The top oil tank mount on Atlas / Dominator Featherbeds is failure prone from the vibration inherent in these machines.
Failure may be a fracture of the "L" shaped bracket with the vertical part separating from the horizontal part welded to the tank top. Or, the flex of the bracket may fracture the spot welds holding it to the tank top, causing an oil weep that appears to be coming from the oil filler cap.
It may seem to be an easy fix by simply welding around the horizontal base of the bracket, but this fix will be short lived.
Welding the radius of the bracket where it bends from horizontal to vertical, removes the "spring" in the bracket, and concentrates the vibration induced flex, leading to more fractures. Below is my recommended solution, which is not easy, but effective,
If you were to grind off the mounting bracket down to the tank roof level, you most likely will find fatigued metal as shown in Fig. 1 below. It is not necessary to grind down the angle bracket, you can simply cut it away being sure to leave no cracks behind. Cut away any fatigued metal you find around the hole. Leave the perimeter of the hole burr and nick free.
It is useless to try to weld the spidery cracks in the fatigued metal. The cracks will simply propagate from the application of heat. The proper recourse is to cut all the fatigued metal away from the tank roof, and apply a metal patch to cover the resulting hole. The picture Fig. 1 shows the froth tower has been removed.
Fig.2 shows the patch welded to cover all removed fatigued metal. It is easier to remove and weld back the froth tower than try to patch around it.
I used 16 gauge sheet metal for the patch, and 14 gauge to fabricate the angle bracket. The heavier the metal, the less flexing will occur,
Flush the tank of iron filings, and rinse well.
Next apply body filler, sand, and paint
The threaded froth tower tube is a modification for oil mist control, and Is described in another Resource. See the Resource listings below this article.
Failure may be a fracture of the "L" shaped bracket with the vertical part separating from the horizontal part welded to the tank top. Or, the flex of the bracket may fracture the spot welds holding it to the tank top, causing an oil weep that appears to be coming from the oil filler cap.
It may seem to be an easy fix by simply welding around the horizontal base of the bracket, but this fix will be short lived.
Welding the radius of the bracket where it bends from horizontal to vertical, removes the "spring" in the bracket, and concentrates the vibration induced flex, leading to more fractures. Below is my recommended solution, which is not easy, but effective,
If you were to grind off the mounting bracket down to the tank roof level, you most likely will find fatigued metal as shown in Fig. 1 below. It is not necessary to grind down the angle bracket, you can simply cut it away being sure to leave no cracks behind. Cut away any fatigued metal you find around the hole. Leave the perimeter of the hole burr and nick free.
<--Fig. 1-->
It is useless to try to weld the spidery cracks in the fatigued metal. The cracks will simply propagate from the application of heat. The proper recourse is to cut all the fatigued metal away from the tank roof, and apply a metal patch to cover the resulting hole. The picture Fig. 1 shows the froth tower has been removed.
<--Fig. 2-->
Fig.2 shows the patch welded to cover all removed fatigued metal. It is easier to remove and weld back the froth tower than try to patch around it.
Fig. 3 below is another view of the patch, with the angle bracket top mount welded on. Note the radius edge of the bracket is not welded.
<--Fig. 3-->
<--Fig. 3-->
I used 16 gauge sheet metal for the patch, and 14 gauge to fabricate the angle bracket. The heavier the metal, the less flexing will occur,
Flush the tank of iron filings, and rinse well.
Next apply body filler, sand, and paint
The threaded froth tower tube is a modification for oil mist control, and Is described in another Resource. See the Resource listings below this article.
<--Fig. 4-->
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texasSlick