I wonder if JB Weld can fix this. I guess only one way to find out.
Some types apparently can!
https://welderology.com/is-jb-weld-gasoline-proof/
For fuel contact, you’ll want to go with JB Weld Professional Steel Reinforced Epoxy. It’s formulated to resist gasoline, oil, diesel, water, and hydraulic fluid—making it a solid pick for automotive or small engine repairs.
Although further down it talks about not holding up to vibrations but your strap it in place idea should take care of fhat.
Cool, thanks for the link. I’ve been looking at replacement tanks and the Briggs site says they don’t make parts for it anymore, but I may have found something that’ll work if my idea doesn’t pan out. But I’ve got nothing to lose so I’m going to try this first.
I would personally go for a replacement tank or proper weld as a long term fix if possible because anything short of welding is likely to crack and allow liquid to keep out as it vibrates. Especially with the mounting being the part that broke, that will put a lot of strain on the repair even with the extra support.
You’re probably right. My main worry is the “replacement” won’t be quite right and it would suck to blow 50 bucks on something that won’t work. So in the meantime if I can patch this thing to hold for a little while, it’ll buy me some time to find a tank that’ll fit for sure.
I couldn’t even get JB Weld to fix the frames on my glasses. Stick with superglue (pun intended). 😉
I’d JB weld the thing back in place … and then add some sort of added supports for the whole thing … wire strap, metal band, oversized hose clamp … and make it more secure.
Because if it broke off once, it will probably break off again … in another 50 years.
Ya that’s about what I was thinking. If this holds at all I want to throw a strap or two around it to try and help hold it better. The mower is old and I do have a newer one, but this old thing was my favorite and I’d like to keep it running if possible. The thing is a beast when there isn’t random parts falling off it.
I had a mower like that at an old cottage years ago. It was an old ugly mower from the 70s that a local small engine mechanic had fixed up and sold for $50. It looked like hell but it worked fantastic … it was more than a mower, it was a brush cutter that could mow down bushes with 2" diameter stems. I used it to clear land. Someone “borrowed” the thing years ago and I lost track of it. I miss those old mowers.
Any motorized device that is over 40 years old was built for practical use and built to last longer than 10 years. Most of the parts are made of metal and the things are tuned to use as much power as possible. There’s a reason why that old tank of yours lasted so long. Fix it and it will be good for another few decades.
I’d get some metal strapping, form it into the shape of the tank … make two of them and secure it all to the motor … then spray paint it all the same color to make it look like it was designed like that.
Yup that’s exactly why I love this old thing. I have a lot of old trees that constantly drop branches etc and this thing is just as happy being a wood chipper as it is being a mower. A friend let his grass get super long to the point his newish mower couldn’t handle it, this old machine just walked through it all with hardly any fuss.
Nah, looks like something minor.
If the busted piece wasn’t the mounting bolt for the tank I think it would work fine to just seal it up. Just not sure how it’s going to handle holding the tank up with all the vibration etc. it has to deal with.
I found (I think) a replacement tank online for fifty bucks, but I’ll try the epoxy first… nothing to lose at this point lol.
epoxy
Near benzin? Read something about how well it is solvable in hydrocarbons. I’m afraid that might not work. But I don’t actually know, just a hunch.
I have no idea, but I guess I’m about to find out. I cleaned up the edges and put some JB weld on there, now just have to wait until this evening to see if my farmer fix is going to work, or end up finding a new tank.
Well there’s your problem.
Try alumiweld! They sell that stuff in amazon.
