Replacing a gas tank on a Sears Craftsman 22” push mower purchased Aug 2001?

[Don2222]

Hello
This year there was a crack and if the tank is filled to the top it leaks about 1/4 of the way down and stops. Briggs & Stratton engine. Very common tank. I tried high temp silicone RTV but no luck so for $36 I got the new Plastic tank.
https://www see.homedepot.com/p/Briggs-Stratton-Fuel-Tank-699374/205448654?mtc=Shopping-B-F_Brand-G-Multi-NA-Multi-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-Catchall_PLA&cm_mmc=Shopping-B-F_Brand-G-Multi-NA-Multi-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-Catchall_PLA-71700000014585962-58700001236285396-92700010802552439&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_szUzYnr6QIVGaSzCh0ONwqeEAQYASABEgI3dPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Is a Fuel Preserver worth it? See pics below.
Is it easy to replace?
Well
Not too shabby.
All it takes is a Phillips and flat blade screwdriver & 1/4” socket set
1. Remove 2 screws from the top plate
2. Remove 3 hex head bolts from ring flange
3. Loosen radiator clamp with flat head
4. Put gasoline catch cup underneath or make a spill
5. Remove fuel line
6. Remove last hex head bolt under tank
7. Remove string pull handle from catch hook and slide tank off of pull string.
Reverse steps to re-assemble
Optional
Even though fuel line was 19 years old and still good, I replaced it with standard 1/4” fuel line. I always keep a hunk around but easy to pickup at the local auto parts store.
See pics below

In summary - Since it still starts with one pull then $36 to fix it is better than buying a new mower that maybe made of cheaper materials?

 

[MTY]

A bar of Ivory soap rubbed on a fuel tank crack will generally stop the leak.

 

[fbelec]

A bar of Ivory soap rubbed on a fuel tank crack will generally stop the leak.

never heard of this. how does that work and for how long

 

[MTY]

It is obviously not a long term fix, and the duration is probably influenced by vibration. The gas and soap interact resulting in a putty.
When the life expectancy of a new car was about 70k miles, people became quite inventive at squeezing another few miles out of them. In high school, I worked in a wrecking yard. This would be '69 & '70. You would be amazed at the field improvised repairs. It was quite common for batteries to be repaired by taking the good cells from two or three batteries and making one good one. I remember a Chevy six that had a wooden plug in one cylinder hole making it a Chevy five.
The cars we crushed would make collectors cry today.

 

[fbelec]

LOL. would love to hear some of that but i know not here