Best way to clean inside fuel tank.?
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 473
Likes: 174
From: Sw Oklahoma
Best way to clean inside fuel tank.?
Took the petcock off cause it leaks and found several flakes in it.. Looks like paint.. I put a scope in the tank and saw where they came from.. The coating inside is flaking off, no rust thru, but there are rusty spots.. It's an 02 883 Custom stock tank..
I'm not a paint and body man, but if I could climb in there with a wire brush and a can of Krylon.... 🤓
I'm not a paint and body man, but if I could climb in there with a wire brush and a can of Krylon.... 🤓
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,490
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From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
To the OP, don't mean to jack your thread.
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 473
Likes: 174
From: Sw Oklahoma
Happen to have a link perhaps? The inside of my 78 FXE that I just got needs the inside cleaned out and I was hoping not to have to take it to the guy that boils my radiators out. A bit worried about the original paint and decals.
To the OP, don't mean to jack your thread.
To the OP, don't mean to jack your thread.
thanks.. I assume the flakes are a primer or sealer inside the tank, do I need to replace it. ?
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Mar 10, 2018 at 09:23 PM.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,904
Likes: 556
From: The 1980's
Once you get it clean, try Caswell tank sealer. When my bike was painted last year the painter sent the tank to a guy to clean and seal even though it was a brand new tank from J&P. He put the tank on a rotisserie to evenly coat everything inside. He says the stuff will last forever.
The last tank had sheets of HD Tank Creem peeling off.
The last tank had sheets of HD Tank Creem peeling off.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,580
From: Wisconsin, USA
Once you get it clean, try Caswell tank sealer. When my bike was painted last year the painter sent the tank to a guy to clean and seal even though it was a brand new tank from J&P. He put the tank on a rotisserie to evenly coat everything inside. He says the stuff will last forever.
The last tank had sheets of HD Tank Creem peeling off.
The last tank had sheets of HD Tank Creem peeling off.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 25,292
Likes: 2,427
From: Eastern NE
IMO...save yourself some time and just get a new tank. This way you can get it painted to your liking which gives your ride a fresh/new look.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: PNW
If it's flaking inside you need to be pretty aggressive to remove the coating. I use methyl ethyl ketone. Fill the tank and let sit two or three days. it's nasty, nasty stuff that will eat the paint and your lungs if you're not careful. After that I rinse thoroughly with a hose and then I fill with distilled vinegar and a cup of salt to etch the metal and remove any rust. Once that process is done it should look like brand new metal inside. If it's severely rusted you may need to toss in stones, nuts, bolts, small chain, or whatever you have and "tumble the tank between step 1 and step 2, but in that case I would buy a new tank as by the time you are done there could be pin holes.
Then coat. I like POR but the other stuff recommended sounds good too. Tank has to be supremely clean and dry otherwise you are back to the beginning.
Then coat. I like POR but the other stuff recommended sounds good too. Tank has to be supremely clean and dry otherwise you are back to the beginning.
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 473
Likes: 174
From: Sw Oklahoma
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 473
Likes: 174
From: Sw Oklahoma
If it's flaking inside you need to be pretty aggressive to remove the coating. I use methyl ethyl ketone. Fill the tank and let sit two or three days. it's nasty, nasty stuff that will eat the paint and your lungs if you're not careful. After that I rinse thoroughly with a hose and then I fill with distilled vinegar and a cup of salt to etch the metal and remove any rust. Once that process is done it should look like brand new metal inside. If it's severely rusted you may need to toss in stones, nuts, bolts, small chain, or whatever you have and "tumble the tank between step 1 and step 2, but in that case I would buy a new tank as by the time you are done there could be pin holes.
Then coat. I like POR but the other stuff recommended sounds good too. Tank has to be supremely clean and dry otherwise you are back to the beginning.
Then coat. I like POR but the other stuff recommended sounds good too. Tank has to be supremely clean and dry otherwise you are back to the beginning.