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.

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

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

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&...
http://www.classicveedub.com.au/SpareParts/Parts_Results.asp 

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.

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.

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

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

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.....

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

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

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.