Thread: Fixing jerrycans

stick in a handfull of washed 5mm bluemetal some water and some sodium bicarbonate.

now shake em to death turning regularly.

empty em out wash them out with clean water and a little detergent, rinse them with hot water and then air dry them (put in a hose from a clean warm air source in leaving room for it to exit). Put in a cup full of diesel shake it around and them empty it out.

after youve filled them with petrol and then emptied them do the thing with the diesel again but leave just a little in the bottom to keep any air and moisture at bay.

alternatively fill your jerry, keep it full then when its time to refuel empty the jerry into the tank then fill it then the tank at the servo.

While you've got the jerry empty it may be worth brazing a stainless bolt onto it somewhere so you can use it to attache an earth clamp. some places can be a little pedantic about filling jerrycans without earth strapping.

I've never heard of an earth clamp or earth strapping? Early you said drop in some blue metal, whats that? and for air dry should i just leave them in the sun tie them upside down or literally just sit it wherever till its dry?

Cheers,

Goots

Originally Posted by Goots

I've never heard of an earth clamp or earth strapping? Early you said drop in some blue metal, whats that? The gravel that is usually mixed with tar when roads are sealed. and for air dry should i just leave them in the sun tie them upside down or literally just sit it wherever till its dry?

Cheers,

Goots

....

Blue metal if I am correct is like a course gravel mostly a blueish colour found in driveways - or use a bunch of nuts and bolts.
If you have a pin hole in one a safer option of brazing / welding would be to purchase a motorcycle tank liner kit from POR15. Would be enough to do two or three jerrys - may be worth considering since a new metal jerry is worth around $60.00 now.

you need to circulate some air through the can, I usually use one of those 12V mattress inflators on a bit of hose.

Ive had a couple of places want an earth lead on the jerry cans, particulalry if youre filling up in a trailer...

IMHO its about the same level of risk as filling your car or having a mobile phone/2 way on while your filling up. Everyone cares about the .25w or 25w signal thats coming from the phone/two way but I havent had one mention of the multi hundred amp sparks that happen in the startermotor when you restart the car.

Ok cool, i guess things are different down south with this earthing bizzo. I'll prepare them as directed none are leaking got about 6. For the ones i want to use for petrol do I still rinse with diesel first, then rinse with petrol or just petrol? I figured i mightnt need to rinse with petrol after diesel cos their supposed to be more tolerent to bad fuels anyway right?

Thanks

nahh you rinse with diesel as it leaves an oil residue in the can which will help protect it from rusting. (just a cupfull and that will do all 6 jerries if you tip it from one to the other) you could use pretty much any oil you like.

Don't be too fussed about the blue metal, 18" of old chain works just as well, cleaned a few tanks out that way over the years.

Martyn