1968 3 gallon fuel tank restoration

[ludewig]

Hi,

real experts needed here - i am restoring my 1968 3 gallon gas tank, which is the one with the separate vent assembly not included in the fuel cap. My problem is that i had to remove the screen from the nipple assembly where the fuel gets sucked out of the tank because there were remains of bugs in there.
Because i want to keep everything original, i am now wondering if it would be easy to roll one of these screens myself.
What i am searching for is, what kind of glue was used to hold the mesh together and on the tubing? What would you suggest to do? Included are three pictures so you can see what its all about.

And btw - if anybody wants an Adobe Illustrator file with the original side print of this tank, just send me a pm. I made it myself, but i think i am not allowed to post it in the forum.

Thanks
Ludwig

 

[nwcove]

Re: 1968 3 gallon fuel tank restoration

it all looks like brass, so id just use a small butane torch, some flux, and carefully solder it back on, as i can only assume it was soldered on from the factory....no glue.

 

[ludewig]

Re: 1968 3 gallon fuel tank restoration

Yeah, thats what seemed to be the best solution for me as well. Its hard to see on the pictures, but there is a whitish substance on the end of the screen which almost looks like some kind of cement to me. But it could also be fuel residues.
I am wondering how they achieved such a clean solder joint where the opposite sides of the mesh material meet. Do you think it was soldered by hand?

 

[F_R]

Re: 1968 3 gallon fuel tank restoration

I agree, it more than likely was soldered.

 

[gm280]

Re: 1968 3 gallon fuel tank restoration

Yeah, thats what seemed to be the best solution for me as well. Its hard to see on the pictures, but there is a whitish substance on the end of the screen which almost looks like some kind of cement to me. But it could also be fuel residues.
I am wondering how they achieved such a clean solder joint where the opposite sides of the mesh material meet. Do you think it was soldered by hand?

Yes I believe it was soldered by hand and can be again too. Clean both the screen and the tube and use a quality flux (the highly activated type) and either a soldering gun (high wattage type) OR a blow torch and heat it up and apply the solder. Then before it solidifies, take a wet rag and wipe it to remove any excess solder off. It will look and function like new... Then you have to clean it again with some alcohol to remove any remaining flux residue or it will continue to corrode the joint... Not a problem...

 

[Rick.]

Re: 1968 3 gallon fuel tank restoration

Hope you don't mind me jumping in on your thread. I have a couple of tanks that size. One as you describe and the other (just bought it this week) has not got a separate vent. I found, laying in the tank bottom, a plastic one way valve that appears to fit very well in the bottom of the fuel cap. Am I right to snap it into the fuel cap? Also, with the other tank, regarding the separate black vent knob, is it always open or do you turn it to open and close it? I have the pick up tube out of the one tank right now so I will take a closer look at it tomorrow. To be honest I thought it looked like stainless steel more than brass near where the screen is connected but it is possible it was just tinned with solder. I will be sending you my email address for sure. Best of luck. Rick.

 

[ludewig]

Re: 1968 3 gallon fuel tank restoration

I dont know about the one with the tank cap vent, but the separate black vent knob is always open, you don't need to turn it. I believe the tab on the side of the round plastic case is just for the factory so it can be turned in by some kind of socket or whatever. Can't tell if the mesh is out of stainless steel or brass, but the colour of the material is silver on mine, too.

 

[ludewig]

Re: 1968 3 gallon fuel tank restoration

Ok, finally i soldered it back on! I bought myself this little torch here which cost 9€ which is about 12$ and it worked like a charm. Solder flowed nicely between the two parts. Thanks gm280 for the trick with the wet rag, it looks much better when wiped down.