Cleaning out a fuel tank (on the cheap!)

Bikemike · Post by **Bikemike** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 11:33 pm

Hi Folks, I'm going to use my good fuel tank on the standard bike I am currently restoring so I need to clean out my spare tank, which has been sat for a while and has some surface rust inside.

Now I am aware that there are some very good products available to clean and seal tanks from Frosts and maybe others BUT I am a Yorkshireman.

So, is there a cheap (or preferably free) way to do this? The tank is not too bad (luckily the bike ran premix so was nice and oily in there) but I would like to get it a bit cleaner.

Any hints and tips?

Thanks,

Mike

Post by **alimorg** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:25 am

Pop in a handfull of gravel, wrap it in an old duvet, bung it in the tumble drier on cool for an hour (when the misses is out!) when you get it out all the surface rust will have gone - perfecty prepped!
Cheers
AL
P.S. Do not blame me if this ends in disaster - I have never done this and have never heard of anyone who has done it!

Howie · Post by **Howie** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:19 am

There is an article on cheap tank cleaning in Classic bike this month, I'll scan it & pop it on the forum tonight.

Use's a cement mixer instead of Al's idea of a tumble dryer & then you have to knock up some chemicals & a battery charger, looks like you get good results!

Howie

Bertie_Mollie · Post by **Bertie_Mollie** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:27 am

Howie wrote:There is an article on cheap tank cleaning in Classic bike this month, I'll scan it & pop it on the forum tonight.

Use's a cement mixer instead of Al's idea of a tumble dryer & then you have to knock up some chemicals & a battery charger, looks like you get good results!

Howie

I've been itching to try electrolysis for a while now. I even went out and bought the chemicals from the local swimming pool suppliers shop. I shounds dead easy and I am lead to believe very effective.

Tambo · Post by **Tambo** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 6:41 pm

Bertie_Mollie wrote: I even went out and bought the chemicals from the local swimming pool suppliers shop.

That must be a posh neighbourhood................I've only got a co-op, and a newsagents

No pools, so not enough business to justify a pool supplier

Howie · Post by **Howie** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:31 pm

Because I am an decent upstanding member of society, I am going to try to get Classic bikes permission to post the article on the forum. I haven't forgotten BM

Plus I don't want a lot of copyright nonsense, you know what its like nowadays

Howie

KR-1R · Post by **KR-1R** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 10:30 pm

or a bag of KITTY LITTER? (saves picking shit out of the gravel)
may crumble and leave residue though

google virbatory finishing or ISOTROPIC finishing (superfinishing)

how fast would MJ's bike be at Bonnie with an Isotropic treated gearset? it would still be stock right?

250 drummie · Post by **250 drummie** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:03 am

Try this link using Molasses

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/53656 ... moval.html

Bikemike · Post by **Bikemike** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:53 am

Some excellent ideas here folks

Not sure if I'll actually use any of them though (but if I do I'll post pics!)

Mike

SP_BOTT · Post by **SP_BOTT** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:15 am

250 drummie wrote:Try this link using Molasses

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/53656 ... moval.html

Just read this and might give it a go, thought it was a wind up TBH, got access to as much as I need, so I could even try it on a petrol tank? might see if it works on nuts and bolts first.

250 drummie · Post by **250 drummie** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:09 pm

One of the blokes in the VJMC did it and said it worked well.

Bertie_Mollie · Post by **Bertie_Mollie** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:47 pm

Tambo wrote:
That must be a posh neighbourhood................I've only got a co-op, and a newsagents

I should say so. Waitrose here - LOL