Jerry Can Experts

Here is a pic of one of my cans. It fell out of the jeep a few months back and apparently this is the result. Any suggested fix or just trash it?

 

Hard to tell…. Is it leaking? If it is I’d trash it if not it should be fine with a little dent and some road rash.

 

It's worth a few bucks as a storage box. Most of the fuel tank liners will seal it up if it is or does leak.

 

"'Tis but a scratch."

Tap out the wrinkle with a small hammer. Flush the can thoroughly with detergent. Solder the leak. Dry. Paint.

Jerry cans are valuable in my estimation, specially if it is GI. I have a number that are far worse.

 

As you can see it leaks. Not profusely but some as you can see the stain. The more jostling it leaks. Just sitting there not so much.

 

I was thinking the same clean and muggyWeld it. But that still involves flame. I guess try solder first.

 

Be super extra cautious about gasoline fumes, even traces brought out by the heat.

 

I would clean it out with detergent and real hot water until you can't smell any gas and braze it or torch weld it, flash it first, if starts to whistle, RUN.

 

JB weld for gas cans.

https://www.amazon.com/J-B-Weld-211...ocphy=1028202&hvtargid=pla-568351624702&psc=1

 

I have zero experience, but somebody explained how they cut up old fuel tanks, etc, by merely running exhaust through a hose into the tank, removing oxygen, which apparently (hopefully) eliminating any chance of explosion. I wasn’t convinced, but would like to hear any comment on this ‘brilliant’ idea. Does it actually work?

 

I wouldn't try it based on my experience with mufflers and raw fuel. Seems there is plenty of free o2 in a muffler to make it split wide open.

Hot water and dish soap would get my vote. You should drain the sediment out of your household water heater anyway so now's a good time to do that with a 5gal jug.

 

Agree. I've blown up a few mufflers. I have used compressed CO2 to cut a propane tank, but no guarantees from me. YMMV.

Soap and water has always worked for me. So far....

 

I've used the JB Weld stuff successfully. It looks goofy but it is holding up well.

 

Looks better than any of my jerry cans. If there is a hole, you could put some duct tape on the outside to act as a dam, and then use por-15 to seal the leak from the inside.

 

My electrical theory instructor told a story when he was a young man with a model A with a gas tank leak, he thought it would be a good idea to fix the hole with a welder. He emptied the tank and grounded and made the first contact and spark and boom. Fixed the hole and made room for two more gallons of gas in the tank….lol