First of all, its dangerous to ride with a rusty tank. Your email address will not be published. Tools such as; The steps involved in removing rust from a motorcycle gas tank are easy if the right tools and equipment are in hand. Place the tank on a non-conductive surface (wooden table, floor, etc.). 5 Ways to Connect Wireless Headphones to TV. A handful or two will do. The tank should be soaked again after the initial one. This is definitely not the worst I have seen, but make no mistake, this tank needed help a long time ago. I can't believe all these horrible advices given to you like wd40, that will not work because the acid is still not neutralized. 5 Ways to Connect Wireless Headphones to TV. Youll also want to find a different method of sealing the filler; muriatic acid can and will damage caps, which can have elements that will not stand up to the corrosion. Dont give up now, you are nearly done. Based on our practical experience, a concentration of 10 percent is sufficient, i.e., one part of oxalic acid to nine parts of warm water, to remove rust from a moderately rusted metal tank in an hour. With the tank off, remove all floats, sending units and filters that may be in the tank. The tank needs to be filled so theres no scope for rust formation. Paul is a passionate motorcycle enthusiast and he met Mark during one riding road trip. This works in several ways:1) a full tank leaves little room for condensation to form, and 2) lower octane fuels contain higher levels of alcohol that promote rust by attracting water. If you don't, they might disintegrate by the time your tank's innards are sparkling. Drain the rest of the liquid and collect it in a container. 8. You can wear a mask while doing this to avoid inhaling the gasoline. Me? The basic tank design has a filling hole and a petcock hole. People should begin by removing the side covers from the motorcycle gas tank. Sadly, rust can build up without the motorcycle's owner ever noticing, even as they tend to other maintenance items. Strong acids, or stronger acids than vinegar can be used but are not recommended. I mention this because this is a very viable option nowadays, especially with so many online avenues for replacement. However, unlike phosphoric acid, 25% hydrochloric acid is readily available at any hardware store. The easiest way to break apart those huge chunks of rust is with abrasives. Water will not sit on top of the surface of the material if there's paint coating on it. Photo by Lemmy. Blow dry if necessary. Neat! Nevertheless, if there is only a mild breakdown or dirt, the tank can be cleaned. The more you can ride the motorbike in winter, the more your motorbike will be healthy. Pretty cool. 32:1 Castor oil mixed with gas in mine William1 Posted January 29, 2020 My Rides (2) I believe he wants to restore an old MT Honda, so he is looking for Kreeme or similar. The rule of thumb is if rust broke through to the outside paint, you should replace the tank immediately. Its a bit of surface rust, so you cant really stop it. One of the safest ways to remove chemical rust is mixing vinegar and baking soda. This will prevent any moisture from entering or forming in the fuel tank. George, High in the hills of Jersey Two Goldwings & a Honda Trail 90 In the air, Private Pilot. Now shake the tank for 15-20 mins with full energy till you get exhausted! The wool is efficient enough to scrape any corrosion and loose rust from the tanks surface. A period of six-hour should elapse before the tank is removed. How to remove rust from inside a motorcycle gas tankPRODUCT: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00IBW8SQW/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_i_c54fEbDK970HTIt is a German manufacturer called \"Tankdoc\" this video is just an example of how to do it (or not 0:44 ) :-D. If you choose this product, I absolutely recommend working exactly as described in the manufacturer's description.TOOLS: Immersion heater, hairdryer, bucket, whisk with drill, funnel, thermometer, watering can, canister, rubber gloves, safety goggles patience and time! Or, just keep count of how many nuts you have used. Old Harley-Davidson fatbob tanks, for instance, have excellent survival rates simply due to the insanely thick steel used in their construction. Now take the board and drill a hole in it. Weve shown you the grocery-store way of doing this. In my eyes, a tank that needs sealer needs replacement. Get it good and clean and then walk away for a week. If you should need to store your bike with a repaired tank for an extended period (years), drain the the tank and repeat the oiling process. Top off your oil regularly to keep parts lubricated. Drain prior to use. As a result the engine can get overheated and get dysfunctional. Also, you should use compressed air to blow dry the tank before using it again. Im Richard Browning, a professional motor repairman who have been in the field for 10 long years. ), 10 innovative ways to go faster on track using data, Placing our virtual Nissan 350Z Inside a virtual wind tunnel | Against the wind: Part 2. When it comes to sealing, we recommend using sealing kits like Evapo-Rust, Kreem, or KBS Fuel Tank Sealer Kit which you can get from your local retailer. The metal parts inside your motorcycle can also corrode over time. (If you have your own methods, please feel free to add them!). If you plan on storing your motorcycle for more than three months, periodically drain a small amount of gas from the tank and top off with fresh gas. Not bad at all. These steps are quite effortless to follow and nowhere near as complicated as measuring horsepower without a dyno. However, it is worth mentioning that nothing except what is required for cleaning the gas tank should be removed. The acid will eat the rust, but its also going to eat through some of the raw steel it reveals, too, and that steel has already been made thinner by the portions that have oxidized to rust and scale. To do that, use a hairdryer while also allowing for natural air to flow through the gas tank. Once youre