Cleaning a steel tank

Technical topics related to machines powered by Kioritz/CCW & Kohler motors.
Post Reply
Mailman
Posts: 215
Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: Sandy Otte
Location: Wakefield, NE

Cleaning a steel tank

Post by Mailman »

In the process of puting my JDX4 back together I dumped the fuel out of the steel tank with the idea of cleaning it. Aboyt 25-30 years ago I had coated the inside with some rubber coating from JC Whitney and over the years it has started to let go and become tacky. Is there a way short of spliting the tank and rewelding that a person can clean the tank to get the rubber crud and rust that was in the tank in the 1st place? If a person took it to a radiator shop would they be able to get it clean enough or is there a magic method that I can use? Thanks Sandy O.
User avatar
ihengineer76
Posts: 467
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:53 am
Real Name: Tom Rehberg
Location: SC Wisconsin

Re: Cleaning a steel tank

Post by ihengineer76 »

You might be able to get the rubber stuff to melt out with some Xylene or lacquer thinner. As for the rust, put a few hundred BB's in it and shake the hell out of it.
1976 Liquidator - 970 mile raced sled
1975 340/S - I-500 raced sled
1978 440 Liquifire
Mailman
Posts: 215
Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: Sandy Otte
Location: Wakefield, NE

Re: Cleaning a steel tank

Post by Mailman »

Thanks, with the ammo shortage hope I can find BB's. LOL
Matt
Posts: 4747
Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: Matt
Location: Coopersburg, PA
Contact:

Re: Cleaning a steel tank

Post by Matt »

Or a length of chain, and oven cleaner.
:usa: Matt - JDsleds.com Administrator
User avatar
400brian
Posts: 5626
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: James T. Kirk
Location: South Central Wisconsin

Re: Cleaning a steel tank

Post by 400brian »

The steel tanks are a problem.

Oven cleaner takes out the black crud, with the help of a bunch of nuts, bolts, rocks chain, etc. Rust is the next issue, various acids will take that out, but it will be hard to keep it from coming back. Kreem is often suggested as a coating, I have not tried it. I have found that often the necks at the top of the tank will be rusted through. On my '72 tank, I mudded in the pin holes in the gauge neck with mil-spec gasket sealant.

'09 Vintage Challenge Survivor, and I wasn't late for supper!
'10, '11, '12, '13,'14,'15,'16,'17, '18, 19, 20, 21, 22 Vintage Challenge Survivor !
72 400 restored, Father bought new in '71
73 X8 restored
'74 340 green machine
'74 X8 9 time VC finisher
'78 Spitfire in progress
2 '75 340S 1 running, one on deck
'78 LF 440 future CC clone
'73 Skiroule RTX 440, 500 mi.
friendlyfarmeria
Posts: 109
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:27 am
Real Name: Curt
Location: Toledo, Ia.

Re: Cleaning a steel tank

Post by friendlyfarmeria »

I've used POR15 twice with great success,,,,,,, be sure to follow the directions to the letter.
1974 400
1974 600
1974 JDX8
User avatar
nick80lf
Posts: 1162
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 10:45 pm
Real Name: Nick
Location: The snow free zone of Ohio

Re: Cleaning a steel tank

Post by nick80lf »

One of the guys at work used Danzig's electrolysis method to neutralize the rust inside of a motorcycle tank. He filled the tank with the washing soda solution, mounted the electrode (bent at a 90 degree angle) in a wood block, inserted said electrode, hooked it up to a power source and let it cook. He reported that it worked very well.
80 Liquifire (purchased 1996 ~ Running)
80 Liquifire (purchased 2010 ~ Running....Now)
80 Liquifire (purchased 2011 ~ Not running - I officially have a problem now)
83 Snowfire (purchased 2014 father/son restoration project)
78 Spitfire ~ sold (should have been shot for this)
81 spitfire
Posts: 36
Joined: Wed Feb 29, 2012 2:11 pm
Location: Nebraska

Re: Cleaning a steel tank

Post by 81 spitfire »

I have also used the POR15 kit on a motorcycle tank. Two years and still no rust
User avatar
HoosierDeereMan
Posts: 1089
Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2007 1:00 am
Real Name: Troy Miley
Location: Oakland City, IN

Re: Cleaning a steel tank

Post by HoosierDeereMan »

It's been 12 or 15 years ago but I had to clean the steel tank on my '73 400. As mentioned earlier I used a piece of chain and a hand full of hex nuts pitched in the tank with some paint thinner. I had to shake the heck out of it and it took several times of rinsing and shaking to get it in decent shape inside. I bought a Kreem kit at a local bike shop. It came with a etching acid that your pour in and slosh around the the tank then followed by the Kreem coating. One kit was enough to do the tank. It has held up well and I haven't had any rust issues since.

Since that time a local radiator repair shop offers a epoxy coating they can coat the inside of a gas tank with. We've used his services twice on diesel fuel tanks on tractors with very good results. You may do some checking with your local radiator shop. You may get lucky and find one that offers this service. Price was very reasonable I thought.

Troy
'72 400
'73 400, (2)500's, 600
'74 295/S (restored) 2010 HOF poker run survivor.
'75 800, JDX8,
'75 340/S 2011 & 2012 Vintage Challenge finisher.
'76 (2)400's
'78 Liquifire 340,440
'79 Spitfire
"If it has Tits, Tires, or Tracks it's gonna cost you money!"
User avatar
Danzig
Posts: 4431
Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: Paul File
Location: Van Orin, Illinois

Re: Cleaning a steel tank

Post by Danzig »

electrolosis works
1973 JDX8
1978 Liquifire 340
1980 Liquifire 440 CC Racer
1980 Liquifire 440
1982 Liquifire 440


"Gotta Lick It Before You Stick It"
JDT
Posts: 5561
Joined: Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:00 am
Real Name: Todd
Location: Milbank South Dakota

Re: Cleaning a steel tank

Post by JDT »

Danzig wrote:electrolosis works
So does waxing but it realy smarts.
Todd Schrupp

Milbank SD
Mailman
Posts: 215
Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: Sandy Otte
Location: Wakefield, NE

Re: Cleaning a steel tank

Post by Mailman »

When useing "oven cleaner" is there anything besides the spray on type. I have found the spray on type but haven't been able to find any liquid type to say just pour in the tank and shake with nut & bolts or do you have to spray the can in the tank and then shake up? Thanks Sandy O.
Livestock 109
Posts: 29
Joined: Fri Nov 15, 2013 2:05 am
Real Name: Scott
Location: Saskatchewan

Re: Cleaning a steel tank

Post by Livestock 109 »

I realize this is an old post but I've used muriatic acid with great success. Quick and cheap even on really rusted tanks. Looks almost like new. :canada:
Post Reply