Tank Cleaning

[82Maxim1100]

I'm a newb to this forum. What do ya'll use to clean out rust and varnish in the tank? I have used SeaFoam and it works good. Anything better out there?

[jetmechmarty]

What do ya'll use to clean out rust and varnish in the tank?

Try electolysis. Here is the link to instructions:ELECTROLYSIS

[chopwatchagot]

Is it rust AND varnish ? I've had a couple of tanks that were left half full of gas, and sat for 10 or 12 years. It looks like rust in the tank but is only varnish. Being in Arizona we don't have to deal with rust too much. My solution for this involves a lot of effort but you can get the tank clean in one evening. I put about a gallon of gas in the tank and then about a three pound coffee can of small gravel, like they use for chip seal on the streets. The sharp edge stuff, not round pea gravel. I then shake the tank for about as long as my back can stand it, rest, then do it again. I don't shake it too hard, though, wouldn't want to create a spark(BOMB). After a couple rounds of this I switch from gravel to BB's to get the smaller stuff from around the edges. It works pretty well, as gas works as a solvent for......gas


Dean

[82Maxim1100]

well i was trying to avoid taking the tank off and all that shyte. anythin i can just add to the gas itself?

[xschop]

repeat

Citric acid, chelates iron oxide (rust) and does not sacrifice any base metal.... takes 24-36 hrs setting time, just add hot water.

[HobbyMan]

If there is varnish in your tank, there is probably varnish in your carbs. I would bite the bullet and pull the thank off. The tank on my 80G had varnish in it. I took some gravel fish tank and shook it around. I repeated this process many times, flushing it with the garden hose. Immediatly, I flushed the tank with paint thinner to get the water out. The only problem was getting all the gravel out. If there is varnish and rust, I would use the gravel to get the surface rust off and then use either electrolocis or chemicals like phosphoric acid or citric acid to remove the leftover rust. Solvents like sea foam won't do anything noticable. You just don't get the mechanical action of rocks or the chemical action of acids.

[Pat Kelly]

I still have to de-rust my big tank. Local radiator shop will boil it out for $35. They do auto and bike tanks all the time. They asked if I want them to seal it too. I do but I already have the caswells stuff so I'll do it myself (probably).
It ruins the paint but the tank needs work/paint anyway.

I have a very cool idea for a paint scheme on the E. The big tank will be my XSperimet to see if it looks stupid or not.