Best way to clean out a steel tank?

[chebopper]

Just got a white whale beast...whats the best way to clean all the gunk out of a tank without all those dangerous chemicals or putting sand abrasive with distilled water? Are there any easier ways that are not dangerous to remove rust and gunk out the tank. Please share thanks! I am a electrician by trade, please help.Thanks!

[viclioce]

In the past I have mixed some two stroke oil wth fuel, about 50:1 and then added BBs and shake. Tank must be closed completely. But it works for me. Take the filters off the petcocks so you don't tear them. ; D Victor

[Bill2001]

A paint stripper with methylene chloride removes old gas deposits and old tank liner. Drywall screws are inexpensive and sharp-edged and can be poured in and shaken. For rust you'll need an acid to make the rust soluble. White vinegar works well. The acid etches the steel and you will want to.treat it with phosphoric acid to make it rustproof. Then a tank liner sould be applied.

An excellent non-acid rust remover is a produ t called Ro-Ver from thr Hach Chemical Co.

[matt glascock]

I have had excellent results with acetone and 1/2" dry wall screws. First remove the petcock and obstruct the opening. Pour in about 20 Oz acetone and a couple handfuls of drywall screws. Remove the gasket from the gas cap. Replace the cap. Shake the tank vigorously in every direction and plane. Rotate the tank as you go. Turn it upside down, etc as you continue to shake. Pour out all the screws and crud. Rinse and shake with an additional 10 OZ acetone to remove any left over crud. I like to blow an airgun off my compressor into the tank to evaporate all the acetone. I immediately line the tank with Caswell 2-part epoxy tank liner. Works great. If the tank is in good shape overall (ie no pin holes nor leaks) replace the tank on the bike and fill with fuel immediately lest flash rusting will occur. Always use an in-line fuel filter as additional insurance to prevent yucky stuff from entering the carb and induction system.

[Bill2001]

I like the Caswell Epoxy liner, too. Applies nicely and is very durable. The only trickiness is that it has a set.pot life once mixed AND it is temperature-dependent. They seriously mean 10 minutes at 20*C/72*F.

[robert campbell]

I use POR 15 three step process. cleaner, etcher, and liner. a nice mixture of lug nuts and 1/4 20 nuts really scours the inside of the tank with the detergent first step process. Yup, chemicals, and do not get this on your hands, unless they are leather like mine.

Rob

http://www.walmart.com/ip/POR-15-49229- ... 3=&veh=sem

[matt glascock]

Right Bill! You have to have your ducks lined up once you mix the Caswell. Tick tock!! The stuff is very durable as you said. I put a nice ding in my 94 tank after lining it and the Caswell didn't fracture. Nice!!

[MTrat]

The electrolysis method will remove a lot of the rust without the chemicals to start the process...

[viclioce]

Passed on to me by Greg:

Since the question was how to clean versus how to seal a tank, I wonder why no one has suggested either of two brands of readily available water based rust removers? Metal Rescue is one, the other is Evapo-Rust. I have used both. They use a chelate system to convert iron oxide into a chelated compound that is rinsed away leaving bare metal. Neither is a dangerous chemical. In fact, both can be flushed into the drain without danger. I have used both to remove rust from my RD350 parts during a restoration. Evapo-Rust is a bit slower and more gentle, Metal Rescue is a bit more aggressive. Both are easy to use and non-corrosive, non-flammable. Both will permit a bit of flash rust once rinsed out of the tank, but gasoline or a splash of diesel will stop that. As long as the tank is not perforated by rust, a sealant isn't needed.

[matt glascock]

I agree with you Victor. I regularly use Evaporust with excellent results. If there is just a superficial layer of corrosion in the tank, I wouldn't bother with a sealant either. Most of the bikes I find to restore are pretty sweaty and the tanks are usually really crusty. The wages of decades of neglect and "barn living" here in the midwest. I know you know the drill with these finds. I like the caswell because you get a nice, durable, slick, and clean lining. I shouldn't have assumed the tank in question was typical of the ones I encounter. Interestingly, I just picked up a White Tank SL250 that was thoroughly thrashed and trashed. As I pulled off the gas cap expecting to see the usual cornucopia of rusticles, barnacles, Le Brea Tar, fudge, and glue...SHAZAM!! Pristine. I wonder if the '78 models had a different construct on the steel tanks.

[viclioce]

I don't have that problem out here in the southwest. The humidity isn't that high.

Usually the fuel just dries up and glazes the inside of the tank. So a cleaning with new fuel & BBs does it for me. My average humidity is like 8%! ; D Victor

[matt glascock]

If the humidity was any higher here, I'd have to wear floaties!

[TimCC001]

I've used the POR-15 products with excellent results. When it came time to clean my tank, I put the cleaner in and then strapped the tank to the wheel of my father's gigantic walk behind mower with bungee cords. It was just like putting it in a front loading washer - but done in the great outdoors with the smell of a Briggs and Stratton pumping away.