Best aftermarket roadster tank ?

Knucles · Jan 30, 2021

My 71 roadster steel fuel tank has rust in it .
I bought a motorcycle restoration kit (Kleen )
following directions and am etching out tank now .
been 24 hours , looked in and still see rust spots.
thinking maybe best to just buy a new tank .
the cost to paint is expensive and don’t want it to rust out thru the paint if still bad inside.
any suggestions to the best tank I can buy ?
I want it unpainted and new .

Fast Eddie · Jan 30, 2021

Emgo.

wavey_davey · Jan 31, 2021

Fast Eddie said:
Emgo.

The emgo tank I have is very good, wholly recommended. However I wouldn't give up on the original so easily. Try electrolysis rust removal, very easy and effective and doesn't thin the steel like some abrasive methods. You just need cleaning soda (or heat up a tray of baking soda in an oven) and a battery charger, just Google it, plenty of videos etc on the Web. What have you got to lose?

Davo · Jan 31, 2021

Emgo all the way. Mine's perfect and been on the bike for a few years now.

alan hodge · Jan 31, 2021

ILLF8ED · Jan 31, 2021

I bought two gallons of this leaving it in a rusted tank for 24 hours. The tank looked new after. And it’s reusable.

NickZ · Jan 31, 2021

illf8ed said:
I bought two gallons of this leavening it in a rusted tank for 24 hours. The tank looked new after. And it’s reusable.View attachment 21455

I love Metal Rescue. I buy the 5 gallon buckets.

NickZ · Jan 31, 2021

wavey_davey said:
The emgo tank I have is very good, wholly recommended. However I wouldn't give up on the original so easily. Try electrolysis rust removal, very easy and effective and doesn't thin the steel like some abrasive methods. You just need cleaning soda (or heat up a tray of baking soda in an oven) and a battery charger, just Google it, plenty of videos etc on the Web. What have you got to lose?

And you probably should put in one of the tank lining products after. You would want to do that if you go the new emgo tank route as well.

Fast Eddie · Jan 31, 2021

Why would you put a liner in a new tank?

Thats just creating a potential problem in future with the liner breaking down etc IMHO.

NickZ · Jan 31, 2021

Fast Eddie said:
Why would you put a liner in a new tank?

Because if you run ethanol fuel you will get water in the tank and if you don't drain it you will have rust.

ILLF8ED · Jan 31, 2021

NickZ said:
And you probably should put in one of the tank lining products after. You would want to do that if you go the new emgo tank route as well.

Not so excited with tank liners from my experience. They have always failed eventually. Better to deal with the bare metal.

Knucles · Jan 31, 2021

Thanks for all input.
I will check my tank again tomorrow .
been trying the KLEEN system .
if not satisfied I will try the metal rescue .
before Committing to a new tank

lazyeye6 · Jan 31, 2021

NickZ said:
Because if you run ethanol fuel you will get water in the tank and if you don't drain it you will have rust.

Damn! Been running ethanol fuel for nigh on 20 years. I guess I am screwed! Even though I
drain it down every couple of years. And I use Sta-Bil in each tank of gas. Not seeing a problem here.

NickZ · Feb 1, 2021

lazyeye6 said:
Damn! Been running ethanol fuel for nigh on 20 years. I guess I am screwed! Even though I
drain it down every couple of years. And I use Sta-Bil in each tank of gas. Not seeing a problem here.

Sta-bil will help mitigate the problem.

wavey_davey · Feb 2, 2021

As will periodically adding a small amount of methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) to absorb the water and burn it off. I haven't tried it yet but would only do it on a bike I was going to run the tank of fuel through fairly soon afterwards, given volatile alcohol impact on the fuel system plastics and rubber .
Having dealt with a rusted fuel tank base on a 90's Ducati, I'm not blasé about corrosion due to water in the tank, but I also don't trust a liner long term. Would rather do an hour or two of electrolysis every few years and treat fuel with stabiliser or meths in meantime?

Best aftermarket roadster tank ?

Similar threads