Thread: Fixing jerrycans

Whatever you do, don't try to weld anything if it has previously had fuel in it.
Had a mate try to weld an aircraft fuel tank after filling it with water and emptying it numerous times, then filled it almost full and tried to weld a spot near the filler hole. There was a loud "POP" and a jet of blue flame from the filler hole, which just missed taking off his eyebrows and cleaned out all of the spiders in the garage ceiling...
Old fuel containers can be very surprising!

Coop

Haha thanks C00P not much of a welder anyway! All very helpful. Can i use the same procedure for rust? One is rusty as opposed to just dirty/full of old black engine oil.

Cheers,

Goots

With enough shaking of the blue metal or nuts and bolts that should loosen it up. After that, I'd be inclined to use some rust converter. But rust is a bit harder to get rid of as opposed to something like oil, which can be washed out.

I use one of these, I've given up on expecting clean fuel out of the metal Jerries, mine are mostly dated 1950's
You are left with a half cupfull of fuel, I usually pour the cleaner portion back into the Jerry.


F8C MR FUNNEL FUEL FILTER FUNNEL WHEN YOU NEED PURE FUEL KEEPS OUT WATER & DIRT | eBay

fogot to mention. even tho they may not leak now, invest in a couple of the seals for the neck and some spares for the pourer.

Originally Posted by C00P

Whatever you do, don't try to weld anything if it has previously had fuel in it.
Had a mate try to weld an aircraft fuel tank after filling it with water and emptying it numerous times, then filled it almost full and tried to weld a spot near the filler hole. There was a loud "POP" and a jet of blue flame from the filler hole, which just missed taking off his eyebrows and cleaned out all of the spiders in the garage ceiling...
Old fuel containers can be very surprising!

Coop

I've seen people weld fuel tanks successfully by running them full of exhaust gas for a while before hand, and then during the welding.

No Oxygen = no ignition. They didn't even clean them, or run water through them. The gentlemen was a very experienced diesel mechanic and fireman.

I purge them with compressed air for at least an hour then run the exhaust from a small 2 stroke genny through them OR if at work use the nitrogen purge gear.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

probably from someone who mixed diesel and petrol in 50/50 and found that it wont run well in a petrol and it'll blow the pots inside out in a diesel.

The army don't seem to have too much of a problem with 50/50 diesel/petrol - refuelled a few trucks that way for them in the past . Don't know how they went though.


Martyn