Pin Hol In Air tank

[Mackfire68]

I went to take the deuce out today and shortly after starting her up a pin hole developed in one of the air tanks and all the air leaked out. Against my better judgement I welded the hole shut. (Sorry no pictures, I forgot the camera and I didn't want anybody to see my poor excuse of a weld job.) The brakes seam to work without air, do the deuces need air for the brakes to work? What would happen if another leak developed while I was driving or pulling a trailer? Should I replace the air tank/tanks? Comments and suggestions please.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Toss them for safetys sake.

 

[wiggall]

If there is one. THRERE ARE MORE JUST WAITING TO POP! FTG2 Wiggles USS EDSON DD 946 1969-1973

 

[FreightTrain]

Yes.They are air assisted.Someone here did a test.Without air the brakes only had something like 300PSI pressure.With air the system had over a 1000lbs I think.That is a LOT of braking power.DO NOT keep using those tanks.You are sitting on 2 grenades.When air tanks explode they release a lot of energy and can kill.Even a small one.If they are so rusted out that a pin hole formed then they are set with a hair trigger to blow.

 

[DanMartin]

Tanks are $119 each from Saturn Surplus. Part number 7539241. Not a bad deal for peace of mind.

 

[FreightTrain]

Or you can holler at wreckerman on here.He might have some good used ones left.

 

[EZFEED]

Drain your tanks regularly and add a little oil now and then to your system.

 

[Jones]

Replace the tanks.
The problem with internal pitting is that you never know how many more trouble spots you have just ready to break through.
Even if you don't have a tank rupture in a worst case scenario; you could end up stranded without a way to fix it close to home. Having one of these babies towed home from the middle of nowhere will sure put a crimp in the day's fun-- or your finances.

 

[renovate7]

Just went thru this. Had my tanks sanblasted with the truck and left a pinhole. Using a sharp object I was able to enlarge it to 3/8" without much trouble. When I pulled the tank and looked at the inside the bottom was pretty rusty. I was going to get a used one from TNJ etc. but without someone on the other end honestly looking at the inside you may be buying what you already have. I ordered one from Saturn and they are for an A3 and WILL NOT WORK unless you get a very long drill bit and drill a hole thru the internal divider. These are 2 section tanks which I only learned about after installing it and getting no pressure on the output side. Dang lucky I didn't blow something up because the pressure releif valve and regulator are after theses tanks. I got up to 165 psi before I saw the gauge and shut it down. I'm surprised Saturn hasn't said anything about the correct application for these tanks. John Murray told me someone had recently sold a lot of A3 stuff and these tanks were part of it. He joked that finally he wasn't the one that bought the mis-fit part...I took my truck out and opened the gladhand at the rear so I had no air pressure. Found I had no brakes! Try this some time in a big open area just so you know how it feels.

 

[DanMartin]

Wow...great info Renovate7! Saturn is usually a good place to source parts, but it looks like in this case they are not the right place to look.

I'm assuming TNJ Murray has the correct tanks then?

 

[neilhendrix]

By all means get new tanks , The pin hole was a warning It could have blown out. You will have more holes for sure .Safety First !!

 

[Offroadfabworks]

 

[sermis]

I saw the aftermath of an air compressor tank that blew. Same problem with the pin a hole and welded. A piece of metal about the size if a softball went through the outside of a pickup door and almost through the interior panel.
GET RID OF THE TANKS!!!!!!!!

 

[Mackfire68]

Hey everyone, thanks for all the information. Like I said it was against my better judgement to weld the hole shut. Money is a little tight right now so I thought I could get away with it. As soon as I started to weld I ended up making bigger holes. It took me a while to get all the leaks fixed. I guess now I'm in the market for two new air tanks.

Can these be bought locally?

Are they a common civilian part or do I need to get military?

 

[renovate7]

I'm sure there are very good/like new used tanks out there for $25+-. You just need to get someone on the selling end to hold it up and look thru it to make sure it's OK. My tanks are mounted at a slight angle so the water collects in one end. 95% of the inside of my tank looked like new. It was just the very bottom at the low end that was BAD.

 

[maddawg308]

Might also want to consider adding an air dryer to your air system after the new install. Will take some work, but it will help...