Fuel Bladders?

whisper · 31 January 2013, 15:18

Are fuel bladders repairable? I have a bow tank that has a pin hole in it. Can it be patched the same as a rib repair?

Tim M · 31 January 2013, 15:38

There was a thread on this a few weeks ago. I've got an RNLI type which is leaking. At some point I need to take it over to Ribshop where I'm hoping they'll be able to fix it.

m chappelow · 01 February 2013, 15:52

As Tim M was saying it came up on a thread a few weeks back , looks as though a few of us have the same problem .

A lot depends on the material used if its Urathane there are some repair kits out there for repairing racing car & aircraft bladders ( though not found a uk supplier yet )goes under the name of FS -RKU fuel safe in the US.
I was speaking to a guy in our boat club about my Rnli sausage bladder , he had spent some time in the military & was saying that they had repair kits but they were only for emergency & were ok for about a month or so ,
Think the most common bow bladders are zodiac ones so they may know but doubt it as they will want to sell you a new one .
In a worst case scenario could you push a stainless or brass nut & bolt with a couple of fibre washers and blank the hole off that way though you would need to get the bolt inside , most zodiac bags have a long filler tube so getting a bolt inside may be hard .

m chappelow · 05 February 2013, 08:48

Just had a word with Seaflex the company who make the fuel bladders for the RNLi & there is no specific type of repair kit available for Polyurathane holding fuel as they are welded seams .

whisper · 05 February 2013, 08:50

Oh well

it was a nice one too....

jyasaki · 05 February 2013, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by m chappelow

Just had a word with Seaflex the company who make the fuel bladders for the RNLi & there is no specific type of repair kit available for Polyurathane holding fuel as they are welded seams .

Is the leak at a seam? Wouldn't a bit of surface prep and a glob of PU adhesive/sealant do the trick? Not like it's being subjected to pressure like a RIB tube is.

jky

whisper · 05 February 2013, 16:21

Well I have a really nice bow bladder here if anyone can repair it?

m chappelow · 05 February 2013, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by whisper

Well I have a really nice bow bladder here if anyone can repair it?

Might take you up on that we could do with a duff after after its been cleaned out of petrol fumes one for our fundraising display d class when it's on public display ,, supermarkets & schools don't like the idea of petrol in their buildings ,

PeterM · 05 February 2013, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by whisper

Well I have a really nice bow bladder here if anyone can repair it?

Have you tried repairing it yourself ? Nothing to loose !!

AJ. · 05 February 2013, 17:26

Can't you use one of the little whispers to keep there finger over the hole! Dude there has got to be some strong adhesive you could use rather than chuck an expensive fuel bladder

whisper · 05 February 2013, 17:27

Its a nice one

I'll post a pic of the holes in a bit

m chappelow · 05 February 2013, 17:46

Would it fuse together using a soldering iron ,

If its not on a seam I would try use the nut & bolt with some fibre washers .

whisper · 05 February 2013, 17:50

They are in the plastic outer skin only, but if I blow it up they are leaking air.

whisper · 05 February 2013, 17:58

It's a Wilsco Fuel Bladder -Triangular 23L fuel bladder. Aussie made tough Urethane. $495.00

Rubber Ducky Inflatable Boat Repairs & Services - Accessories

PeterM · 05 February 2013, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by whisper

They are in the plastic outer skin only, but if I blow it up they are leaking air.

I'd be very very tempted to do the best possible job with a patch.patches and decent glue and see what happens.....if it holds air, try it with a couple of litres of petrol and pump up the aur pressure to it...

Nothing to loose..all to gain ...if you dont want to I will..

mick · 05 February 2013, 18:12

Alex give Andrew S a call from Defender2 you never know http://www.liquitech.co.uk/

whisper · 05 February 2013, 18:35

As luck would have it I could hear something inside the tank so after a time I managed to fish it out and it's an off cut of material

Jammy or what

looking at it I think that I need to pressure test the tank first before trying to heat weld some material in.

Any ideas on how to pressure test this?

Bushrider · 05 February 2013, 18:44

simple - use the fuel adapter for the tank , a piece of fuel hose and a foot or handpump to inflate it .
If you can put a simple valve between pump and tank - good - if not look for something else to close the hose properly .
Use a spray bottle with some soap water to look for the leak .
Have´to do the samewith one of my AVON bladders ..

PeterM · 05 February 2013, 18:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by whisper

before trying to heat weld some material in.

Any ideas on how to pressure test this?

Not sure you'll ever heat weld it ...I'd think glue would be the only way to patch it.

And to pump it up use a foot pump with some suitable attachment to the exit hose.....somehow , maybe ?

Tim M · 05 February 2013, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterM

Not sure you'll ever heat weld it ...I'd think glue would be the only way to patch it.

And to pump it up use a foot pump with some suitable attachment to the exit hose.....somehow , maybe ?

Wouldn't glue just break down very quickly with petrol in contact? Fortunately, my hole is not on a seam so I'm going to attempt the bolt and large washer idea, maybe with a bit of sikaflex for good luck.