Fuel Tank Straps

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I had a stainless steel fuel tank strap break on me. Since I only have three, and a full tank of fuel, I drove 35 miles at 10 - 15 mph and idleing over bumps!Here's what a good one looks like.This is the one that broke next to the weld.This one is starting to crack next to the weld.I think this is total BS. These things SHOULD NOT BREAK! Now I will place the blame on the manufacturer because two bad ones on one truck is just not right. AND, I will blame the POS politicians in IL because they are too busy being corrupt bastards, and not repairing the roads like they're susposed to.It cost me $375.00 to replace the two bad ones!"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:The failure mode you're showing is another good reason for the use of doubler plates.Blackbird
Reply:Thank god you found it when you did..That could be a LOT worse!!!!...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by dave powelsonThe failure mode you're showing is another good reason for the use of doubler plates.
Reply:Don't feel bad, a buddy of mine went over a pot hole here in MD with his 1991 F350 diesel dump truck.  Truck started running like crap, decided to turn around to head back to shop, truck dies in middle of street.  He looks 200' up the street to see his 30 gallon diesel tank laying in the road and fuel pouring out of it.  Ended up having MDE, fire dept, police, towing company, etc. to clean up the spill.  All the fuel went right into a drain and down into a run off pond over a mile away.  He never did find out what it ended up costing, but his insurance company just loves him. Lincoln 300 Vantage 2008300 Commander 1999SA250 1999SA200 1968Miller Syncrowave 200XMT350MPA/S-52E/xr-15Xtreme 12vs Millermatic 251 w/30A  Millermatic 251 Dialarc 250 Hypertherm 1250 GEKA & Bantom Ironwokers
Reply:Someone hit our 71 Mack and ripped the 50 gal driver's side tank off while we were plowing in 36" of snow one year. We lucked out and all they did was snap the brackets and we didn't spill a drop. Raised it back up with the backhoe bucket and ran 4 2" wide nylon straps thru the cab across the floor and kept on plowing for 12 more hours..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:We had a tanker turn over a few years back. It had some kind of alchohol product in it. Instead of containing it and letting it evaporate, they had an environ company on site for 3-4 weeks! Friggin bone heads! They had full bore, lined & tarped dumpsters, soil remediation, the whole 100 yards!So like, is this faulty welds or what? That's really why I posted it here. I definately wasn't gonna say I was planning on repairing these as my first tig project!!!Last edited by Stick-man; 08-23-2011 at 11:18 PM."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:It is an additional plate that will distribute stress and allowfor the welds to be aligned--so they don't add stress, create distortion,promote cracking, etc.Weld line is red for plate to hoop attachNo welding done on either end of plateArched step pieces are welded to the doubler.The fit of the strap ID to the tank OD needs to be uniformor padding/extra wear strip added.These straps 'look' like they have some ID distortion---anddon't fit the tank well--when new. That's common. If a curved doubler is added to the strap outside, then the ID of the strap is tweakedto get as decent a fit as possible.If your new straps look like the busted ones, you'll face the same thing again.Appears there's flexing and fatigue--IOW the welds did not fail,the material cracked thru.The step attachment itself may be contributing to flexing, so it needs tobe examined. Truck steps are normally factory built-wholly inadequate.The inside fit of the strap padding, wear strip, whatever--to the tank shellis critical for strap and tank life. Use new, clean wear striping.Don't over tighten straps or the tank suffers. Thin wall tanks can actually have a slight sag in them when full. http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php...1&d=1314157323 Attached ImagesBlackbird
Reply:Good demonstration of what can happen in relationship with HAZ, material choice and/or dimensions and design to name a few.  Sometimes even the professional engineers get something wrong.  (Not saying with any certainty that this is the case.)  This is just an example of why some on this forum are very critical of some trailer and hitch designs and quality, or lack thereof, regarding welds.  How old is this truck?"The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.
Reply:Originally Posted by dave powelsonIt is an additional plate that will distribute stress and allowfor the welds to be aligned--so they don't add stress, create distortion,promote cracking, etc.Weld line is red for plate to hoop attachNo welding done on either end of plateArched step pieces are welded to the doubler.The fit of the strap ID to the tank OD needs to be uniformor padding/extra wear strip added.These straps 'look' like they have some ID distortion---anddon't fit the tank well--when new. That's common. If a curved doubler is added to the strap outside, then the ID of the strap is tweakedto get as decent a fit as possible.If your new straps look like the busted ones, you'll face the same thing again.Appears there's flexing and fatigue--IOW the welds did not fail,the material cracked thru.The step attachment itself may be contributing to flexing, so it needs tobe examined. Truck steps are normally factory built-wholly inadequate.The inside fit of the strap padding, wear strip, whatever--to the tank shellis critical for strap and tank life. Use new, clean wear striping.Don't over tighten straps or the tank suffers. Thin wall tanks can actually have a slight sag in them when full. http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php...1&d=1314157323