6gal gas tanks

[old jim]

I am curious about the old 6 gal gas tanks. If in good shape are they still useable?
Are parts available? Anybody know of person or persons who repairs these tanks?
Mostly just curious, but now have one of them, came with an old Gregor boat.
Thanks, old jim

 

[ahicks]

Unless you are a glutton for punishment, or working with an antique you would like to preserve, a metal tank needing attention, it would very likely be replaced by a plastic one without too much thought here.

 

[matt167]

If it's clean on the inside, run it. If it's a rust bucket inside. Sell it to an outboard collector. I know there is a couple places that sell the gaskets for the Merc tanks. there might be a following for the OMC tanks

 

[QBhoy]

Love these things...but advise you stay clear of them. Must be the single biggest cause of fuel blockages on a boat. The amount of boat fuel tanks that will be full of rusty flakes off these things must be crazy.
I always use plastic now.

 

[gm280]

I guess I see things a little different then the above commenters. I just so happen to have two old OMC/Johnson metal 6 gallon gas tanks. And they are in remarkably good condition without any rust inside or out to speak of. And since they don't have any dents either, I am going to refurbish them and actually use one for my boat tank. There are very solid and don't leak and perfect for my setup. So If you own one, give it a rebuild and use it. They are good tanks. JMHO!

 

[JimS123]

I guess I see things a little different then the above commenters. I just so happen to have two old OMC/Johnson metal 6 gallon gas tanks. And they are in remarkably good condition without any rust inside or out to speak of. And since they don't have any dents either, I am going to refurbish them and actually use one for my boat tank. There are very solid and don't leak and perfect for my setup. So If you own one, give it a rebuild and use it. They are good tanks. JMHO!

+1

If the old tank is rusty on the inside, throw it away. If its rusty on the outside, spray it with some Rustreformer and call it good. Parts are available for all of them (gaskets, O-rings, etc.) so if they are taken care of they will last forever. They are self-venting, so they are environmentally friendly as well.

The plastic tanks expand and contract with temperature. The gauges suck. Eventually they seep at the fittings, and not really repairable,

Personally I have thrown away 6 year old plastic tanks, while i still run a metal one from 1952. Do the math. I admit the oldie was rebuilt with new gaskets and hose, but the cost of that was less than a new tank.

If you like plastic, go with it, but don't say metal is no good.

 

[QBhoy]

Ok. Maybe I’m thinking of the wrong thing. If you mean an outboard remote tank, then yeah if it’s good use it.
If you mean what I thought and a Jerry can like they used to have on old army jeeps, they are known to throw flakes of metal and rust through your fuel system. Often hard to see what condition they are in internally

 

[roscoe]

I disposed of or repurposed all the portable plastic tanks I had.

They make great oil drain pans, and parts washing trays.

I have 4 metal Merc and OMC tanks from the 70's and 80's that work well and don't leave a gas spill in the boat.

 

[SkaterRace]

Can't speak to the metal ones but the plastic suck, they leak and generally are a pain in the ass. I used to use them but now the new boat has a built in one, will never go back unless I go to a tinny with a 9.9 on the back

 

[David Young]

My 1977 boat came with two 6 gallon OMC tanks. One leaked so I bought a plastic 6 gallon tank so I would still have two tanks to use. The plastic tank would swell up like a balloon while out on the lake. Had the vent opened too . I bought a couple 'rebuild' kits for the OMC tanks, now no leaking problems. I use my plastic tank to run seafoam in the motor when I winterize it

 

[old jim]

Thanks for the replies, old jim