Fiberglass Tank Fix (2011)

There is a supplier in the UK, and I will check and see if they have a distributor in Canada.

Okay thanks a lot.

Unfortunately no distributors in either Canada or the US...................sorry.

No worries, thanks for the help.

Well, I suggest those of you with fiberglass tanks check your petcock filters. I just replaced my glass tank for a steel one and when I pulled the petcocks the filters were full of fibers. By full, I mean like a birds nest. Im surprised it was getting fuel at all. Just a heads up.

Its easier to put your finger inside the tank, and in most cases touching the inside will mean you feel sticky dissolving resin, if there is a problem. If its got to the stage where fuel filters are getting badly blocked with fibres, then its most likely beyond saving, and will need to be replaced.

Yah, I think mines going to spend the rest of its life as a lamp. :cry:

Better to stick in a screw driver or sharp probe to feel softening before can be felt by finger stickiness. So far my Caswell has remained gel coat hard-intack, but realize mine may not have been alcohol tested enough yet.

Here's a French site with tank sealer a fella says has worked for him, but I can't read French.
http://www.restom.net/

hobot said:

Here's a French site with tank sealer a fella says has worked for him, but I can't read French.
http://www.restom.net/

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Well then, how do you know it worked???? JK. :mrgreen:

No I don't but Jean here has sent a French email to inquire the details of what it is and how to apply and how tested to know. Hang fire so far.

"I would not look to offer any of our rigid epoxy solutions as almost irrespective of thickness applied they would ultimately crack in the event of movement"...... Is the view of someone from the tech department of one of the worlds biggest manufacturers of resins and associated industrial products, when asked about the suitability of unmodified epoxy resins for use as tank sealers.

In most cases the advertising blurb of those offering tank sealing products is complete nonsense, and this is something thats very strongly supported by the fact that none of these people have bothered to carry out any proper testing of their products, or to provide accurate application instructions.

Where are people getting the replacement fillers from?

lcgtr said:

Where are people getting the replacement fillers from?

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Well, e-bay of course :mrgreen:

I received a couple of e-mails from the makers of the french product and they say their stuff resists even e85 it is unfortunate they don't ship outside of Europe.

Jean

Its pretty easy to find a high cross link resin able to resist high ethanol fuels..............only problem being its likely to be very brittle, and completely useless as a sealer inside something that has both high and low frequency vibration, and is very difficult to prepare properly to ensure good secondary bonding.

Those peddling this stuff aren't likely to mention the above though, even though the complete lack of proper testing of any of their products, does seem to suggest they are well aware of the fact that the products don't work!

I saw front of my IS fg tank shatter brittle but thank goodness a single decent layer of Caswell's mix held up no fractures no leaks and I really suspect it backed up the glass to not crush in fully. Front of the tank was rather stronger than welded stem stop. When I stick a knife blade it I get a slight sense of complaince not the glass hard resin/gelcoat hard sense. I had a number of crashed the tank took some hits - including landing on me on crest of a berm that fracture my innominate/pelvic bone and L5 vertebrea, that broke through genetic mal formaction/fussion, to heal up leaving me free to pop lumber joints by easy twists or lean backwards, and saved a new paint job. For us simpletons, best bet may be acetone or MEK clean the insides, a short time, then super duper dry before thick layering attention in high heat of summer or box with heater/hair dryer.

If the Caswell stuff is that good, then maybe it would be time for them to do some proper tests, and make the results easily available to prospective customers?

Hey Carbon, you out class me on resin/epoxy chemistry and applications and read your reports on marked up diluted industrial Novalac Caswell sells, plus me and Wes don't get that much ethanol to test ours to the max yet, but I surveyed BI list this month to only get 2 reports of Caswell fg tank failure, one almost right away, 2 wks and another 2 yrs later in Caif. So as non scientific double blinded statically analyzed as that is, its still comforting that only 2 sad reports on Caswell vs handfulls of surprise un sealed tanks into engine seizures plus reports of failed faked clogging POR15 and Kream reports. I've been watch this for about a decade now. My person opinion and experience, So Far, is Caswell applied well is up to the task. I'll survey this forum too after sending this, as I respect your opinion but not sure if its over kill or not, considering the extend you've encouraged others to source the best materials but coming up empty tank yet.

I've about a pint of Caswell left, and a spare old fg fender, I assume is from same era and tank resin, so offer it up to you to start a test for idea how risky or not it is to use over price watered down Novalac. I doubt you'd trust my test and I'd have to sadly agree - me either.

Carbonfibre said:

If the Caswell stuff is that good, then maybe it would be time for them to do some proper tests, and make the results easily available to prospective customers?

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The problem is that they can't be responsible for how the customer preps the tanks. Test is only valid if they use virgin or well-prepped fiberglass.

I want to see how long Jean's method is good for. If his fails you might as well stop using gasohol altogether.

swooshdave said:

Carbonfibre said:

If the Caswell stuff is that good, then maybe it would be time for them to do some proper tests, and make the results easily available to prospective customers?

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The problem is that they can't be responsible for how the customer preps the tanks. Test is only valid if they use virgin or well-prepped fiberglass.

I want to see how long Jean's method is good for. If his fails you might as well stop using gasohol altogether.

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The main reason they are unlikely to do any proper testing is due to the fact that they are well aware the product simply isnt fit for purpose! As soon as proper testing had been carried out, and it had been verified the product was no good, then it would be the end of the line commercially, so testing is not likely to happen any time soon. You are completely right about poor prep though, and even a proper fit for purpose industrial product may well fail if its not professionally applied.

swooshdave said:

... you might as well stop using gasohol altogether.

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It would be better to get legislators to ban the use of ethanol in gasoline, it causes nothing but grief to everyone except a few farmers and distillers.

Jean