How to Fix Plastic Gas Tank on a Lawnmower- Easy Fixing Ways

Do you want to know how to fix plastic gas tank on a lawnmower? A plastic gas tank on a lawnmower is consist of polyethylene. This plastic resists the chemicals in gasoline. They can crack, split, break, or spring a leak by sturdy and resilient, accidents, or abuse. However, when this happens, they can be repaired permanently.

Plastic lawnmower had an issue where the gas tank to produce a hole on the side. It may cost to repair it instead of a few pennies.

Repairing plastic is very easy. It requires patience and attention to detail. Need careful with the materials. It must be clean and organized.

This repair is for the slimy plastic like a gas tank or stuff on cars. The process is the same for all things. So this example can be applied to nearly any situation to fix plastic damages.

Motorcycle racing and ATV enthusiasts use plastic gas tanks. A chemical gas tank can weigh less than half of a comparable metal gas tank, and it is easy to mold into shapes to fit odd configurations.

How To Fix Plastic Gas Tank On A Lawnmower

Seamless gas tanks seldom leak and are impervious to the rust and corrosion that affect metal tanks. If a plastic fuel tank does sustain small holes or tears, there are seven relatively easy ways how to fix plastic gas tank on a lawnmower.

Step 1: Preparation along with organization

This is the first and important step about how to fix plastic gas tank on a lawnmower. For repairing plastic items, heating things, and cooling them is a timed process. You need to move and act immediately. Organizing tools and materials are essential to facilitate.

Repairing plastics require essential tools are:

1 Heat Gun- These are available at nearly any store. It can not be a hairdryer because those do not get hot enough. They are cheap.

2. Box knife – It used to clean the damaged area. It removes any straggling pieces of plastic and clean edges to give a smooth surface to connect.
3. Painter Spatula – This use to flatten the materials and squeeze the elements together. Please do not use a plastic one because it will get hot and might melt.
4. Screw Driver – use it as a miniature spatula to push little areas of plastic around optionally and apply pressure to specific spots. For this purpose, Need a place to work and power to drive the heat gun.

 Step 2: Clean the Parts

While plastic parts stick to each other, so we do not want any dirt, grease, wax, etc. to come between components. At first, the broken part is removed, cleaned it inside, and washed out with dish soap and water until It did not smell any gas. The tank can explode when applying heat to it. It is good to use a rag, scrub brush, brillo pad, etc.

Need to go after it with a solvent like alcohol to get everything off squeaky clean and ready to process for the application of plastic.

Many times plastic will change its chemical structure because of heat, chemicals, contact with other items, etc. once you get to the point where you are finally cleaning with alcohol, it is clean. Take your time and make sure it is spotless. Fix both the parts and the new piece fix with it. They need to go together with nothing between them.

Step 3: Preparation for Work Area and Patch Materials

clean the work area thoroughly. We must prepare it by removing any plastic fingers or rough spots around the damaged area. Use a knife to cut any loose plastic strings and make smooth out any sharp sides. So that they will not cause splitting or cracking.

Step 4: Make It Fit the Area and Shape

Look at the repair area closely and observe its lines and then cut the patch material to match as closely as possible. Trim it out so that the content overlaps the repair site by about 1.5 times the damaged area. Another idea is to create a template on paper and cut it with scissors to use to cut the plastic out from the repair material.

It is essential that to get everything ready to apply and prepare before heating anything: Preparation is 99% of the process, so the better the patch fits, and the least physical manipulation is needed, the better the repair will come out in the end. Ideally, the piece should lay down on the repair area with little or no effort.

Step 5: Heating the Things

At first, give heat to the repair area with the heat gun and holding it a distance from the surface. Nothing should produce smoke or burn. The plastic does not melt or lose shape but becomes pliable.

Apply the heat in a broad area. Please do not focus on a spot, but keep it away from the material. Slowly heat up and evenly over a larger area. While the plastic is pliable and looks wet, move the patch material into the air stream. Apply heat to the patch area to be applied to the repair area. Then the wetness on both surfaces drops the spot on the repair area. Pull the heat gun away from the patched area slowly and set it aside. Then pick up the spatula and lightly apply to the patch to remove any air bubble.

Do not apply pressure. Mingle the two surfaces. At the same time, the plastics are cooling clean up the joints and materials. Take some time to cool off. Please do not force them to chill by putting water or other stuff on the new patch. Give some moments to sit and cool as this will allow the two materials to blend slowly.

Step 6: Cooling Off and Inspect

The thinner the patch material will take the repair more controllable. So ready to lay down multiple layers as needed for this. It is a molecular bond between the patch and the repair area.

Step 7: Testing Afterward

This step is the last step about how to fix a plastic gas tank on a lawnmower. When the tank cooled off and sat for a while, filling it with water to check for leaks.By pressuring it to test for fatigue issues. The patch was stable and permanent and more durable than the original material. This bonding is a molecular repair and not a glue or physical bonding situation.

Conclusion

Finally, how to fix plastic gas tank on a lawnmower,keep in mind that never physically touches hot tools to plastic. By contacting contaminates the plastic and melts it in a tiny area and ruins the plasticity of the materials—clean everything before applying any heat. Preparation work is essential for effective patch repairs.

Preparation is 99% of the action for work and cleaning. If there is smoke, you are doing it wrong. Heat the materials slowly. Do not melt them. Patch material needs to be the same as the repair area materials.

Every kind of plastic melts at different temperatures and different rates. Test a piece before really doing it. Hopefully, these above procedures help with how to fix plastic gas tank on a lawnmower quickly indeed.