Fuel leak leads to addtional problems

johnl Slammed & Awesome Dubber

75 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 17 Apr 2010, 2:34 pm

#773617

My wife's 68 beetle had the smell of fuel so I had a quick look underneath and noticed a slight drip from under the fuel tank just near the outlet pipe. I touched it and it then turned into a slow trickle. ANYWAYS, I drained the fuel out and removed the tank as it will need to be fixed.

Question 1 - will this require someone special to repair the tank? I live on the Central Coast.

When I pulled the tank out, I noticed that the one of the pipes leading from the brake fluid container to the master cylinder had a damaged plug into the MS (please excuse me if I am getting TOO technical).

This first image shows the pipe at the back which is fine.

Question 2 - can I get one of these from Repco or somewhere else or do I need to source one from a VW place? I have enclosed some pics so you can see what I mean.

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johnl Slammed & Awesome Dubber

75 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 17 Apr 2010, 2:41 pm

#773620

This image shows the seal that is not damaged. Looks all nice and snug.

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johnl Slammed & Awesome Dubber

75 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 17 Apr 2010, 2:45 pm

#773622

The one shows the damaged one. It was just hanging out when I noticed the problem. Do I need to buy the whole connection from the seal to the reservoir? Not that that is an issue.

I guess I then need to bleed the brakes? Also do I need to clean out the MS if petrol has maybe leaked in? I assume that the petrol leak caused the damage.

Thanks for any guidance that you can provide,

John

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clinker42 Officially Full-On Dubber

381 posts · joined Aug 2008 · 17 Apr 2010, 6:17 pm

#773646

John

Repairing the tank can be problematic, is it a pin hole. Holes are normally caused by rust from the inside, they can be soldered for a repair but sometimes the repair is a failure as the rust just comes through somewhere else. You can get some professional tank repair systems from some panel beater supply shops. You do you repair then add a cleaner into the tank, swirl it around and then follow by a special sealer.

Maybe look at a new tank from someone like Classic Veedub or Vintage. I myself have given up these types of repairs (your M/S as well) because you can buy new parts for a little more than the cost of a repair.

Trev

http://www.classicveedub.com.au/SpareParts/parts_results.asp?Item_Code=1&Parts_Category=brake_system
http://www.classicveedub.com.au/SpareParts/Parts_Results.asp

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 17 Apr 2010, 9:06 pm

#773687

The master cylinder connectors and plugs are available from various VW suppliers,possibly the guys who bought Walkers Of WoyWoy may still have a bit of stock.
If you decide to get the tank repaired take it to a radiator specialist.

johnl Slammed & Awesome Dubber

75 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 18 Apr 2010, 2:03 pm

#773770

Took the tank to a mates place and he soldered it up and also put a metal piece over the leak to reseal it. Looks to be rust but was only a small hole. Looks to have been repaired previously.

As for the MS part, will ring a guy at Tuggerah tomorrow to see if he can source one. A mechanic called Peter O'Toole.

I don't think I need the whole pipe fixtures, just the bit that slot into the MS and the small rubber hose that pugs into the main feeder pipe.

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ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 · 18 Apr 2010, 6:52 pm

#773807

looks like your brake master cylinder has seen better days and If that was my car and I was fond of the person driveing it🥲
🥲 I would buy a new master cylinder and get the rest of the brakes checked to.🙅
take the tank to a Radiator Place to see if is worth trying to repair or just buy a new one from Vintage veedub

😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 18 Apr 2010, 7:19 pm

#773810

johnl wrote:The one shows the damaged one. It was just hanging out when I noticed the problem. Do I need to buy the whole connection from the seal to the reservoir? Not that that is an issue.

I guess I then need to bleed the brakes? Also do I need to clean out the MS if petrol has maybe leaked in? I assume that the petrol leak caused the damage.

Thanks for any guidance that you can provide,

John

Hi John,

Yes You can get the fuel tank repaired...
there are special kits for this....
water usually stays at the bottom of the tank..

I personally would get the master cylinder resleeved with a stainless steel sleeve and a kit put in it...
and new plugs on the top...
so it will be like new...
or You can buy a new one..

the blue brake hose is special... available from all VW shops..
so the pipes can be re used...

don't buy anything from repco auto one etc...

cheers

Lee

VW shops only...

