Grey waste tank repair

[GeoffC]

I noticed water dripping from the corner of the grey waste tank on my Bavaria i740. The tank is mounted quite low and is completely exposed. When driving on the motorway I hit what looked like part of a bumper which clattered about underneath the van as I passed over it. Whether this was the cause of the damage or not I can't be sure. However there is a chip about the size of a 5p piece taken out of the bottom corner of the tank. As a temp measure I have covered it with some gaffer tape, but with it being the corner it hasn't taken that well. The tank appears to be made out of some sort of hard plastic. Can anyone recommend a decent plastic repair kit, preferably one that doesn't involve welding although if that's the best method I will give it a go. On the plus side, I wont have to empty the grey waste, until its fixed as it will be permanently empty (joke)

 

[Landy Andy]

Do you have an access hole into the tank?

I do on my van and the could repair from inside.

 

[GeoffC]

I'm not sure. I will investigate tomorrow. The tank is under the area where the kitchen is so I may be able to get to it with drawers removed (kitchen ones not mine)

 

[Stealaway]

Ooops

 

[Stealaway]

I doubt you can access it from inside the van. The tank and inspection cap is totally under the van

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[MattR]

I noticed water dripping from the corner of the grey waste tank on my Bavaria i740. The tank is mounted quite low and is completely exposed. When driving on the motorway I hit what looked like part of a bumper which clattered about underneath the van as I passed over it. Whether this was the cause of the damage or not I can't be sure. However there is a chip about the size of a 5p piece taken out of the bottom corner of the tank. As a temp measure I have covered it with some gaffer tape, but with it being the corner it hasn't taken that well. The tank appears to be made out of some sort of hard plastic. Can anyone recommend a decent plastic repair kit, preferably one that doesn't involve welding although if that's the best method I will give it a go. On the plus side, I wont have to empty the grey waste, until its fixed as it will be permanently empty (joke)

Would fibreglass work? Panel repair stuff from Halford's should do a decent job if you can get it to hold onto the plastic surface.

I have used mastic sealant to fill a hole on my grey waste tank.

 

[Jamesh]

What about epoxy repair putty. (Chemical metal)

Many years ago I remember my dad fixing an original mini fuel tank with the stuff!

Cheers James

 

[TheBig1]

The only successful way to repair a hole in a water tank, especially the waste tank, is to take it off the vehicle and use the inspection hatch to build up a weld from inside using rods after cleaning thoroughly. 2 part epoxy appears to work, then lets go later. I did one temporary repair using sikaflex to bond on a piece of plastic over a split. That lasted a few months till the crack continued

 

[Landy Andy]

I have an inspection hole in the base of my grey tank, and if you do I’d be tempted to glue something on the inside of the tank over the hole. Possibly use rubber washer on bolt and penny washers if in flat area, or even a tyre repair mushroom glued with a good sealer such as sikaflex, tigerseal, or CT1. That way the pressure of the contents will help seal rather than against it. Let’s be honest it doesn’t need to be 100% guaranteed repaired as is only grey, not fuel.

 

[alex n]

Flash band or Gorilla parch & seal black tape

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[NicM]

Before you repair it make sure the hole has nice clean edge to it so it won’t crack/split again.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Patch and seal tape, works on boats so should sort you broken tank

 

[Badknee]

My lad used this successfully on his fuel tank.

Evo-stik Hard & Fast Metal Epoxy Putty | Halfords UK

Shop the latest Evo-stik Hard & Fast Metal Epoxy Putty easy to mix steel reinforced epoxy putty dries in 10 minutes at Halfords UK

www.halfords.com

 

[cmcardle75]

I once successfully repaired a US grey water tank from an RV using a high power gas soldering iron and some thick plastic waste, rather than the pristine filler rod I should have used. However, I did drop the tank off first so I could see what I was doing and so that gravity could help, and did try to match the plastic (can't remember if it was HDPE or PP etc., but the "filler" used was chosen to match). It did the trick and never leaked again. The "crack", if you can call such a wide split a crack, was in the 3 inch outlet, rather than a corner, which probably made it harder. I'd have just replaced the tank in preference, but getting hold of an exact match for a 1978 Winnebago was unlikely to be successful. If it is an actual crack, be sure to "stop drill" it, or the repair will be temporary,

 

[PP Bear]

I shattered my waste pipe over a hidden bump in long grass and tore it clean off. Mines the same hard grey plastic.

I cut up some old piping and used this to seal it. Brilliant stuff and made for the exact job and really does seal the tank and pipes tight.

