Patch fresh water tank

Question

The clamp holding the fill hose to my fresh water tank leaked while filling the tank and filled the underbelly with water.  The plastic corregated material was bulging so I drilled a weep hole to drain the water... Yep, went too far and hit the fresh water tank.  The dealer fixed the clamp under warranty and put a stainless screw and sealant in the hole in the tank.  After over 6000 miles and a rough out west trip, the fix is leaking.  How can I permanently repair the leak?  I would replace the tank, except that the dealer says that to do so would mean cutting out a cross member and then re-welding it.  Ugh!

chris_bryant · Answer

Harbor Freight has a cheap soldering iron type plastic welder that would do the job.

lynnmor · Answer

You didn't say how big the hole was.  If you can drill it to fit a tank sensor, that should work.  The sensors expand to tightly fit the hole as they are tightened.

bogie514 · Answer

It's just a small drill hole - don't remember what size git I was using.  It is on the bottom of the tank.

two_hands · Answer

I did exactly the same thing on my fifth wheel.  A repair facility used a sensor patch or plug to seal the hole.  The patch/plug was not connected to anything.  It worked perfectly.

ktmrfs · Answer

one choice is a sensor plug. most fresh tanks are white polyethelene or similar that is very hard to solvent weld. However they are usually built with all fitting spin welded to the tank. And there are spin weld patches for them. Best thing would be to have a qualified repair shop spin weld on a patch. very quick and easy to do.

spin welding is basically a friction weld process. the patch is spun at high speed over the hole and the friction heats and melts the plastic fusing it into the tank material.

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Patch fresh water tank

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