Repair a Leaky Gas Tank by Soldering

[@dienekes4364]

This is awesome. I had a leak in my V-Star 1300 and took it to a local repair shop. They charged me $300 to try to fix it with JB Weld. I drove it home and parked it in the garage and an hour later smelled gas again. What a waste of time and money. I'm going to pull the tank off, clean up their mess, and solder it myself. The old saying, _"If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself."_ couldn't be more true. My wife has been bedridden for the last 9 months due to a severe case of sepsis that she had right after xmas. We just had a nurse show up and replace her catheter. Right after the nurse left my wife said that it felt like she had to pee. The nurse had put the catheter in her v-jayjay!!! I pulled it out and just put in a new one myself. For all you youngsters that are reading this, take it from a 60+ year old -- It seriously pays to learn how to do as many things yourself as you can. It will save you a TON of money and, even if you "normally" hire someone to do something, you can make sure they are doing the job right and you can fix their fuck-ups in an emergency.

[@Amotorcyclenut]

I agree,

[@paulhealey8221]

Thanks for the video, I am currently de rusting the inside of my bone stock 1968 XLCH. I am very careful to preserve the stock original paint in the process. I found two pin hole leaks at the bottom and will be soldering them just as you demonstrated. Thank you, and congrats on owning that vintage 350 Honda. One of my favorites!

[@Amotorcyclenut]

Glad to help

[@nikolasb2933]

Really nice job. Would be good to do a follow up video in few months to see how the repair is holding up to vibration and weather changes.

[@walkertonheights]

I just like the bike, I want one just like it. Good video, I did not know it was possible to solder steel.

[@Amotorcyclenut]

To support this channel check out Amazon through the links below: Genuine Honda - Fuel Valve Petcock - 16mm x 1.5mm - 16950-292-000 - CL175 CB350 CB360T CB450 CL450 amzn.to/2wnv7vv Weller D550PK 120-volt 260/200-watt Soldering Gun amzn.to/2BIzRlk Pure Acetone, 16 fl. oz. amzn.to/2o8ZNNG Soldering Flux Paste amzn.to/2OXlv2c Solder Rosin 1/16", 4 oz. amzn.to/2P4o7vu

[@yves2348]

Well done, nice little bike 🙂

[@johnjacob6774]

if you take a small brush with flux on it and wipe it before the solder cools it will come out to a smooth finish and no worries of leaks

[@rahulapawar5334]

Thanks a ton, now I know a solution 👍

[@Amotorcyclenut]

Great!

[@sarge2480]

Thanks for the video. I will try this procedure on my old 1971 Honda sl125.

[@Amotorcyclenut]

Good luck!

[@itzjusme6821]

VERY NICE !I think I speak for anybody with a brain when I say thank you and you did a great job! Nice explination solid weld . Great video

[@atc6133]

Just did my honda xl250r tank worked perfectly no leaks thank's

[@Mohapi_Tau]

Did it hold up?

[@hiscifi2986]

I did a similar CB360 petrol tank that had 8 pin holes. The only thing holding the fuel in was the paint..! After exposing the bare metal, I put a round blob on each hole. Unfortunately when this was repainted the solder pimples were pretty obvious. What I should have done after cleaning the metal, was to punch in the hole with a ball-penne hammer, so the solder would lay flat.

[@ronnydawsonisafraud7747]

Will this work on small runt holes?

[@Amotorcyclenut]

It will, but if there are a lot of them the tank is to far gone.

[@glenmcshane3747]

can you use normal electrical solder that is tin/lead? Or do you need silver solder

[@Amotorcyclenut]

I used normal electrical solder cause that's what I had on hand, but I think silver solder would be better.

[@grascinco8263]

Supposedly ethanol will eat solder.. can you tell us what's the results today? Thanks for the video I'm not a fan of sealers either...

[@Amotorcyclenut]

It still doesn't leak today.

[@grascinco8263]

@@Amotorcyclenut nice, if it works it works. That's awesome. I brass brazed. The hole was about 3mm wide. Could've used your trick and avoided the burnt paint...

[@davidburke3378]

@@Amotorcyclenut You can also get a low temp silver solder that might work well.

[@allenaird5311]

Great video mate, cheers.

[@Amotorcyclenut]

Thanks 👍

[@IceStone69]

How's the fuel tank holding up?

[@Amotorcyclenut]

Still doesn't leak.

[@IceStone69]

@A Motorcycle Nut my 1986 honda fuel tank has (2) small pinholes and I was thinking this method would be good. I think I will try it out

[@IceStone69]

@@Amotorcyclenut any extra advice would be greatly appreciated

[@vitablogs3458]

Is that an aluminum thank?

[@Amotorcyclenut]

No, its steel

[@jonoconnor768]

I have a tiny rust hole .. like the size of a pin head ..that is on the side of my tank like half way up.. it already ate through the paint ..while I slept of course .. do you think that I can solder that as well? Or is something along the line of a patch better ? ..

