Fixing Plastic Tank Inserts

[Petorius]

I got a leak around one of the brass inserts in my KDX tank. Pulled the insert out and there is a small crack behind it. Advice on where to go from here?

Lots of youtube videos showing people using a soldering iron, which is sketchy as hell. I dont understand how they don't go boom.

[csmutty]

I got a leak around one of the brass inserts in my KDX tank. Pulled the insert out and there is a small crack behind it. Advice on where to go from here?

Lots of youtube videos showing people using a soldering iron, which is sketchy as hell. I dont understand how they don't go boom.

My guess would be soldering iron temp is below ignition temperature for gasoline, yet above melting temperature of plastic?

[Petorius]

I've been experimenting on a scrap handguard from the same bike. A heat gun is enough to get it melty. Still seems sketchy AF. Wondering if I should just use epoxy or something.

[theducman]

Sell you my purple kdx tank lol

[Petorius]

Sell you my purple kdx tank lol

It'd probably sell faster as is, lol

[theducman]

I just bought a kdx, has the awesome 90's purple accents

[jasnmar]

The key is managing the vapors.

[Tekime]

Empty the tank then melt? My limited experience with fuel & sealants/patches/etc is that it's impossible to get a good bond if there is fuel present - if it's clean bare plastic you might have luck with clearweld or something like that. But yeah, just melting some new plastic in sounds easier.

[Kurlon]

I've been experimenting on a scrap handguard from the same bike. A heat gun is enough to get it melty. Still seems sketchy AF. Wondering if I should just use epoxy or something.

I should show you the redone front fender I did for my sumo, filled the prior mounting holes, drilled new ones.

[Petorius]

Jason's video was too long for me to actually watch and comprehend so I just gave it a rinse, filled it with water and went at it with the heat gun. Not leaking anymore, but I overcooked it and it's kind of ugly now.

[GearHd6]

You're not going to get any sort of explosion by melting with a soldering iron. I've done light MIG welding on metal tanks and haven't had explosions. I have done more extensive welding on tanks and had some flames shoot out the open fuel fill. I had rinsed them out multiple times with water though to try and remove most of the gas and vapors. If you can leave it open to vent for at least a day you'll be that much safer.