Sealing Seams - TM-5-5430-209-120182

Page 7-1. Paragraph 7-6 is superseded as follows:

7-6

Sealing Seams

WARNING

If tank is to be used for water storage, Do Not apply sealing compound or sealing putty to the tank

bottom or seams.

Sweep bottom clean after testing seams. With bottom dry, apply sealing compound to all bolts and seams (petroleum

tanks only).

Page 8-1. Paragraph 8-1b(8), line 1.Change "Compound" to read, "Putty".

Page 8-6. Paragraph 8-4f, line 2.Change "Compound" to read, 'Putty".

8-8

Sealing Seams

WARNING

If tank is to be used for water storage, Do Not apply sealing compound or sealing putty to the tank

bottom or seams.

Sweep bottom clean after testing seams. With bottom dry, apply sealing compound to all bolts and seams (petroleum

tanks only).

Page 8-12. Paragraph 8-9d(2), line 4.Change "Compound" to read, "Putty".

Page 8-14. Paragraph 8-10e(6).Add the following at the end of the paragraph: (petroleum tanks only).

Page 8-17. Paragraph 8-12a, line 4.Change "Compound" to read, "putty".

Page 8-28. Paragraph 8-1 7b(4).Add the following at the end of the paragraph: "Apply sealing putty to each end of the

overlap".

(3). If the leak cannot be corrected by tightening the bolts, or by the alternate method described in c below, refer to

Chapter 9 to disassemble and re-erect the tank using the appropriate re-erection kit.

Page 10-1. Paragraph 10-2.Add subparagraph c as follows:

c . Method for Repair of Leaks. One of the most common causes of leaks in bolted steel tanks is the wedge gaskets

splitting due to the over tightening of chime bolts. Wedge gaskets can be replaced without completely disassembling the

tank.

If the tank has previously been drained and cleaned, opposing driven-type wedges (one from the inside of the tank and

one from the outside) can be used to open the chime seam sufficiently to permit the replacement of the wedge gaskets

as follows:

(1) Loosen, but do not remove, the horizontal chime bolts three (3) feet on each side of the leaking wedge

gasket.

(2) Fabricate sixteen (16) each hardwood or non-sparking metal wedges, 1'/4 inches wide, 8 inches long,

tapering in thickness from 1/32 to '/2 inches. The surfaces of the wedges should be smooth in order to avoid further

damage to the strip or chime gasket.

(3) Using the wedges in pairs, with the pairs spaced about 6 inches apart, drive one wedge from the out-side

and one from the inside in order to start spreading the chime apart. Start the first two pairs on each side of the wedge

gasket .on top of the strip gasket, and gradually drive them into the seam simultaneously. The chime seam should open

equally on both sides of the wedge gasket. When the space between the two chimes is sufficient, start two additional

pairs of wedges about 6 inches from the first pairs. Gradually wedge the chimes apart for a distance of 18 inches on

each side of the wedges in order to avoid undue bending of the chimes.