what do you do if...

[jlmtractor]

what do you do if you own a tractor say a wheel horse b80 and the company, toro, that bought out wheel horse no longer makes certain parts for the tractor. I can guess half the people reading this are now thinking well custom make it then but there is a problem i am trying to keep it as original as possible and trying to fix what i can but i cant make the gas tank because it is plastic and i cant fix it because the hole is way to big to patch.

So what do I do find another wheel horse and buy the tank off of it or just make a metal tank?

Jlmtractor

 

[Hoss In ME]

Id look for another for parts,just like we do for the big uns. Hoss

 

[Anonymous-0]

You could pick up some fiberglass resin and cloth and fix the hole then sand smooth and you'd never know it was ever there. If the tank is clear and the repair would look ugly and you need to know how much gas is in it just paint it and leave a strip up the side that remains paintless. Just one way to do it.

 

[ericlb]

try posting your need on the garden tractor forum on the colume,lower left, lots of good folks there, someone probably has a used one or maybe even a whole parts machine you can pick up reasonable to keep yours going and original too

 

[Anonymous-0]

ebay has 18 "Wheel Horse Gas Tanks" listed now.

 

[Dave_Id]

I repaired a sprayer tank that one of the 3 point components went through, (don't ask). I repaired the rather large hole with a fiberglass repair kit. It turned out rather nice. It might be worth a try unless your tank is made of some type of plastic that nothing will adhere to.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I would make a metal tank if yours is to far gone to repair.

 

[Dandy Don]

jlmtractor, I have a Wheel Horse GT 14 and the seams down both sides were leaking @ about the half way point and I got a racrcar friend to fabraicate me a entire tank. It is the type that fits inside the grill and contoured and only has about 3/8 of an inch clearence between the motor and tank (tight fit) Works great now for 2 years and has same capacity and doesn't leak at all. Made from aluminun sheet. Can't tell it's not factory unless you raise the hood.
Everything I tried to patch with leaked or wouldn't stick to the old rotten plastic. Good Luck.
Don

 

[Kentb of SWMO]

Life is tough. NOTHING, not even a WHEEL HORSE last FOREVER.

Kent

 

[greenbeanman in Kansas]

I also would use fiberglass. If you prefer once the patch is complete you could use one of the liquid liners to seal the fiberglass from the gasoline.

I helped a neighbor repair a motorcycle panel and we didn't find any plastic the fiberglass wouldn't readily stick to. Used some cutting board like white slick plastic and it even stuck to it. Chunks of it held screws readily.

 

[Bus Driver]

The crucial first step is to identify the plastic used to make the tank. Polyethylene and polypropylene can be repaired only by welding. Hot-air welders are used and the exact type filler rod must be used. The weld bead looks about like oxy/acetylene welds. Previous experience with plastic welding is a big bonus.