Earned my stupid badge today.

[RogerWo]

Decided today to replace a defective circuit board on my Atwood GC6AA-10E water heater with a dinosaur board. After checking the mounting holes decided that new holes needed to be drilled, but should be no problem since the case is insulated from the tank. WRONG- the case was tight against the tank and I now have a hole through the aluminum tank - SO - I have now attempted a temporary repair with a stainless screw, rubber washer and silicone. Anyone have any thoughts on this? As a final insult I discovered after the fact that I could have just reversed the mounting plate and used the original mounting holes. Some days!!

[wildcatter]

Take it out or take the whole camper to a welder that knows how to weld aluminium.

[tinkerreknit]

I would think your repair is fine. Give it time and see if it leaks.

[JimChow]

I have heard that JB Weld works really good in a lot of situations.

[RogerWo]

I am letting the silicone set for 24 hours before I put pressure to it. Hopefully it will get us through the next couple of months before we get home. Then I probably will remove the tank and have it welded. Either that or replace the tank. Either way it will be a PIA.

[Jmkjr72]

Hmmm let’s think a repair on a pressure vessel let’s see how well this can end. Would I chance it nope I’ve made too many pressure vessels go boom on purpose and seen many that have failed not on purpose

[SilhouettePenny]

Leave the screw in, remove the silicone and JB Weld to the rescue.

[DR Quest]

Agree with the JB Weld I have fixed lots of stuff with it and no problems.

[nomad297]

https://simplesolutionnow.com/produc...minum-welding/

Bruce

[rjshiflet]

Don't beat yourself up too much. We've all done (or will do) our stupid something. All we can do is hope it's something that won't cost us too much (in repair or hospital bills).

[MilCop4523]

dissimilar metals the tank and the screw. may not corrode today or this week but it will.


better to take it in and get it replaced or if its cheaper just order a new unit with a new board.


my tank was leaking at an outlet and it was cheaper to purchase a new gas electric than fix the gas only heater.
tank was 800 plus 15% tax here in Canada and $350 US on Ebay with warranty.

[bbbymac]

I once removed the anode rod from an empty water heater without releasing the pressure. It sure did leave in a hurry. It took the door with it and some skin. I have no idea where the pressure came from as it was not even in use and was valved off.

[wildcatter]

Originally Posted by Jmkjr72

Hmmm let’s think a repair on a pressure vessel let’s see how well this can end. Would I chance it nope I’ve made too many pressure vessels go boom on purpose and seen many that have failed not on purpose

I weld will hold just fine, they just need to have someone who knows how to weld aluminium do it, I weld aluminium all the time, easy to do, if you take a look at the water heaters they are not all one piece.

[Freetyme]

They say hind sight is 20/20.
We probably all have stories. I think your fix will hold a while, but I'm with a permanent fix. Maybe check with a shop that does auto radiator repair.

[DanMistyMiler]

Will Alumaloy or steelaloy work?

[chaps2018]

Re: stupid badge...you are in good company. We all have been given opportunities to learn good judgment.

Re: Fi--is it drinking water safe? We drink from our rig so that is important for us.

[5picker]

Welcome to the club!
We've all done things we wish we hadn't.

I think your screw repair will work just fine.

And for the pressure vessel worriers, it is water pressure not hundreds of pounds of pressure. There are plenty of other places it could just as easily leak. (plastic fittings, etc.) And while you'll get a bit more pressure in the water heater tank from heat expansion, it's not going to blow up because you have a screw in it!

As long as you use a water pressure regulator (which everyone should check pressure and use anyway) you'll be fine. I've MacGyvered a few water tanks this way myself around the home/farm. The rubber washer takes care of the dissimilar metals issue and the silicone will seal.

If it doesn't hold, remove it to be welded or get another water heater.
Don't beat yourself up.
Just keep an eye out for leaks.

[FleckDreher]

I agree with 5Picker's advice.

[AZ Pete]

your fix should be just fine, I fixed a leak in a water pressure tank with a sheet metal screw years ago. Held all spring and summer. I used a scrap of leather for a washer. The water heater is equipped with a pressure release valve already to guard against thermostat failure that would over pressurize the tank.

[VAlover]

Sorry for your problem, Roger Wo, but couldn't help but laugh. That is so us! We mounted an under the cabinet coffee maker in our first trailer, first time out we had no lights inside on that side of the TT. $142 later , we learned there are wires running through a hollow space on the bottoms of the cabinets. Yep, drilled right through one of those wires. Good luck.