done and everything looks bright and shiny clean, remove your plugs/caps/filler cap and dump your acid into that waiting bucket you had (that wont be damaged by the acid!). It is dangerous to ride a motorcycle with a rusty gas tank, as rust can easily lead to holes and leaks. He has no need to carry around 40 gallons of gas until next January when he drives cross country. A thorough cleaning is recommended by rinsing the tank with cleaning fluids. Water will not sit on top of the surface of the material if theres paint coating on it. When that one runs low, he fills up Tank B and leaves Tank A low. Will Vinegar Remove Rust From The Gas Tank? With muriatic acid, you want to be as fast as possible so it doesnt damage the tank. Hydrochloric acid is quite popular and effective agent for de-rusting; however, it is very aggressive and can make the material of the tank more vulnerable to corrosion (metal rusts faster if de-rusting is done manually using HCL). However, it is important that the gravel stones are small and sharp-edged. until I see bright bare metal under that filler cap. On a gun barrel they used gun oil, aer0-kroil and WD. He gets paid on the 1st and 15th every month. If you click on some of our links, we may earn a small commission. Most fuel tanks require a two-pronged fork of treatment. The best way to avoid corrosion is to wash your motorcycle regularly and lubricate all the metal parts including the chain for a prolonged life. Youre tired of replacing fuel filters, cleaning your carb, or youre putting a neglected bike back on the road. Depending on the level of scale and rust in your tank, this process may take as long as a few weeks. Attach the negative lead from the battery charger to the tank. Once done, soak the tank for about 30 minutes before shaking it gently back and forth. One of the best ways of media blasting is using dry ice, because with this method it is not necessary to clean the tank afterwards. At this point, apply a sealant on the inside of the tank, using products like Kreem or KBS, to seal the tank permanently from corrosion. Ive known some folks to fill a tank with oil specifically for this purpose. You can increase the duration depending on the level of corrosion. Generally, the newer a bike is, the thinner the sheet metal tends to be in the interest of saving weight and forming more complicated tank shapes. If you dont mind draining it down the road, it can be a great way to keep the rust gone. Fill them both, and as a bonus if he is short on cash he can run the next tank down as well. If you are building a bike and the tank is likely to sit on the shelf for a bit, Id recommend something a touch thicker, like some motor oil, or nice, tacky two-stroke oil. 48. r/handtools. Keep the tank filled up and add a fuel stabilizer in the winter to prevent rust. The rust will damage the engine ultimately. The first step, if you haven't done so already, is to remove the tank from the motorcycle. Aerosol cylinder fogging spray ought to work too. Mix a small ratio like 5:1 gas to oil. So, how does it look? Once your tank is dry inspect using a torch light. If you are using it immediately, heres a word of advice. JavaScript is disabled. Experts recommend filling the 90% gas tank with fuel and filling the rest of the space with antifreeze. Thanks to our readers, I am currently receiving a lot of nice feedback. That will prevent the formation of that flash rust we talked about. The best advice is to run both tanks in order to keep everything operating OK. What's the downside? First, remove the gas tank carefully and make sure you don't lose the nuts and bolts. Maybe two or three rust flakes floated to the top during the flush. Here is the result of my gas tank rust removal project. Now, what does one do after?. Again, seal up the holes, exactly like you did before. If you are going to reinstall the tank immediately, toss a little kerosene in there, seal it back up, and swish it around, coating the tanks innards completely. There are other ways to do this, of course, for nearly two decades Ive been rescuing tanks that seemed beyond repair. You are using an out of date browser. I guess some of you noticed a small amount of rust and got worried. Updated on March 6th, 2022 | By Mohit Chauhan. You may see rust quickly reappear if you dont work quickly and/or the moisture content in the air is high enough. De-rusting the fuel tank with gravel stones is one of the cheapest and easiest alternatives. Rusty. You would need no more then 1-2 gallons of fuel. Rust is Iron Oxide. Fundamentally, all oxidized metal parts can be electrolytically de-rusted. Without proper consideration, one might end up damaging other parts. After the initial step, the next is to soak the tank in vinegar. Chances are your fuel tank is either rusting from the inside or the fuel has mixed with rust particles giving you a run for your money! If you can find a more efficient way for shaking, do it. People should wear eye protection and a face mask to avoid inhaling gas fumes. Put about 400 grams into the tank and then add boiling water, making sure you fill it all the way to the rim. Greasers YG1 tank here is actually the first tank Ive ever cleaned using vinegar. Tom Heath Webmaster. Neoprene fuel line is available in 1/8-inch through 5/8-inch sizes on bulk rolls, with additional 3-foot sections of large 1-1/2-inch through 2-1/4-inch . It is dangerous to ride a motorcycle with a rusty gas tank, as rust can easily lead to holes and leaks. Flush and neutralize Seal (optional) Assess your specimen Every tank differs in terms of its level of degradation. Hi all: You can find whole sets online, that should cover you for future tank cleanups. It can also clog the fuel filter which will mess up with the fuel flow. Southseascycles.