texnwar wrote:
ScottG wrote:
That is ABS. Dont use anything except good old ABS cement.
Clean everything well and use the cement. Unless there's some piece missing you dont need to add any material - that will just make the job harder.
Hold in place for 30 seconds after cementing and your done.
It will last forever if done right but if you use some other "glue", it will eventually fail.
The tank is plastic after all, not fiberglass like I first thought. From what I understand after doing some research, ABS or any other cement for that matter may not work. It's suggested to weld the cracks via polyethylene rods.
I don't know who you are talking to, but I would bet like Scott said that tank is ABS which is technically a plastic and the best repair is actual ABS cement which generally you have to get from a decent plumbing supply store. Many FW and all waste tanks that I'm aware of in RVs are ABS and while many of the universal "plastic" type plumbing cements will work O.K. on holding together ABS slip type fittings for the strongest repair I recommend real ABS cement. Big box stores won't carry it except via special order. True ABS cement has actual ABS material dissolved in it and the bonding is solvent based so proper repairs are nearly as strong as the original.
Here is what the OATEY ABS cement looks like:
For a repair like you are looking at I would first after thoroughly cleaning everything cement the two parts together with real ABS cement and once that is somewhat cured I would build up the tank to pipe interface area with multiple coats of a mixture of the real ABS cement and ABS shavings which you can make by filing or making multiple cuts on a sacrifical ABS section of pipe or fitting and mixing the ABS filings with the cement to make a thick paste just before applying it to the repair . This will strengthen the overall pipe to tank junction since once cured that ABS/shavings mixture is basically just ABS material itself and by extending that mix up further onto the pipe and tank you will increase the bonded area of the repair. It might take up to a week for a 1/4 inch thick layer of ABS/shavings mix to totally cure since the curing is by solvent evaporation which can be a slow process so putting on 3 or 4 coats could take up to about a month for a really good repair and that is not something any repair place or mobile tech will recommend or do because of time.
Larry
