Modern Vespa

My mechanic has said that my gas tank has a whole in it. It is plastic. Anyone ever repair a plastic Gilera Fuoco 500 (or Piaggio MP3 500 equivalent) tank? Is there a petrol impervious epoxy resin that'll work?

Thanks,

david

how did it get a hole in it?

you can plastic weld it or have someone who has done plastic welding do it.

I would not use any resin type stuff.

I dont know actually. I will get the tank off the mechanic as he wants me to arrange the repair. He said it was a small hole. Thanks for the tip to avoid the resins. i'll get a plastic welder. Would you advise covering it afterwards with a resin?

This welding with a soldering iron looks easy enough. I'm an electrican BTW

If its ABS or similar then you could try and weld a patch of similar plastic over the hole using pipe weld solvent. If you have never done this before have a practice welding some standard black coat hangers together to get a feel for it..I think that this will work better than trying to melt with a soldering iron as it will naturally fill the hole.

Also I'd be pretty careful bringing anything hot near a gas tank!

Anybody know what type of plastic the gas tank is made of?

If its ABS [what's ABS]
or similar then you could try and weld a patch of similar plastic over the hole using pipe weld solvent. [What is a brand name for pipe weld solvent]

http://www.screwfix.com/p/evo-stik-pipe-weld-250ml/82210?kpid=82210&cm_mmc

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene&ved=0ahUKEwiyxanQ9e7NAhXQFsAKHQv2APsQFggbMAA&usg=AFQjCNGVw712OklxgOo9cKS9hRxgoWQQmw&sig2=yFtJO2FmaqzqJvmfE5pfLg

Abs is the plastic they make motorcycle fairings out of. It's the same plastic which is used in domestic waste piping. Pipe weld is a great solvent to glue and reinforce cracked fairings back together. It literally melts the original plastic using solvent the same way that metal welding melts the two surfaces together using heat. This is different to using a glue which will bond to the two surfaces.

I have tried to glue my cracked fairings together and it never worked. Pipe weld from any plumbers merchant does the job really well.

I personally would not use any solvents as they can migrate and weaken surrounding areas.

I have used a plastic welder and practice is most definitely recommended before going after the job you want to do.

the one I have is an air unit and it works really good.

the tank is an abs plastic, use only abs sticks to weld with. using other plastics could compromise the tank or not melt in properly.

I used this on my BV and it worked great

http://www.autozone.com/sealants-glues-adhesives-and-tape/fuel-tank-and-radiator-epoxy/versachem-1-06-oz-plastic-gas-tank-and-radiator-repair-kit/382799_0_0/

Have a look on the petrol tank SOMEWHERE on it you will find a emblem triangled in shape with some letters next to it, the letters will tell you what type of plastic it is . If it's anything like all the other plastic items on the fuoco it will probaly be ABS but make sure by finding the emblem. Next take it to a car body repair shop i would think most now adays have plastic welders to repair the hiddiously expensive car bumpers. I have welded abs panels with scrap peices and a soldering iron quite succesfully but i think for the petrol tank i would get it done proffesionaly.

Some type of critter nibbled my fuel line near the tank and put a hole in it, any recommendations for that? While we'RE on the subject of fuel stuff......

I was looking for my post from earlier, maybe I forgot?
There was a used fuel tank on ebay.
I would just replace it.

Setup a Search, and have it email you when someone posts one.
That's what I do when I am looking for something vs buying new.

Keith,
Marietta, GA

Either replace the fuel line or add a barbed connector with clamps to repair it.