Sounds like an idea may be to melt a couple whole jugs and having a pot full
of liquid plastic, and dipping the offending float into it, thus coating the
entire thing...
Just an idea, and I'm unsure how to do it in the first place- but there's
always someone who does...
Scott
----- Original Message -----
From: "Howard Baugues" <bauguesh@abcs.com>
To: "Atwell Haines" <karbuff@optonline.net>
Cc: "Ree Gurley" <reegurley@mindspring.com>; "Douglas Frank"
<frank@zk3.dec.com>; "Spitfire List" <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2001 7:40 PM
Subject: Re: can a gas tank float be salvaged?
>
> While I have not tried this specific repair, I can add some help to this
thread,
> as I have worked in the plastics industry for over 22 years, and I work in
the
> research & development department. The float is made out of a HDPE (high
density
> polyethylene). A coffee can lid is LDPE (low density) and will not bond
well with
> HD. More common uses of HDPE are milk jugs and washer solvent or
antifreeze jugs.
> I would recommend using the washer solvent or antifreeze jug as a donor
patch as
> they should be more chemically resistant. I have used a soldering iron to
melt HD
> enough to bond well for other projects and have used an old spoon to push
the two
> together when it was hot. Do this all the way around the hole and let
cool, dunk
> in water to check for leaks. If none, you are ready to re-install. If
there is a
> leak, drain and remelt.
> Good luck,
>
> Howard Baugues
> R&D Associate
> Cadillac Products Packaging Company
>
>
>
> Atwell Haines wrote:
>
> > At 01:30 PM 3/12/2001 -0600, Ree Gurley wrote:
> >
> > >Douglas, Try the web site www.rdent.com. That is a Lotus outfit just
north
> > >of Philadelphia; Ray P. (a very nice guy & quite responsive) sells the
> > >floats for about $8.00 plus $4.00 shipping. [I tried fixing mine a
while
> > >ago, but wasn't too successful, so I ordered two (1 for a spare).] If
all
> > >else fails, let me know & I'll send you my spare; it is barrel-shaped &
> > >about the size of 35mm film cartridge.
> > >
> > >Cheers, Ree Gurley in Silver Spring, MD - 78 Spit FM73070U O
> >
> > I drilled the hole, emptied the old float, and re-sealed it. Looked as
if
> > it would be OK.
> >
> > I was heartbroken to find it filling up again a couple months later. I
got
> > my replacement float from RD also.
> >
> > So, my advice is to save time and replace the darn thing -- it should
last
> > at least twenty more years!
> >
> > Atwell Haines
> > '79 Spitfire
> > Succasunna, NJ USA
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