General Boards > Technical Support
Air Tank Replacement
Bill Drout:
Does anyone have information on where to get a replacement air tank? The tank on my 98 Patriot has rusted out. This is a divided tank with a check valve in between the two sides, so it's not just a matter of finding a tank with the same dimensions.
Has anyone else had to have their air tank replaced?
Mike Shumack:
You can get an "Air reservoir" tank here https://www.anythingtruck.com/category/htp-brake-air-tank.html or https://www.truckspring.com/heavy-duty-truck-parts/brake-and-wheel-parts/air-tanks.aspx or order one from your local truck parts store. You will probably need to call these guys and ask about a "split tank". That style is harder to find. You may have to consider getting two smaller tanks that will fit in the same space and just tie them together externally.
Don't worry about trying to find a split tank with an "internal check valve".
If you just get a split tank (two separate tank sections in one tank) you can tie the two sections together externally with an in-line check valve between them (that's what the "tank instructions" say to do if the internal check valve fails).
BTW - if your tank rusted out that indicates your getting water in the air system. Do you drain the air tanks regularly? Do you have an Air Dryer on your coach (if not, consider adding one)?
NEW -- here's a split tank (you didn't provide any dimensions so no way to know if this fits - but it shows that "split tanks" are still available) https://www.wheelerfleet.com/product/air-tank/104302
Bill Drout:
Hi Mike,
Thanks for that information. Great to know that someone still has them.
The leak was just a pinhole at the very bottom of the tank. We cleaned up the exterior of the tank and tried MIG welding a little bead over the pinhole but only succeeded in making the hole bigger. Same thing with oxy-acetylene. Impurities (probably rust from inside the tank) kept giving us leaks. Then we cleaned all of that stuff off and tried JB Weld, and that seemed to work pretty well. In the process I found more fitting leaks and fixed them, so (for the time, at least) it appears that the system has integrity. The system holds pressure when shut down much longer than it used to.
It's my first time using JB Weld. I was skeptical at first, but I'm pretty impressed. My friend says the fix is "permanent" (as much as anything is in this world). I'm inclined to agree. My friend used JB weld 40 years ago on a fitting in an engine and it's still holding. Just wondering if anyone else has ever used JB Weld in this way and what their experience has been.
I will get the dimensions for the tank and post them here in case they are helpful to someone else.
Thanks again for everyone's help! I feel like I'm taking more than I'm giving on the forum right now, but I want that to change one day.
Lee Welbanks:
Bill
Air tanks that have water or have had water in them basically cannot be welded because when you try and weld all you end up doing is pulling the crap from the other side caused by the heat of the welding. Been there done that, replace the tank is the only cure, I have even tried to use a plate and weld it over the area, best is to replace the tank.
As far a the JB weld goes it's hit and miss I've used it and had some good and bad, one of Murphy's main laws is that JB weld will blow out in the middle of Montana on I-90 60 miles from nowhere on a Sunday.
Gerald Farris:
Bill,
The JB Weld "may" hold for the life of the tank, but that is probably a much shorter life expectancy than you want because of the internal rust. In my opinion, you are on borrowed time with that tank, and even if the JB Weld holds in the original location, and that is suspect, the tank has other rusty spots inside that will start leaking sooner or later. I would replace the tank and address the water issue that caused the original rust issue. You need to either install an air drier (many 96 to 98 Patriot and Monterey coaches did not come with one), or service the one that you have. You do not want water in your air system because of icing lines or valves in the winter and rust issues like you have.
Gerald
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