CLEANING MY FUEL TANK

[reed]

Cleaning my fuel tank.

I wanted to clean out my fuel tank prior to painting.
So while talking with Old Smokey, he told me about
milkstone acid, a remover and rinse, (product that is
available at Tractor Supply). I removed the fuel tap and
put a cork into the hole and used the old fuel cap
Pour about a gallon of milkstone into the tank then
fill with water. Then turn the tank over every two hours
to make sure that the cleaner would clean the rust under the fuel
cap I left it in for 24 hours then emptied the tank.

In the next step, I used beer line cleaner, which
I got from our family business (pub) I used 3 cups
per gallon left it in for 4 hours washed it out now the
tank inside looks like new. The last thing I did was
put pure baking soda with water into the tank for
1 hour two neutralize the steel inside the tank
flushed it out and left outside in the sun to dry out.

All ready for the paint shop!
Thanks Old Smokey for the milkstone idea, worked great!
Reed.

[old smokey]

Glad you found it at Tractor Supply. Between that and Fleet & Farm (or Farm & Fleet stores depending upon the town) it should be found in a fair amount of the country. It's such an easy way to clean a tank _ I wouldn't let a dirty tank stop me from buying a neglected bike. I do need to get that new gas line on my GTR.

[BSOrion]

I cleaned my RS 200 tank this past winter and was initially going to use the Milkstone Remover method but couldn't find the stuff.  All of the places you would expect to have it (tractor supply, Fleetfarm, etc.) didn't.  They could special order it but that would take weeks.  I didn't want to wait and I got sick of looking for the stuff so I ended up using the battery/soda method which worked well enough.  I would probably opt for the Milkstone method in the future if disposal isn't an issue and if I need to clean a tank quickly.

Orion

[reed]

Bsorion
I have that beer line cleaner as well very strong stuff!
I got it if you need some.
Thanks.
Reed.

[reed]

Old smokey
I liked the milkstone it worked well but beer line cleaner is a little more aggressive cleaner.
My tank had a lot of rust in it so it all worked well at the end of the day!
Thanks.
Reed.

[poppaweelee]

I've used Muriatic acid and water to clean tanks and it worked good. To neutralize the solution, pour  into crushed marble rock. I also used the electrolysis method and it also worked good. You know its working good when the tank gets warm and rust starts floating out the filler neck.

[reed]

Poppaweelee
Its great feeling when you repair fix bring a part back to life.
Rather than buy new!
Thanks.
Reed.

[poppaweelee]

Reed,
 I agree! For some reason I'd rather find something that is laying in the dirt, neglected, and bringing it back to life. Did that with a '72 CZ 175 I found in a farmers goat pasture. It's like a challenge! And without the internet, it probably wouldn't have been possible.

[Irishrower]

First I used vinegar and just let it sit for a few days.  Right now I have the tank full of those pumice stones they sell for gardens.  I'm going to wrap it in foam and sneak it into a commercial laundromat and stick it in an industrial dryer with no heat.  I figure that will do that will get all the major crap out and then I'll hit it with the Por 15 kit.

[rocketman]

Irishrower,be sure to take your camera. Not so much for the tank,but more for the ensuing high speed chase when the laundry owner figures out there's a fuel tank flopping around in his dryer!

[Irishrower]

This is either a great idea or a fantasically bad idea.  It could go either way.

[rocketman]

It's just classic. I think a lot of us would probably try it if,A) we could get away with it! And ,B) It didn't cause any damage. Actually I might be a little concerned. I've used the pea gravel/solvent routine before on such projects,shaken by hand though,and if you read my blurbs you know I like boiling water with a little less agressive chemicals at least as a first step. I just keep getting unsettling visions of big whopper dents from the dryer vanes and zillions of little outy dings from the rocks. What to do,what to do! Mark.

[old smokey]

I could see Rowan Atkinson as "Mr Bean" trying this.

[ridered]

I've used the dryer method several times and it works great, no chemicals needed. What I do is stuff the dryer with old pillows and blankets and stuff the tank in the middle after I fill it about a 1/4 way with the small rock they use for fish tanks which is real cheap at any pet store. Make sure the heat function is off. Good luck!

[reed]

Ridered
I hope your dryer a maytag only joking!
Good idea.
Thanks.
Reed.

[paul25g]

Reed,

I'm getting ready to try the milkstone remover method on my Triumph.  What ratio of water/baking soda did you use to neutralize the steel in the tank after soaking in milkstone remover and water?  Thanks!

Paul

[reed]

Paul
I used 4 table spoons of baking soda and the rest water.
And i did it again after 24 hours and that's it!
Thanks.
Reed.

[paul25g]

Thanks Steve, thats what I needed to know!

Paul

[ridered]

I'm going to reveal a product it took me a life time to find. It's called Evapo-rust and you can get it from Harbor Freight for 20.00 a gallon. I had NOS tank that had been sitting on the shelf for some 40 odd years with no cap. it wasn't deep flaking rust, but I'm pretty sure if it was this stuff would of cleaned it. It's EVIRO friendly so no problem with disposal. They say it cleans in a couple of hours but I let mine sit overnight and rinsed it out with water and it looks brand new.
Hope this helps someone as I won't shy away from a rusty tank anymore.

[reed]

Hi Mike
I have a old Indian tank i will try it on and i will let you know.
Thanks again.
Steve.