Repairing cracked black water tank
From the day we bought good old Mabel, she's had a leaking black water tank. A PO somewhere along the line did a very poor job of repairing what I think is a crack at the valve fitting with some fibe...
Forum Discussion
Ok, I have some good information that I learned today.
First off, I now know that my tank is an El Monte Plastics, H-427w tank. That piece of information proved WORTHLESS however, as El Monte plastics is out of business and I cannot find information about my tank anywhere.
On the up side, I stumbled across the Plasti-Mend web site and found some really good information.
Plasti-Mend RV tank information page
Now then. The outlet is definitely welded to the tank, but the ABS pipes are not welded or glued. They are clamped to the outlet.
Looking at the plug I took out of the tank, that does not look like ABS. It looks like polyethylene.
I will still solvent test the plug, but if it is polyethylene then the rule is that you can weld HDPE with LDPE, but NOT the other way around. So my plan to use LDPE tubing from HD as my welding rod should be good to go.
Jose
First off, I now know that my tank is an El Monte Plastics, H-427w tank. That piece of information proved WORTHLESS however, as El Monte plastics is out of business and I cannot find information about my tank anywhere.
On the up side, I stumbled across the Plasti-Mend web site and found some really good information.
Plasti-Mend RV tank information page
From the Plasti-Mend Web Site wrote:
1.) For RV holding tanks, one of the quickest and easiest ways to see what plastic you have is to look at the pipe connection coming out of the tank. If the pipe is glued into the tank fitting, the tank will be ABS and Plasti-Mend will work fine for any repairs.
2.) If the pipe is clamped or screwed into the tank, the tank will be Polyethylene and Plasti-Mend will not work on it. The only reliable repair for the PE will be thermal welding.
Now then. The outlet is definitely welded to the tank, but the ABS pipes are not welded or glued. They are clamped to the outlet.
Looking at the plug I took out of the tank, that does not look like ABS. It looks like polyethylene.
I will still solvent test the plug, but if it is polyethylene then the rule is that you can weld HDPE with LDPE, but NOT the other way around. So my plan to use LDPE tubing from HD as my welding rod should be good to go.
Jose
