Gas tank full of varnished chucks
#1
11-10-2018, 08:32 AM
#2
11-10-2018, 08:47 AM
Advanced
I have used soapy water and porcelain pyramid medium from a tumbler. Heard of others simply using pebbles or nuts.
After a few rounds of swish empty repeat, rinse thoroughly and let dry.
Or use a tank lining kit, like kreme, that use acetone to etch and clean, but be careful not to get it on the paint.
After a few rounds of swish empty repeat, rinse thoroughly and let dry.
Or use a tank lining kit, like kreme, that use acetone to etch and clean, but be careful not to get it on the paint.
#3
11-12-2018, 06:24 AM
#4
11-12-2018, 04:14 PM
Tried flushing it with oxy clean and super hot water but the inside coating is peeling off in large flakes. I’m going to pour in a bunch of BBs and some of that non acid rust remover, seal up the openings and shake and roll it around for a few days. If that doesn’t work, I’ll probably have to buy another tank. Already I’m going to have to replace the petcock and sending unit. Looks like the wife’s going to go without food for a couple weeks. Priorities.
#5
11-14-2018, 10:55 AM
Advanced
I had to redo the liner in mine a couple years back. Its hanging in there so far. Here is a thread is did on that project (my contribution to the forum 
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...r-install.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...r-install.html
#6
11-15-2018, 05:11 AM
The sealer coating inside my 02 Fat Boy started coming off in chunks. It had sat for a few years before I got it. What a mess.
GarageJockey gives good advise. Way cheaper than a new tank and with a new tank you are looking at paint anyway, so why not try the stripper?
I did a real similar fix on mine, just didn't use the kit. I got a couple of rolls of that silver foil tape they sell at Home Depot. That stuff sticks like nothing else. Used it to cover up all the paint around any openings. I put a o-ring plug in the petcock opening. In the Hope Depot where they sell chain, they had this fairly light stuff, links were kind of a pressed flat tin folded over. I bought 3 feet of that stuff and just used a pair of side cutters to cut it into about 2 inch sections. Poured stripper in the tank, put a handful of chain links in there, sealed up the sender opening similar to what GarageJockey did, and shook the tank around, upside down, all around for 20ish minutes. That is hard work believe it or not. I had to take a few breaks. Opened up the tank, t put it in the bathtub and ran hot water in it, dumping it out several times and sloshing water around in it. Took 3 cycles of that before I wasn't getting any more nasty stuff out.
paint survived and I haven't had a problem since. I left it bare inside too.
GarageJockey gives good advise. Way cheaper than a new tank and with a new tank you are looking at paint anyway, so why not try the stripper?
I did a real similar fix on mine, just didn't use the kit. I got a couple of rolls of that silver foil tape they sell at Home Depot. That stuff sticks like nothing else. Used it to cover up all the paint around any openings. I put a o-ring plug in the petcock opening. In the Hope Depot where they sell chain, they had this fairly light stuff, links were kind of a pressed flat tin folded over. I bought 3 feet of that stuff and just used a pair of side cutters to cut it into about 2 inch sections. Poured stripper in the tank, put a handful of chain links in there, sealed up the sender opening similar to what GarageJockey did, and shook the tank around, upside down, all around for 20ish minutes. That is hard work believe it or not. I had to take a few breaks. Opened up the tank, t put it in the bathtub and ran hot water in it, dumping it out several times and sloshing water around in it. Took 3 cycles of that before I wasn't getting any more nasty stuff out.
paint survived and I haven't had a problem since. I left it bare inside too.
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GarageJockey (11-15-2018)
#7
11-15-2018, 10:59 PM
Well, after 4 days soaking and sloshing, it looks a lot better but there’s still pieces of liner stuck to the inside and now I can see large patches of rust. I’m about done messing with this. I found a used tank in good condition inside and out with the sending unit for $400. Another $100 for a petcock. Next challenge is the carb. This will be the first carb I’ve messed with. I’m an industrial mechanic, so I have some skills. The question is rebuild myself or take it to someone?
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#8
11-16-2018, 06:26 AM
Well, after 4 days soaking and sloshing, it looks a lot better but there’s still pieces of liner stuck to the inside and now I can see large patches of rust. I’m about done messing with this. I found a used tank in good condition inside and out with the sending unit for $400. Another $100 for a petcock. Next challenge is the carb. This will be the first carb I’ve messed with. I’m an industrial mechanic, so I have some skills. The question is rebuild myself or take it to someone?
#9
11-17-2018, 10:39 AM
Tourer
#10
11-17-2018, 12:09 PM
Tourer
I realize you have taken care of your tank problem but I will ad this anyway if someone else has this problem. I collect and restore old outboard motors, mainly the ones with the tank on the top. It is quite common to get these with really nasty tanks. I clean them with muriatic acid, available at your local hardware store, will clean them up pretty well. Advisory, this stuff will eat up the paint though and as well as the liner if still intact. Also if the tank is badly rusted it may eat through the tank itself. MAJOR CAUTION, THIS TREATMENT WILL PRODUCE NASTY AND TOXIC FUMES. DON'T BREATH THEM.
kk
kk