The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Gas Tank Venting

I got the tank installed and so far there are no leaks or anything. Unfortunately I now have to get back to figuring out the issue that started this whole thing in the first place. Backfiring, possible ignition problem, then gas leaking from the carburetor. I'll start a new thread for all that.

On the plus side, if all that didn't happen, the fitting might have broken off while I was driving instead of safely in the garage.

There is that aspect to our two similar failures - they happened in the shop rather than in traffic miles from port.

As for me , Spectra tells me that my case has been kicked up the ladder to a tech supervisor; he has been sitting on it for 4 days now. How long does it take to look at 3 images and read a 1 page email?
I’ll rattle his cage on Monday, in a cordial fashion.

As to manufacturing locations, as far as I can tell fuel tanks and radiators are still built in Canada, electronics come from Taiwan.

Taiwan is a lot better than China.

They'll probably eventually concede their fault and send you a tank. But, yes, just make a decision already. They clearly are aware of the problem.

If I do not have cooperation come Monday, I will make it clear to Spectra that they are much better off having me as a salesman - telling anyone who will listen that Spectra is a great outfit that stands behind their product, than they are having me tell the world that I have a Spectra gas tank with a serious defect and they told me to pound sand.

For the production cost of one tank - why not have an advocate rather than an enemy? Seems like an open and shut case to me.

Exactly. The real measure of a company is how they treat customers after the sale and how they handle problems. People are very forgiving of mistakes or problems if the company owns up to them and makes it right.

When I was a waiter at Pizza Hut. I got the best tips from tables that had the biggest problems (late food, dropped pizza, spilled drinks or whatever) I'd go out of my way to bring them free breadsticks, pitchers of Pepsi, etc.

They appreciated the fact that I didn't try to hide in the wait station and ignore them and that I apologized even for stuff that wasn't my fault.

You played it smart at Pizza Hut.
Ah … the very mention of that place takes me back to 1970. In my early surfing days one of our Surf Club guys was an assistant manager at the local Pizza Hut. We not only got discounts , but we got to go back in the galley and build our own mega-pizzas if the place wasn’t too busy. One particularly fond memory is of the time about 15 of us waltzed into the joint sopping wet -in our wetsuits! We had been in the water for several hours, we were hungry , and we knew that our buddy Don was missing the surf that day because he had to work.
We left a lot of sand on the floor, our wetsuits stunk , and we were cool , very cool.

But I digress…

Wow, I didn't even know Pizza Hut existed in 1970.

I hope Spectra sees the wisdom in providing you a replacement tank.

And here I thought your "Waveski" screen name was all about riding Jet Skis in December in Wisconsin! Foolish me.

78: who really knows about Wave. Have we seen pictures??? Hmmmm?

Surfing in Lake Michigan? I guess they have waves, but probably not like the Pacific. Where I grew up in SoCal, it was a surfing hotspot, but I never got into it.

To get back on topic, hope that Spectra comes thru for you.

I will 2nd Kevin's comment. I also hope Spectra comes through and am interested in hearing the outcome of your discussion with them Waveski.

Spectra probably has a plethora of people calling in about complaints.
Like I said you get what you pay for. One failed weld would mean others.
But man that thing is shiney.

Ok- It’s too early to call Spectra , so w will veer off topic just this one last time while waiting.
I started surfing in the Great Lakes in the 60’s , lived in Southern California for a spell , wound up back here. About 10 years ago my back and knees said “ENOUGH” and I converted to a WaveSki , a hybrid of kayak and surfboard.

Now aged 72 , still going.
So endith the brief bio. Enjoy the images.
Note that 1 picture has my ‘54in it ; figured that would keep my foot in the door.

One "last veer" acknowledged and appreciate you sharing another pic of your truck. Maybe more chit-chat can "veer" to the Spoon where anyone can join in. Back to the Spectra topic at hand...

Yes Dad’s. (That was too good to pass up!)

Today’s Spectra report is inconclusive.
My case was kicked up to a tech advisor, Mr. Rose. I spoke with him this afternoon. Very strong French Canadian accent , strained English. He said he was a technical analyst but had no authority when it came to customer service , I was to speak to John. I told Mr. Rose that I had already talked to John and was told that the situation would be passed along to - Mr. Rose.
I did get Mr. Rose to agree with me that the failure I experienced is not an isolated incident. I bet John will be less than thrilled that he made that admission.
Supposedly these two fellas will huddle tomorrow and decide what to do.

I used my best manners , made no demands or veiled threats of bad mouthing Spectra, even thanked Mr. Rose for his attention to the matter.

Hey - they did tell me to Drop Dead yet. Hinted , but didn’t say it…

Update:
Late this week got handed off to yet another person at Spectra, so no resolution yet.

In the meantime, a guy whose opinion on things mechanical I tend to trust suggested I fix the problem myself with JB Weld. Now, I put a lot of stock in that epoxy , but this application does stretch my faith a bit.
If - and I mean if - I went that route I would lightly grind a perimeter of sheet metal adjacent to that fitting, bed the 2 plates together with the JB , then I’d lay up a circular patch of 2oz. fiberglass and epoxy overlapping the plate and nearby tank surface.