FloPlast SC250 Solvent Cement 250ml - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Chemically bonds certain types of plastic coving or trunking. For use with solvent weld waste products. Can achieve up to 55 joints per tub. Supplied with brush applicator. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

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[Lenny HB]

The tank is probably polypropylene most are, the only successful way of repairing is to plastic weld. You can by plactic welding guns & kits on line just do a lot of practice before attacking the tank.

 

[Diabalo]

You need to ascertain what type of plastic it is as there are many, I expect it will be polypropylene like they use to make canoes, then you can source the correct glue to fill the hole. It's difficult to give advice without a picture but if it's the corner I would find a container made of of the same/similar plastic cut the corner off like a suitcase corner and use that to reinforce the repair.

Best of luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[Gellyneck]

Not used it myself but was chatting to another motorhomer a couple of years ago who had done something similar and ended up with a crack in his grey waste tank. Do know the shape \ location \ size but he said he had a successful fix with this.

PlasticBonderBlkSyr | JB-Weld

www.jb-weld.co.uk

You might be able to form a shape out of thin polyprop and glue it on as a patch with it?

 

[GeoffC]

I'm very grateful for all the advice received. However I may have wasted your time as there has been a development. I've been down to the storage depot for a proper look underneath. I can only assume that some sort of a cap or bung has fell out or been knocked off. I need to find something suitable to put in or fix in place. I'm looking for a rubber bung or nylon screw which I could put in with some form of mastic

 

[NicM]

Measure it and get a Rubber blanking Grommet, stick in with some glue​

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[Diabalo]

Is the inside of the hole threaded?

 

[PP Bear]

 

[jezport]

Milliput will work perfectly. I have used it on a compressor outlet subject to 100PSI, exhausts, shower trays, and washing machines.

 

[bigalw35]

Measure the hole diameter, you can obtain what is called a “blind grommet” (electrical) they are 20, 25, 32mm pop one in and seal it in with silicone, good luck

 

[Leisure man]

I noticed water dripping from the corner of the grey waste tank on my Bavaria i740. The tank is mounted quite low and is completely exposed. When driving on the motorway I hit what looked like part of a bumper which clattered about underneath the van as I passed over it. Whether this was the cause of the damage or not I can't be sure. However there is a chip about the size of a 5p piece taken out of the bottom corner of the tank. As a temp measure I have covered it with some gaffer tape, but with it being the corner it hasn't taken that well. The tank appears to be made out of some sort of hard plastic. Can anyone recommend a decent plastic repair kit, preferably one that doesn't involve welding although if that's the best method I will give it a go. On the plus side, I wont have to empty the grey waste, until its fixed as it will be permanently empty (joke)

Have you seen this?? Good luck.

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[Leisure man]

Have you seen this?? Good luck.

Fixits.com

 

[MikeManning]

Hi GeoffC from another i740 owner.

I have used SUGRU for many repairs and modifications situations and, providing the surface is clean and free of any form of oil/grease etc, it is a fantastic solution to many problems. It is a One Part Flexible Adhesive filler that sets 'almost' completely hard but has a certain amount of flex to it when set.
EVERY home should have some.......just as every home should have a tube of Shoe Goo.

New and improved Sugru super formula

The benefits of original formula + family friendly formula = the best Sugru ever!

sugru.com

and...

SHOE GOO (109.4ml) The BIG ONE!

It's back in stock.... The RC Car Racer's Best friend. Repairing car bodies is just ONE of the many things that you can do with this amazing glue. Flexible, clear when set and very strong!

ymctestdomain.ymcracing.co.uk

Hope this helps.

Mike

 

[mitzimad]

as that is tubed upwards are you sure it wasnt a vent or overflow ? possibly lost a grill or filter?n only way to tell now is ask for another owner to confirm whats on theirs

 

[Dave Scadding]

I noticed water dripping from the corner of the grey waste tank on my Bavaria i740. The tank is mounted quite low and is completely exposed. When driving on the motorway I hit what looked like part of a bumper which clattered about underneath the van as I passed over it. Whether this was the cause of the damage or not I can't be sure. However there is a chip about the size of a 5p piece taken out of the bottom corner of the tank. As a temp measure I have covered it with some gaffer tape, but with it being the corner it hasn't taken that well. The tank appears to be made out of some sort of hard plastic. Can anyone recommend a decent plastic repair kit, preferably one that doesn't involve welding although if that's the best method I will give it a go. On the plus side, I wont have to empty the grey waste, until its fixed as it will be permanently empty (joke)

Fibreglass ready mixed (add hardener) is the best option, try to rough the area first to achieve better key.

 

[Superpete]

evo stik "sticks like sh.t turbo acting adhesive. Works on wet and dry parts. I have used this and would recommend it.