black tank repair

[mandolinplucker]

I am in the process of restoring a 1968 Avion slide in camper. It is small and easy to park, and all that I need for a weekend bluegrass festival. It has a small black water tank that is leaking. The tank is made of fiberglass and the outlet from the tank is non threaded abs ( black 3" pipe) that is glassed into the tank. The leak seems to be between the fiberglass and the abs. There is only 1 1/2' to 2" of the abs sticking out of the tank to attach to. My thought was to attach an abs coupler to the pipe and fiberglass from the fg tank and over the coupler then put a male end dump valve flange to the other side of the coupler. that would encapsulate the leak.  I know the fg resin and mat will bond to the tank but will it bond to the abs coupler. Or will epoxy resin bond to both of them?  I have so little material to work with I have one shot at fixing it.Thanks for any information.

[TomCat]

A small black tank is cheap to buy, and ends any further work on it.

Black tank repair is WAAAAAY down on my list of favorite chores.

Maybe look here...  http://www.tank-depot.com/browse.aspx?id=9

Jay
87 SaftLiner

[Stan]

I would try to eliminate the ABS/fiberglass joint by removing the existing pipe and installing a fibreglass 3" threaded flange, fiberglassed to the tank.  Then go to ABS in your choice of fittings. Google fibreglass pipe fittings to find a suitable flange.

[H3Jim]

I think Stan has the right idea. 

Or another idea is to try a fiberglass smooth flange, then just use a rubber coupling from home depot to connect the plastic to the new fiberglass flange.

[tekebird]

Fiberglass should adhear to the ABS...with appropriate sanding of the ABS.

If you go to a marine store they make a putty type two part epoxy that would also do the fix...although not really a pretty way to do it.

[mandolinplucker]

Thanks. This thing has been a PIA. Had to replace a bunch of rotten wood,water heater, some wireing, lots of  frozen copper water tubing leaks,water pump,ect. It's been a fun project and having something to work on keeps me busy and out of trouble. I thought that I was finally finished but I knew I would probably have to replace the old dump valve. I was dismayed to find that the tank fitting was leaking worse than the valve.  I don't mind buying a new tank but getting the old one out would mean a lots of work that I would like to avoid. I can get to the place that needs repair without dissassembling the whole bathroom (again). I am going to do a lot of prep work to get to good material so everything will bond and hope for the best. If that won't work I guess it's time for a new tank. Thanks again for the info.

[JohnEd]

Man,

I've been there.....remove the ABS and install a fiberglass flange and rubber sewer pipe coupler.  In my experience ABS did not bond to resin but then there two kinds of resin.  On the other hand...Take is savvy and my experience is dated.

I had a leak in my S&S quite a few years back.  I didn't know exactly how to tackle it and went down to the repair shop behind the RV "store".  The shop and store were separated by 50 yards.  The shop forman was enthusiastically helpful and accommodating.  He walked me through the repair process and pulled used and "new" materials from shop stores and handed them to me.  When he finished I asked how much I owed him and he cheerfully answered "Nothing!  Not one dime."  I responded with an incredulous "Thank You Very Much" and he said "No, Sir.  Thank YOU very much".  I said "Huh!".   He added "For doing that job your own self and NOT bringing it in here".   Some people you just gotta remember....no choice.

Have fun with your project and know that every shop in the nation is pulling for ya,

John

[tekebird]

to types of resion are epoxy and polyester.

the type of putty two part will bond to pretty much anything......they make several types....some of which will even bond underwater.

Probability of sucess with this type of adheasive is very very high and you'll be done in 20 minuttes and will cost you less than 15.00