Help with gasoline resistant plastic???

[Hendu3270]

Hey guys, I was working on my boys gokart this morning and needed to drain and clean the gas tank. In doing so, I broke the small plastic fitting that screws into the bottom of the tank. The other end of this fitting has a nipple that fits into the fuel line and runs into the carb. This is a Harbor Freight 6.5hp engine and I'm not messing with ordering a part through HF. From what I've heard it take forever. The more I look at this fitting, I'm pretty sure I can create one on the lathe. My question is what material should I use to make this part? Something that won't be affected by gasoline and that I can obtain a rod that is 3/4" diameter. Thoughts??

 

[plantman]

Chris; Take your fitting to a well stocked hardware store (Ace) or anyone that does small engine rerair, they should have one on the shelf !! Jim S

 

[Mr Vic]

Chris...How about a piece of brass. it can be turned and tapped if needed on a wood lathe. Less chance of it's breaking next tie around....

 

[frank123]

You can probably find something at an auto parts store that will work. If not, any fitting made from polyethylene or nylon -usually meaning about anything you'll find at any hardware or building supply store for any kind of water hookup for refrigerators and water filters and such that use poly tubes with barb fittings- will work if you can adapt it to fit.

Brass would also be a good choice, all kinds of fuel fittings have been made from brass for as long as there have been gasoline engines and I imagine aluminum would work as well.

If you want to make one from scratch you can make it from HDPE, Delrin, or Nylon and it will work, Delrin probably being the easiest to machine. I don't think PVC would work, but I've never tried it for anything resembling gasoline and it usually isn't used on small fittings to the extent nylon and HDPE are..

You might try finding a ready made fitting that can be re-machined to suit your purposes if you can't find one for a direct substitute.

 

[switch62]

Got a list from the internet, some information a little conflicting. Summary as follows,

HDPE, Nylon, PET, UHMU are all good at low temperatures less than 100 F.
Some of these may degrade over time and/or higher temperatures.

PVDF (Kynar) is good up to 250 F. No degradation.

PTFE (Teflon) is resistant to everything. Not sure about temperature.

At 3/4" dia, brass might be expensive. Aluminium maybe ?

 

[thebillofwrites]

I will go along with the previous mention of using delrin.
I have made fittings similar to what you are describing.
Gasoline had no effect on it at all.

Bill

 

[Monty]

I've got some delrin rod. I'll give you a piece if you want to come by and pick it up. I'll PM you mu number.

 

[Hendu3270]

I've got some delrin rod. I'll give you a piece if you want to come by and pick it up. I'll PM you mu number.

Thanks for the offer Mannie. Ordered some last night. Been needing it to make some better holders for my customs anyways. For some reason I was thinking this stuff would be more expensive.

Also gonna take Jim's (Plantman) advice and run by Ace and see if they have a match before I make it.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Monty]

I've got some delrin rod. I'll give you a piece if you want to come by and pick it up. I'll PM you mu number.

Thanks for the offer Mannie. Ordered some last night. Been needing it to make some better holders for my customs anyways. For some reason I was thinking this stuff would be more expensive.

Also gonna take Jim's (Plantman) advice and run by Ace and see if they have a match before I make it.

Thanks for the help guys.

If Ace doesn't have it, drop by O'Day hardware. They have a great supply of brass fittings (I otta know, I work there Wednesday through Friday).

 

[Hendu3270]

I've got some delrin rod. I'll give you a piece if you want to come by and pick it up. I'll PM you mu number.

Thanks for the offer Mannie. Ordered some last night. Been needing it to make some better holders for my customs anyways. For some reason I was thinking this stuff would be more expensive.

Also gonna take Jim's (Plantman) advice and run by Ace and see if they have a match before I make it.

Thanks for the help guys.

If Ace doesn't have it, drop by O'Day hardware. They have a great supply of brass fittings (I otta know, I work there Wednesday through Friday).

Ahh, good to know. Was in O'Day hardware fairly often back when we lived in Westlake Residential apartments before buying our house 8 or 9 years ago. I'll have check it out.