P30 Gas tank removal and rust

[30kdays]

Well crap.

[Booyah45828]

That looks nasty. I'd start looking at new.

On a side note. Some radiator shops will fix/repair/modify fuel tanks. So if you can't find exactly what you need, try talking to one of those places and maybe they can help out.

[30kdays]

Originally Posted by Booyah45828

That looks nasty. I'd start looking at new.

On a side note. Some radiator shops will fix/repair/modify fuel tanks. So if you can't find exactly what you need, try talking to one of those places and maybe they can help out.

Actually just read about this today. Also read you can treat the tank with electrolysis then coat it with something like ospho.

[EastCoastCB]

Ospho doesn't really "coat", but it converts the rust.

[slaughridge85]

Originally Posted by 30kdays

you can treat the tank with electrolysis then coat it with something like ospho.

This will work amazingly well, the only thing you might have to worry about is if the rust has eaten the original metal down to the point that you get pinholes and cracks in the cleaned tank. Trying to patch a hundred tiny pinholes in a fuel tank is not fun... ask me how I know...

If you go this route I would de-rust with electrolysis and then coat the inside of the tank with por-15 tank repair. I've used several brands of tank liners (red-kote, por-15, kreem, etc.) in lots of motorcycles and cages and por-15, in my experience, has been the most durable.

[30kdays]

Originally Posted by slaughridge85

This will work amazingly well, the only thing you might have to worry about is if the rust has eaten the original metal down to the point that you get pinholes and cracks in the cleaned tank. Trying to patch a hundred tiny pinholes in a fuel tank is not fun... ask me how I know...

If you go this route I would de-rust with electrolysis and then coat the inside of the tank with por-15 tank repair. I've used several brands of tank liners (red-kote, por-15, kreem, etc.) in lots of motorcycles and cages and por-15, in my experience, has been the most durable.

Thanks. What about http://www.caswellplating.com/aids/epoxygas.htm and http://www.barbeepaint.com/solvent-b.html

Have you used either of them?

[Tango]

What a great argument for an aluminum fuel tank!

[Rusty]

Looks dirty, but salvageable. Put it in a pickup bed or small trailer. Throw some detergent water in there and a few feet length of chain. remove sender.


Drive around like a madman and chain will scrub inside of tank. Rinse, dump, repeat.

[roach711]

Originally Posted by slaughridge85

If you go this route I would de-rust with electrolysis and then coat the inside of the tank with por-15 tank repair. I've used several brands of tank liners (red-kote, por-15, kreem, etc.) in lots of motorcycles and cages and por-15, in my experience, has been the most durable.

If the tank is solid structurally I'd go with this option. The electrolysis treatment is cheap and easy and the POR-15 is a great coating. Here's a link to the process:

Gas Tank Cleaning using Electrolysis — Page 3

[30kdays]

Updates: using electrolysis is working great!

[30kdays]

Used a bit of tubing and a rock to keep the iron from making contact with the bottom of the tank.

[30kdays]

Before and after of inside the tank

[Njsurf73]

Originally Posted by 30kdays

Before and after of inside the tank

Wow. That turned out awesome.


Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[30kdays]

Originally Posted by Njsurf73

Wow. That turned out awesome.


Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Right?! Left the tank hooked up for about 48 hours then sloshed the acid around inside for about 30 min. There is still some rust on the top of the tank but as you can see the bottom looks brand new! We should have it finished this weekend.

[roach711]

I'd heard of using electrolysis for rust removal but had never seen the results. That's outstanding, particularly considering how cheap it is to do.

I may have to find a bus sized pool so I can de-rust my undercarriage.

[Scooternj]

Originally Posted by roach711

I may have to find a bus sized pool so I can de-rust my undercarriage.

You and me both, 'cept I'll need Olympic sized.

[30kdays]

Originally Posted by roach711

I'd heard of using electrolysis for rust removal but had never seen the results. That's outstanding, particularly considering how cheap it is to do.

I may have to find a bus sized pool so I can de-rust my undercarriage.

Don't be fooled. It would not of come this clean without the phosphoric acid

[Tango]

"I may have to find a bus sized pool so I can de-rust my undercarriage."

That is exactly what Jack (aka; Ol' Trunt) did for many of the parts on his 1935 Chevy. He used a large, plastic Kiddy Pool as I recall and had excellent results.