Removing gas tank rust? Read this.....

[RidetoXS]

Hey, I'm going to electrolysis my tank this weekend to remove the rust, but couldn't find Arm & Hammer Washing Soda anywhere. Not a big demand item, I guess. BUT, go to the hardware store, pool supply, or WalMart and look for pH Plus in the pool section. It's the same stuff, sodium carbonate. I got a five pound bottle for six bucks.

[CRXSi90]

Any update on how the electrolysis went for rust removal in the gas tank?

[Lettuceman]

Electrolosis experience

I have done two tanks using this method and two tanks using the Pour15 process and materials.

The A&H washing soda can be found on the internet but not at your local store. Based on my research this is the best material to use because of the ion properties needed for electrolisis to work efficently.

It works, but if you let it go to long the rust can convert to a black type of iron oxide that can be hard to remove. I used washers & nuts to "sand" out the inside. You need to clean the positive lead as it will buildup considerable crap as a result of the process. It does work, I will not use it as long as my first efforts. One old crappy tank ended up with more pin holes in it after electrolosis than before, but it was a rust bucket.

The pour15 process and products work really well and I will stick with this method on the next tank(2).

[latexeses]

Look for the A&H washing soda at the nearest cheap foods store like a Foods For Less or something like that. About $2.50 for a 2lb. box.

Use Phosphoric acid to coat the tank after the electrolisis. Converts any remaining rust to iron phosphide.

There are a wad of posts about the process if you use the search button for cleaning a fuel tank. I found out the hard way...

Never had any black build-up in the tank from the cleaning though. My tank wound up brite and shiney inside.

[CRXSi90]

You need to clean the positive lead as it will buildup considerable crap as a result of the process.

Thanks for the update. Can you describe how you configured your positive electrode? Did you fill the tank with electrolyte solution then suspend the electrode?

Thanks again,
Kevin

[pinkelephant]

I bought the tank liner kit at my local yamaha dealer. It wasn't cheep ($40 i think, i forget. my tank was full of rust and getting thru the screens. I had inline filters catching. I treated it and lined it. all worked great. I poured the solvent into a 5 gal jug cause I couldn't bring myself to dump it. I may need to de-rust something someday. the liner is like paint. the inside of the tank is an almond color now and it worked great. chean filters. the next tome I remove the tank, I'm gonna chuck the inline filters

[xs11bobber]

Wouldn't CLR (Calcium Lime Rust) work the same if not better and a lot easier than all of this? That's how I'm tackling it and it's worked wonders for all my tripple tree and front brake parts. Hell, it even worked on my caliper pistons... 10 year rusted calipers. I figured if I CLR the tank, I mean really let it soak in a non-diluted state for a good day or so, it'd do the trick and then go for the Kreem treatment afterwards I'd be set.

[yamahansolo]

there have been several write ups in bike mags over the last few months about it. this was it won't rust again.