replies and information. I have decided to go with a new tank, Joe, rather than continue to rely on 57 year-old metal. And I will put any future postings on the Spridget forum; this was my first post here and I didn't realize at the time that there was a separate forum for Sprites and Midgets. Bob, your post just confirmed my decision to go with a new tank. Thanks, again!

 

[Joe Schlosser]

Replacing the tank is not complicated but it can be stressful. Biggest issue is the fact that the filler neck for the BE is part of the tank and getting it into the hole requires some wiggling and prodding.
I bought as tank on Ebay mfg in Canada. Only difference between it and orig was no drain fitting. There are bits of felt that sort of isolate the tank from the chassis and they are probably shot.
Also with the tank off it is a good time to add a ground to the sending unit. Normal ground is through the tank to the chassis adding a separate wire form one of the screws to one of the tank attachment bolts is just insurance for the sending unit.
Again be careful not to damage the fuel line attachment assembly and check the line close to the fitting for pinholes.