Augusta fuel tank

[Niels Jonassen]

A friend has asked me if I know anyone who can help him with a fuel tank. The tank in his Belna is leaking through a number of rust holes in the bottom. I have suggested that he has a new tank made, but it will of course be much easier if there is a tank available somewhere.

[Kari]

I suggest to open the tank at the bottom and go from there. My tank had a repair many decades ago but was still rusting inside. I have removed the repair sheet and cleaned the inside. Soldered pin holes at the bottom of the float tube.

Not so easy to make a new tank. Float tube, baffles etc.

Regards  Karl

[DavidLaver]

Am trying to puzzle it out.

Is it closed with rivets then soldered to seal?

[Kari]

The petrol tank had a repair probably in the late 1940's. The angled sheet on the left is a repair sheet which was riveted to the bottom and the rear of the tank and sealed by soft solder. About 15 years ago I had an annoying leak at a baffle attachment rivet at the front of the tank. But only whe I opened up the tank, the mess came visible. I then removed more corroded metal, cleaned the inside and riveted the whole lot together with copper pop rivets, which I got from the local plumber. Sealing was done again by soft-soldering. While the tank was open I have removed the fine mesh above the petrol outlet, which collected much dirt and restricted the flow of petrol. Instead of, I use a fine mesh on top of the glas bowl.
A spot to watch is the bottom of the float tube. There, water from condensation can pool and cause corrosion. When the tank is installed in the car, the repair is not visible.

I think the corrosion started when the car was standing in a damp place during war time without any petrol in the tank. Condensation then led to the damage.

Regards  Karl

[DavidLaver]

Just looked up copper pop rivets.  New to me.  Says used for roofing and gutters etc.

[Kari]

Exactly, for riveting gutters etc. Can be sealed by solder.

Karl