The oil tank on my Sportster has a slow leak. I pulled it off to fix what I thought was a leaking drain hose, but it's still leaking. Couldn't see where it might have been leaking since it's not exactly pouring out, and have pretty much concluded to let it go for now.
I was in Home Depot and walked by the spray paint display, and happened to notice "Flex-Seal", that spray on black rubber stuff the guy advertises on television as being good enough to seal up the bottom of a boat. Rust-O-Leum also had a version of their own. Has anyone used this stuff to seal up a small seep in a tank from the outside? Was thinking if I pull the tank off again, clean it inside and out, then spray this on the backside where the seams, drain line, tank and battery mounting brackets are it might do the job.

 

Ehhhh....

I drain it, clean it, air it out, and weld the crack or whatever it is shut.

I had had two gas tanks I tried to save with expoxy and the **** never held up. In my case it would just start leaking all over me when the epoxy gave. Not a huge deal. In yours, you could starve the motor if the leaks gets bad.

Granted oil isn't as tough on **** as gasoline is but still, I wouldn't put that stuff inside my tank.

 

Do it right and do it once.

Just sayin

 

How much is a new tank? And, are they available?

 

The flex stuff does not hold up to petroleum products. I'd find the leak and JB weld it.

 

About $130 will get you a new tank in the aftermarket world unless you eBay a used one.

 

Thinking about that. It's an extremely slow seep that riding doesn't risk an engine failure. It's mostly annoying and I need to keep something under the bike in the garage. Just wondered if anyone had any experience with the flex stuff. I think the leak is along the seam in the flange where the backside of the tank is welded to the shell. The fittings all seem to be brazed on.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

I used the Flex stuff on a crack in my kids washer fluid tank. The heat rendered it useless

I tried it on the fuel tank of my weed wacker after it was thoroughly degreased. It came right off. I emailed the mfg and they told me it 'doesnt work the best' w/petrol products. It didnt work at all actually..

 

To build on my post above...

If you to weld it, use the lowest settings you can. **** is thin and you'll blow holes in it if you hit it too hard.

 

Flex seal is nothing but snake oil