Update, Reviving 1979 XS1100 Standard

[xs1100newb]

Hello all,

I posted here awhile ago about reviving a 1979 XS1100 Standard. I had just purchased the bike and was new the XS1100.

There were several things preventing me from starting up the bike. I wanted to post an update of my progress to those interested.

Here is the link to the old post btw:
http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...ght=rusty+tank

Anyways, I have finally finished cleaning those carburetors. Below is an imgur link to a picture of the final result on the carburetors.

http://imgur.com/BotVb.jpg

I only have a picture of the outside of the carburetors, but I promise the inside looks just as pretty. I have decided on pod filters, and since I have an extra set of jets I am going to attempt to drill them larger myself, well see how that goes.


Anyways, on to the second obstacle, which is the gask tank. Below are two images, one showing the outside of the tank, the other showing the inside.

http://imgur.com/jOANJ.jpg
http://imgur.com/QCDzL.jpg

The outside of the tank is in near perfect condition. In the picture, I had not yet wiped it down, but the paint job is still in incredible shape.
The inside of the carburetor of course is a different story. There is a lot of rust, and I am unsure of how to proceed. Here is my plan:

1) Electrolysis
2) ??????

I have heard and seen that electrolysis does a great job at removing the rust. I plan on keeping the petcocks and fuel sender unit on the tank as I proceed with the electrolysis. I do not think that will be a problem and I am too lazy to make temporary gaskets to prevent leaks.

After the electrolysis is complete I want to prevent flash rusting. What chemical do I use to prevent flash rusting. I want to avoid using gas tank liners because they can cause trouble down the road.

Any suggestions or thoughts on my game plan?

[natemoen]

Electrolysis works. If you ate not planning on keeping the paint job you could bring it to a tadiator shop or a machine shop and have them hot tank/boil the tank. It will get rid of the rust and the pain, the radiator shop could also do a little zinc coating to prevent the flash rust as well.

If you do the electolysis, a wash after the elctolysis of phosphorus acid will do the trick.

[xs1100newb]

I definitely want to keep the original paint job. It is hard to tell from the photo, since the tank is dirty, but the paint is in awesome condition.

Where does one find phosphoric acid?


Thanks,
Adam

[crazy steve]

You might want to look at this stuff; supposedly non-harmful to paint...

Post number 58 http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22621&page=4

[natemoen]

The 4th post down in that link posted answers the phosphorus acid question.

[B.C.]

I saw on another forum that white vinegar from the dollar store supposedly works. Fill it up and let it soak. Also, soaking your carbs in Pine-Sol is supposed to be environmentally friendly and work well.

[fredintoon]

- - - I plan on keeping the petcocks and fuel sender unit on the tank as I proceed with the electrolysis. I do not think that will be a problem and I am too lazy to make temporary gaskets to prevent leaks. - - -

Hi Newb,
that's not the smartest of ideas. The effort to make temporary seals is less than the effort of finding replacement petcocks and fuel sender after the electrolysis wrecks the units you left in there.

[natemoen]

Hi Newb,
that's not the smartest of ideas. The effort to make temporary seals is less than the effort of finding replacement petcocks and fuel sender after the electrolysis wrecks the units you left in there.

Definitely agree with that. At the least you will have to pull Ahhhh clean the petcocks after the fact, then you might find you broke a filter tower (and those are probably harder to find than whole petcocks. Just do it right the first time and don't try to take a bunch of shortcuts.

[skids]

You can turn the sending unit around, make a gasket, and bolt it back on. That will block that hole. Making petcock hole covers is also easy using flat stock.

[DGXSER]

When I washed and electrolysis cleaned my tank, I took a section of an old metal stud left over from when I finished my basement and cut that into the pieces to cover the sending unit and petcock openings. I backed it with rubber from an old inner tube. I did bend the sides up on 90 degrees to stiffen it up a little.