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johnl Slammed & Awesome Dubber

75 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 21 Apr 2010, 8:27 am

#774244

I got a new hose from the guy at West Gosford - Peter Korsche (excuse the spelling) it was a blue hose. Fitted it with a few hassles. I took the rubber seal off the plastic plug and fitted it into the MS. I then slid the plastic plug in. All nice a snug. Had a little trouble with the hose fitting onto the oval inlet tube from the petrol tank itself. At one end the hose is round, at the other end it needs to fit to the oval part of the petrol tank. Is this a special hose - as in round one end and oval the other - or is it a round one squeezed on to fit?

As for the brakes being checked, Peter went over them a while ago and I had a bit of work done so that is all good.

Cheers,

John

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johnl Slammed & Awesome Dubber

75 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 21 Apr 2010, 7:42 pm

#774369

Do I need to put some kind of sealant on the hose that connects to the fuel tank to stop any leaks? I am having trouble getting the hose on snugly so I am going to buy a new hose on the weekend and fit it. Would just like to know about the sealant and what I should use? Seems a silly design to have an oval end on the fuel tank and a round end at the other end.....

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71-BEETLE-SEDAN AKA Josh

1,058 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 21 Apr 2010, 7:49 pm

#774370

i dont know bout the shape but some quality hose clamps like the ones that actually have a bolt clamping not a screw thread runiing on a strip of steel if that makes sense.l

johnl Slammed & Awesome Dubber

75 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 21 Apr 2010, 8:23 pm

#774372

71-BEETLE-SEDAN wrote:i dont know bout the shape but some quality hose clamps like the ones that actually have a bolt clamping not a screw thread runiing on a strip of steel if that makes sense.l

What about some sort of sealant? Does your beetle have the oval shaped bit on the tank?

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71-BEETLE-SEDAN AKA Josh

1,058 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 21 Apr 2010, 8:26 pm

#774374

I cant remeber, i had the tank out recently but yeah, i think it may have been bent out of shape, got any pics you can post

beetleboyjeff Custom Title Time!

1,790 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 21 Apr 2010, 8:43 pm

#774378

Do you mean the outlet for the fuel line, or to the filler cap?

I am pretty sure both of mine are round. I may have my tank out in the next week or so - I will have a look.

From your ole' mate Jeff

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 21 Apr 2010, 8:47 pm

#774380

johnl wrote:Had a little trouble with the hose fitting onto the oval inlet tube from the petrol tank itself. At one end the hose is round, at the other end it needs to fit to the oval part of the petrol tank. Is this a special hose - as in round one end and oval the other - or is it a round one squeezed on to fit?

Cheers,

John

AS far as i know John the hose is a special one... I know later models had a round pipe on both ends.. [1971]

You don't need any sealant on the hose...

You can use a bit of petroleum jelly [vaseline] on the fuel tank to help push the hose on...
it will dissolve in the petrol anyway....

cheers

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

johnl Slammed & Awesome Dubber

75 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 21 Apr 2010, 9:04 pm

#774389

beetleboyjeff wrote:Do you mean the outlet for the fuel line, or to the filler cap?

I am pretty sure both of mine are round. I may have my tank out in the next week or so - I will have a look.

The filler cap end it is round (where the fuel goes in from the bowser), where the rubber pipe joins the petrol tank, that is oval. It is not bent out of shape, that is the shape it is. I can't find an image on google. Has anyone else seen the one I have?

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68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 22 Apr 2010, 12:56 am

#774427

johnl wrote:The filler cap end it is round (where the fuel goes in from the bowser), where the rubber pipe joins the petrol tank, that is oval. It is not bent out of shape, that is the shape it is. I can't find an image on google. Has anyone else seen the one I have?

Hi
Mine is the same...

I have never seen one for sale anywhere... CIP1 etc..

the later ones are round both ends which makes getting a hose MUch easier....

I placed two hose clamps on each end....

was very difficult getting the tank back in....

never want to do it again...
or I'll have to replace it with a later round hose etc...
I have a later round one...

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

johnl Slammed & Awesome Dubber

75 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 22 Apr 2010, 7:38 am

#774442

68AutoBug wrote:
johnl wrote:The filler cap end it is round (where the fuel goes in from the bowser), where the rubber pipe joins the petrol tank, that is oval. It is not bent out of shape, that is the shape it is. I can't find an image on google. Has anyone else seen the one I have?

Hi
Mine is the same...

I have never seen one for sale anywhere... CIP1 etc..

Lee,

thanks mate, at least I am not going mad....

Edit - the guy from vintage Vee-Dib informs me that it is a round hose on both ends. Will have to go the double clamp.

John

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