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. They ain't light, but to get a set to rust through you almost have to drop 'em in the ocean for a few decades. People can use a simple home recipe like vinegar can be used to do away with rust in an effortless way. This is particularly difficult with motorcycle tanks because motorcycles have small, angled tanks. No carrying extra fuel, no filling up 2 tanks, no BS with fogging or rusting. Emptied the vinegar, and totally flushed it with baking soda and a garden hose. Remove the abrasives too, make sure you get everything. However, it is important that the workpiece must not be completely rusted through. The fuel stabilizer will prevent the gas from breaking down during storage and will prevent condensation from building up. So in the mean time, once the tank is cleaned and reinstalled, to prevent it from internally rusting I was thinking of "fogging"" the tank with fogging fluid, or, put a couple of gallons with double the normal about of Stabil--as they reccommend for long fuel preservantion.. ( I have not used used Seafoam, and I understand that's more for cleaning than preserving fuel.). Check out some more of our videos!https://youtu.be/-WuU1F2VLoI?list=PLCkV34WXIYtSByal59BrwZf442y3rTEYLPlease keep these tips in mind when using Metal Rescue on your painted item. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Kreem Combo Kit Gas Tank Fuel Liner Sealer Motorcycle ATV Rust Coating Seal at the best online prices at eBay! Immerse the piece of metal that is attached on the wooden or plastic board inside the tank. Once complete, one can use a spare towel to seal it. This will drain any water that may have formed. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Are Titan Wheel Spacers Good? Keep your fuel tank filled with high-octane gas. Take a flashlight and a mirror. It is one of the most widely used products in the automotive industry to chemically remove rust from tanks without damaging the surface of the tank. The first prong deals with removing the heaviest rust deposits, and the second involves rejuvenating the finish, possibly in preparation for the installation of a tank sealer. I added a half cup of table salt and sloshed it around for two days. I repeat this process whenever the urge strikes me (a few times a day, perhaps?) Simply spray Dry Coat on your metal part and watch nothing happen. In my opinion, as long as rust has not gotten through to the exterior of the tank, it can be cleaned. Ill tell you my secret weapon a little later on. Rust can begin to Circulate inside the engine, when this occurs the quantity of air mixing with the fuel drops. A common symptom of a neglected motorcycle appears in the form of a rusted fuel tank, corroding from the inside out as trapped condensation begins to oxidize and erode the metal tank. And if you're using something stronger, it's a possibility the item(s) may react violently and turn to dust. It depends on your situation, if youre lucky both ways are easy. Free shipping for many products! Lastly, you will have to let the sealer harden for one to two weeks before you can install and use the tank again. Assess the situation? It's one of my favorite rust preventers. Be careful with the bucket you are using, make sure it cant get damaged from the acids. 88. 10. 5. It etches in almost no time flat. We may earn commissions based on product recommendations on this site. Dont worry about flash rust. Allow the product to harden thoroughly before using the tank again. why not fill both tanks.. run one until it is empty, then switch to the other and refil the one you just emptied. Any excess sealant must be drained out immediately. After 24 hours open and empty the tank, using the same procedure as in the vinegar method. Consider, too, the tanks construction. Order the right equipment to do the job correctly, and your results will be indicative of your diligence. Now lets get to know about 5 easy ways that will keep the rust away for forever. Damn.. on day 3 it was like brand new inside. If you live in an area with high humidity, consider adding a moisture absorber to your gas tank. Here's what we start with. Photo by Lemmy. On the flip side, the tank should be eradicated if the motorcycle is kept for a long time. Materials needed for electrolysis rust removal: Scrap nuts and bolts. How to store the motorbike gas tank properly? 1. It might be easier and more economical, but all that relies on how dirty and rusty the tank is. If its been preserved and is considerably better than your current one, dont think twice. Then, youll want to rinse the tank. If your tank has rusted through in any areas, that too may be an indicator that the tank is beyond saving, depending on your time and finances budgeted to the task. A lot of work, cleaning the inside of the tank.getting the dents out, finding NOS decals, pant. A flashlight, mirror, cell phone, and bore scope may all come in handy at this time. Cleaning is not better than replacing the tank. Last Updated on 2 months by Mark Nicholson. The best way to deal with a hole like this is probably to make a block-off plate, acquire a gasket, and install it just like you would the fuel pump. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'engineneeds_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_6',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-engineneeds_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Yes, vinegar is effective at removing rust from gas tanks since it contains acetic acid. This ensures that there is no trace of vinegar in the tank anymore. After fifteen (15) minutes, the tank should be rinsed with water until the water poured out of the tank is crystal clear. Get air flowing through the tank. Chrome! Since its highly likely youll be doing this on a different day, before you go to flush, put a five-gallon pot of water on a stove or hotplate in the shop and get it hot. If it's feasible and not snowing around you, you can ride the motorbike for an hour. A bund (secondary containment) made of concrete or brick is very useful and necessary to prevent and hold spillages. When the bike is inactive or the tank is never filled up, rust forms on the surface exposed to oxygen. The most significant contributor towards the formation of rust in fuel tanks is the presence of ethanol within the fuel.