Gas tank inside rust help
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 102
Likes: 17
From: NY
Gas tank inside rust help
Its my own fault but my shovel got pushed in a corner once I had a twin cam with a start button. Please hold back on all flames and boos. I have been working on the bike and adding electric start. My 5 gallon fat bobs are bad with rust inside. Any suggestions on removing the rust? Heard of electrolysis and that may help not sure how good. Or just buy another tank??
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,110
Likes: 51,396
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Doing a chem soak with the rust remover does it nice, reuseable to which is nice it ain't cheap. If the paint isn't a major show stopper and you need to stay on top this while in process. Plug things and 50/50 mix muriatic acid and water, but you have any thin spots it'll find them.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 605
Likes: 441
From: BRIGHTON, ENGLAND
i once plugged the petcock, and cap holes,... put a pound of dry wall nails in the tank with a gallon of kerosine, ....wrapped the tank in foam and a blanket and gently jammed it into an electric cement mixer,
turned it on for 8 hours,... then swapped it arround so the other end of the tank went in first,... another 8 hours and after removing the nails and kerosine, flushed it,..... it was perfect.....
O.S,.... I NEVER USE A TANK SEALENT,.... THEY NEVER WORK AND ALL REACT TO ALCOHOL IN MODERN FUELS.
turned it on for 8 hours,... then swapped it arround so the other end of the tank went in first,... another 8 hours and after removing the nails and kerosine, flushed it,..... it was perfect.....
O.S,.... I NEVER USE A TANK SEALENT,.... THEY NEVER WORK AND ALL REACT TO ALCOHOL IN MODERN FUELS.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 37
Likes: 41
From: Austin, Texas
Clean tank
Over the years, I'd get an old bike that had rust in it.... what I do is get aquarium gravel. I use yellow, just because you can easily see it in the tank. I cork up all the holes and have a gas cap you will never use again. Now pour a couple of cups of that stuff in the tank, fill the tank about 1/3 full of diesel fuel. Put the gas cap on. Sit down in the shade and start shaking vigorously**. Pour out the diesel only and refill and start shaking. Keep doing that till the diesel is clear.
Once it looks good. rinse the tank with strong soap and water. When you're done... DON'T LET IT AIR DRY! it will instantly try to rust. Blow it with your air gun, put a cup of gas in and shake it around. The bolt the tank back on and fill.
This actually goes pretty quick, and your paint will not be harmed at all, but you will have to re wax your tank. If the tank is salvageable, it only takes about 45 minutes to do!
If you plan on doing a career of tank cleaning, 1) you can wash, air dry and reuse the gravel, you can also pour all the dirty diesel in a junk gas can and the rust will settle to the bottom after a few days, and you can pour off the clear top fluid into the next tank you clean.
**BTW: it also makes the job sail by if you have some Pabst in an ice bucket nearby while doing this!
Once it looks good. rinse the tank with strong soap and water. When you're done... DON'T LET IT AIR DRY! it will instantly try to rust. Blow it with your air gun, put a cup of gas in and shake it around. The bolt the tank back on and fill.
This actually goes pretty quick, and your paint will not be harmed at all, but you will have to re wax your tank. If the tank is salvageable, it only takes about 45 minutes to do!
If you plan on doing a career of tank cleaning, 1) you can wash, air dry and reuse the gravel, you can also pour all the dirty diesel in a junk gas can and the rust will settle to the bottom after a few days, and you can pour off the clear top fluid into the next tank you clean.
**BTW: it also makes the job sail by if you have some Pabst in an ice bucket nearby while doing this!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,556
Likes: 7,905
From: Long Island, New York
I am a fan of white vinegar, cost about $1 a gallon at the grocery store. Fill her up, slosh around, then give it about 24 hours. Vinegar is a mild acid so it will do the job without killing you or your paint, but it takes time. Sloshing it around every hour or so helps. I then drain the tank then a second quick flush with more vinegar, then two flushes with water then a final flush with gasoline. Good luck.
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