I know of instances in which cracked blocks have been repaired with JB Weld. I have had good success repairing/patching marine exhaust components with that product. (Coolant water discharge & exhaust gas mixing chamber)

I will push for an answer from the Canadians this week. I have time to ponder the JB Weld option. What does the collective think?

Images provided as a refresher–-

Personally, I would only consider solder or braze. The original picture from Otto looked like it was brazed, yours looks more like solder. I would trust my brazing since I have been burning things for 60+ years and have experience with dissimilar metals. Silver solder would be a good choice also. Find a welding shop or radiator shop, ask what they can do.

Sounds like I’d trust your brazing too.
I wish you were just down the road.

Be a plumber and solder.braze is good to .

Solder or brazing would be my first choice, but if you roughen up the opposing surfaces for a good "bite", JB weld would be a decent alternative. I used it on a diesel fuel return line fitting that came loose (it was pressed in place). I filed some grooves around the tube and also ran a tap a short distance into the fitting to give the JB something to grab on to. Cleaned it up with solvent and glued it back together. It's been hanging on for at least 5 years and possibly 10 years now.

Before I realized Spectra might send me a new tank, my first thought was to use JB Weld or Marine Tex to fix my flange. I don't weld or braze so I'd have to pay a radiator shop or someone to do it for me.

My brother JB Welded the engine cover onto his Honda 750 about 20 years ago and its still on the bike and doesn't leak a drop of oil. He laid the bike down and sheared the cover clean off. I have no problem believingJB Weld would stand up to the task of holding that flange in place.

I don’t braze or weld either.
I had a very good friend who owned and operated a machine shop. I became completely accustomed to walking in anytime I felt like, rummaging through his metal stock , getting something fabricated on the spot. Life was good. My friend is about 7-8 years my elder; his health betrayed him. Shop is no more.
I developed a relationship with another shop ; the main guy being much younger than I. He lost his health too. Another good machine shop closed.

I’m considering repairing the gas tank myself if Spectra slams the door in my face. I’ll find out next week.

A bit overdue for an update–-
Trouble is , I don’t have much to report because Spectra keeps handing me off from one guy to the other. 4 hand-offs so far , and each one causes a day or two more delay than they tell me to expect.

One might think that Spectra is trying to wear me down …
They wouldn’t do that , now would they?

What a bunch of idiots. A $200 tank that costs them $50 or so and you go away happy and spread the gospel.

Keep wasting time and and/or tell you to pound sand and all potential goodwill is lost.

I was told I will be contacted by the area sales rep. I expect he/she will at least be more inclined to engage in a meaningful conversation. I think that person is the final hand off.
I will make my “spread the gospel “ pitch to that person.

(2 bucks says I do not get a communication from that person; I expect to have to track him down.)

If you enjoy that type of thing. Let the stress go, fix it yourself.

I expect I’ll wind up fixing it myself. That said , I’m going to see this through with Spectra , as a matter of principle. I am interested to learn the position the sales rep takes on the matter. He is , after all , in sales ; if I’m him I’m going to cough up a new tank rather than put himself and his product in a bad light.
The rep is not insulated in the mothership, he’s not up in Canada; he’s standing out in the open and his livelihood
depends hinges on his reputation.

That’s how I see it. I may be engaged in wishful thinking ; we’ll see. At this point I’m in it for the sport. If I have to do the repair myself , no sweat - I’m good with expoxy and fiberglass ; that repair would be a one session project using materials I already have. Or maybe off to a machine shop; either way it’s not a major challenge.

On Stovebolt, we are one happy family and have many interesting conversations about our trucks. Included in our family could be, and likely are, reps from organizations, like Spectra, that are fellow stovebolters. I’m just throwing caution to the wind.

Thats right. I would let them know there was a problem, give them a chance to right it.
If not, its not worth the hassle to pursue. Its called karma.

DES ,
To my interpretation “throwing caution to the wind” means “ to heck with caution - I’m going for broke!”.
I’m thinking that’s not what you meant?

Waveski, You are correct! My error. Must be COVID brain fog that got me again. Tough being 5 years older than my truck.

Man , you got me. I’m only 3 years older than mine.

I used to get brain fog once in a while, that was when I had a brain, now it's just the fog.

My parents were still in elementary school when my truck was built.

My truck is the same age as my father-in-law...

Otto, on this site, you must be referring to your 1950 3100?

Yes.

Are there youngsters in our midst?

If I had this happen to a second-hand gas tank which I bought off of someone, I would have taken it to a radiator shop in mid December and be done with it.
I for one will not be spreading any negative words about a company that has gone to great trouble to design a tank which is near impossible to tell it from an original tank, and sells it for less than one must pay someone to clean and seal an old tank.
But that may just be me.

I ran a landscape company for a good many years.
I had clear conditions regarding warranty on plant material.
(A large shade tree being of considerably higher value than the gas tank in question)
If a customer contacted me about a failed tree that was technically recently out of warranty I would work with them in a way to lessen their loss and maintain my reputation.

But that may just be me.