Now That We Re-hashed Tires, Tank Repair.

mrw8i wrote:

nayther wrote:

noteven wrote:

nayther wrote:
I fixed mine with a repair kit, specially made for this. the tanks are ABS. You might get by with some ABS glue and mesh.

A fresh water tank should be polypropylene that is only repaired by welding...?

ABS = holding tanks?

If it's black like mine it's ABS. The poly tanks are white/greenish.

They can be a lot of colors - mine poly tanks are black (slick to the touch).

If it is ABS - I repaired a cracked grey water holding tank made out of ABS:

- empty the cracked tank and allow to dry with the drain open
- fill a pint glass jar about 1/2 full with acetone
- allow new clean ABS plumbing fittings to dissolve over a day or two until the mixture in the jar is a brushable consistency paste that is not runny.
- stop drill both ends of the crack
- rough up the area around the crack a couple inches each side with coarse sandpaper or scuff pads
- wipe the area with a clean cloth dabbed in pure acetone
- cut some pieces of fiberglass window screen to cover the area of the crack
- apply some of your ABS paste with a brush to the crack area and embed the screen in the paste. Allow to cure.
- repeat applications of layers of screen and paste until you are happy with the strength needed in the area of the crack.

- clean the brush in acetone between coats
- store your mixture with an airtight lid if you want.

- I believe Home Depot in the US stocks various "grades" of ABS cement which contain more ABS - they are thicker - you may find some. They no sell in Alberta so I made my own ^

Tap Plastics sells a poly repair kit that worked great for me. My TH fresh water tank developed a leak at the flange that seemed pretty hopeless. I tried the repair with some skepticism.
The kit came with a special heat activated adhesive,stainless steel mesh and patch material. It lasted for years and I bet that the new owner hasn't had anymore issues with it.

Heres some info http://www.incaplastics.com/page8.html

Last fall my gray tank starting leak. Found a crack on the bottom about 4 inches from the valve. I tried eternabond, plastic tank repair kit, and JB Weld all at once. It held for about 3 months. I was just going to take it and have a new one installed but wanted one more crack at it. I bought 50 feet of the Flex Steel tape you see on TV and pretty much wrapped the tank in it. So far so good since March.

lazydays wrote:
Last fall my gray tank starting leak. Found a crack on the bottom about 4 inches from the valve. I tried eternabond, plastic tank repair kit, and JB Weld all at once. It held for about 3 months. I was just going to take it and have a new one installed but wanted one more crack at it. I bought 50 feet of the Flex Steel tape you see on TV and pretty much wrapped the tank in it. So far so good since March.

Is that Flex Seal tape? I have some and was going to try it.

Yes, I meant Flex Seal Tape. Pretty good stuff.