gas tank cleaning (2011)

I have a 35 year old tank that has been sitting in a basement, what is best way to clean inside while keeping the paint outside perserved?
Also need a good set of petcocks and fuel lines, where is the best place to get them?
thanks JB

Might help if we knew where you are?

Dave
69S

Caswell's make this coating that actually works with a rusted tank inside. The process to get a lot of the loose rust and impediments is to use a handful of drywall nails. You also have to get acetone and use that prior to using the Caswell product.

*Recent discussion on fuel petcocks:
http://www.accessnorton.com/fuel-taps-line-revisited-t10714.html

Get Caswell product http://www.caswellplating.com/aids/epoxygas.htm




Phenol Novolac Epoxies are a new breed of chemical resistant materials, able to withstand permanent immersion of many harsh solvents, fuels and oils. This Epoxy has much better bond strength than single component products, with strengths of up to 3000 PSI, and this higher strength reduces the need for a clinically clean surface, as the epoxy actually prefers to bond to a rough rusty surface. Our new phenol novolac is more thixotropic, which means it 'hangs' on the tank walls during the coating process. This gives a thicker overall coating. There is more volume of material in the kit to allow for this.



Cheers!

Skyguyz

Here is a post I just commented on about cleaning a tank without damaging the paint:


rust-inside-mk3-tank-t10534.html

Really depends on what's in it - dried up gas, or rust - or a combination, which is usual.

A long white vinegar soak(several days to a week) with occasional shaking will break up the varnish and remove the rust. After a couple of days, run the vinegar through a strainer and into a bucket and pour it back into the tank for a few more days. I also used a couple of wooden skewers to get some of the nooks and crannies de-funked.

Rinse well with water. Then rinse with alcohol. Then immediately spray with WD-40 to try to avoid flash rusting. The flash rust seems to be the hardest part.

Keep some wet rags handy when shaking to quickly clean the spills off the paint.

I have heard that BAP taps are reasonable and inexpensive.

To avoid funk and rust in the future, keep a full tank of gas in it when parked.....and ride often.

I just got an e-mail from Caswell saying their epoxy gas tank sealant is on sale through Labor Day for 20% off.

Assuming this is a steel tank, then I would go first to the white vinegar. I used it in my tank with good results, except it dissolved the rivet in the cap! A little careful tapping and a screw replaced it.

Russ

I just did the 400ES tank with evaporust and wooden screws, wrapped it in a blanket (close gas cap and petcocks holes) and let it turn a couple of hours in the drier...empty and filter evaporust every 1/2 hour AND DO NOT LET YOUR WIFE SEE YOU!
Philippe

prmurat said:

I just did the 400ES tank with evaporust and wooden screws, wrapped it in a blanket (close gas cap and petcocks holes) and let it turn a couple of hours in the drier...empty and filter evaporust every 1/2 hour AND DO NOT LET YOUR WIFE SEE YOU!
Philippe

Click to expand...

Phillipe,

Haven't had the guts to try the dryer thing yet. Have been caught heating cases in the oven (honey, smells like something's on fire), and red-handed when she found parts on the upper rack of the dishwasher.

Why are they so possessive about stupid appliances for gods sake? Shouldn't they be shared equally?

Yes, as long as you both use it equally.

Dave
69S

A hair dryer can also be used to dry the inside and help avoid the nasties from your wife.
Ron

Dave
I'm in Mass, hope that helps.
JB

DogT said:

Might help if we knew where you are?

Dave
69S

Click to expand...

Petcocks: Old Britts has the BAP ones for around $35/pair plus postage. They work and don't leak. You can buy more expensive and better looking ones for bucks.

Fuel lines: I get the clear ones from Old Britts too, and they have the original style brass ferrules and the clear line. Pretty cheap, but you need to crimp the ferrules on the line, I use a Rigid flaring tool to crimp, but you can use a piece of metal (nut) cut in half in a vice. There are plenty of fuel lines out there, and what I have described looks original and is about as reasonable as you can get, but you can also go with the bling and get stainless lines for bucks and everything in between.

The tank: I think you are on your own there, many threads here to read. I would be cautious of the coatings, they don't last forever, but will make it useable for a few to 5 years. I have an original F/G tank and am using avgas to preserve it. Ethanol gas eats just about anything out there.

There are closer to the east coast Norton parts dealers, British Only, DomiRacer, Walridge (Canada), many others. Stay away from a dealer in Chicago, name of Marshall Hagey or Frank, only bad one I've dealt with. Again a search of parts dealers will reveal a lot of info.

Good luck and happy Nortoning.

Dave
69S

I just did mine with por-15 from amazon.com (I picked it after reading some good reviews). I used my old petcocks as stoppers and cut a disk of thick plastic freezer bag and just shut the fruel cap on it. I had no leaks. Lot's off effort having to agitate the tank for at least 20 minutes on various phases. It then took four days to cure! The wife's hair drier is never going to be the same. It turned out real well - only time will tell though.

I just got an e-mail from Caswell saying their epoxy gas tank sealant is on sale through Labor Day for 20% off.

Click to expand...

That should tell you something about Caswell sales. Either not going too well or and/or their dumping the product.

I have a buddy who has been using Caswell's for a couple of years on fiberglass tanks and has had no issue's. I have sold 4 or 5 and haven't had any complaints. I would use them again in my stuff without hesitation.

I've got over 6000 miles and 3 summers now with a Caswell treated tank with no signs of deterioration. It had been empty for quite a while before I treated it so there was no trace of gas in it and it probably hadn't been subject to much, if any, ethanol previously. I did use the entire container, which says it way more than needed for a Commando tank and did two complete coatings. Some folks have had good luck and some haven't. I suspect it's all prep, but maybe if there's some damage already it's hopeless.

seems that the majority of the problem is the old dried up gas with a little bit of rust at the bottom. I'll start with the white vinagar and see wherenthat gets me. thanks for the help

JB
Try taking a bunch of nuts and thread them onto a string with the string tied together then put them in when you shake. It will help speed the process.
Being tied together makes them easy to fish out.
Dan