[@Amotorcyclenut]

You can solder it, but you will probably fine a few more when you clean that hole up. I think that the metal in your tank is getting pretty thin.

[@vivianoni9565]

Having read a Google review of sb. lamenting a bike bought with a pinholed gas tank, I thought of solder as an ideal fix. It turns out I'm right. In his case a seller hadn't mentioned the 2nd-rate epoxy repair under the paint. Unless repair is on a stressed joint, welding gas tank metal is generally overkill. Solder can fill the gap nicely.

[@xxMTxxDEWxx]

I wonder if this would work on a Car's gas tank? My only concern would be the temperature underneath the vehicle with Exhaust pipe. Would it be enough to melt the solder and the tank start leaking again?

[@vietstyle888]

Should be fine

[@hiscifi2986]

Well just a few figures for you.. Solder melts at 370 degC and the flash point of Petrol is 75 degC. So you have lots more to think of before worrying about the exhaust melting the solder.

[@shanrafnezden7958]

Thanks!

[@ShubhamSingh-wh9rk]

What if there is a hole in engine and engine oil is leaking?? How we can fix that hole?? Plss help me

[@midnightrider4ever]

Solder won't hold on an engine. The heat is too high. However you should be able to braise the crack or have a shop do it.

[@basilauximpenaflor4406]

What's that liquid you put first before start soldiering

[@Amotorcyclenut]

Soldering flux

[@daveco1270]

Does the solder hold up when being exposed to gasoline? (I have a little crack I'm thinking about soldering inside one of my carbs.)

[@Amotorcyclenut]

Solder seems to hold up well, silver solder is better.

[@wandaprubant2082]

You emptied the tank of gas but not use a rinse to get all gas out, is it not dangerous to have heat from the gun and solder to ignite the tank??

[@Amotorcyclenut]

No flame, no fire, as it warms up the gas just evaporates

[@nathanwarshawsky3871]

@@Amotorcyclenut I always rinse out with water to be on safe side plus gets out any debris then dry with compressed air

[@sirdappershane2596]

@@nathanwarshawsky3871 rinsing a fuel tank with water is madness cause it will only invite a rust process especially where you have soldered. The inside of tank will be scared by the heat process to solder the hole. Just a thought I would rinse tank with alcohol then air it out with vacuum cleaner and put a thin coat of oil inside to prevent rust from manifesting it's ugly head. Rust process starts nearly straight away when metal has been scared by heat.

[@TheZacWadeShow]

Is your tank still leak free, or has the remedy failed?

[@Amotorcyclenut]

Still working good. No leaks

[@SDsailor7]

@@Amotorcyclenut Will it work on larger holes and cracks?

[@matthewrobert2888]

Was doing a tank repair and I accidentally went into a spot of impact and caused a pin hole leak hope this helps me

[@matthewrobert2888]

It really worked and was super easy at first thought i was doing brain surgery don't over think it just do it

[@mtrltoolman]

What kind of flux?

[@Amotorcyclenut]

rosin core flux

[@mtrltoolman]

Acid and rosin flux? is it contained Zink chloride?

[@mtrltoolman]

Last question / How many Watts the soldering iron you used ?

[@leungbilly5861]

I need to solder my tank too. Should I fill it with water to avoid any flash or explosion? Some says yes, some says on..... Thanks

[@Amotorcyclenut]

I say no, because the water will wet the area your soldering.

[@xGARIDx]

What if i have fuel inside the tank while im soldering the tank? Is that flammable?

[@Amotorcyclenut]

Drain the fuel out of the tank, and remove the cap. Yes, gas is Flammable and fumes will explode. so clean your tank out and let it dry.

[@yongminhuh146]

You should empty gas tank.

[@sandersballistics]

Most Fluxes can be pretty toxic and you really shouldn't apply with your bare hands, up to you in the end but why take the risk.

[@dancastor2164]

You'd be better off using a brass brush instead of a steel one ....fuel burns...fumes explode

[@Webrunner6951]

Maybe for Tiny tiny pinholes. Otherwise, this is NOT the best way. I strongly recommend JB Cold weld! ✅ Done

[@Amotorcyclenut]

I have been fixing bikes since the mid seventies. I have never seen JB weld hold up on a gas tank leak for any period of time. If the hole in the gas tank is bigger than the diameter of a pencil you can cut out a small piece of metal and solder it in to patch the hole. If done correctly, it will last more than ten years without leaking. That's my experience, but you are welcome to fix your bike any way you want and I wish you the best of luck.

[@rockman49er]

I've tried jb weld twice the first time lasted a year or so and the second time it only lasted a week so I'm going to try this but I'm worried about the fumes causing an explosion any ideas how to solve this I hear you can put exhaust fumes into the tank but I'm not sure

[@rockman49er]

Also I had this same bike awesome classic

[@db13401]

Good video but for those who can't solder epoxy (JB WELD) would do the same

[@Amotorcyclenut]

JB weld will leak.

[@db13401]

@@Amotorcyclenut Have it on my stroked shovel tanks for years and no leaks...as with any thing it take proper prep