cleaning the inside of a gas tank
Tue, 31 Aug 2021 16:59:38 GMT
I think I read in here once peoples opinion on how to clean the inside of a gas tank. Looking for those opinions again. Thanks Tommy
Reply:What do you mean exactly, removing the gas completely, or removing rust?
Reply:back away from the tank....and get a new one...gas tanks...i wont go there... ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:If you mean cleaning rust, etc.,put some small(1"-2") crushed rocks in it w/ a couple of gallons of diesel. Then suspend it from a rope so it is balanced and start sliding the rocks back and forth alternating directions they move. Be sure the tank doesn't have a lip where spout enters tank. if it does, you won't be able to remove rocks. In that case use a short length of chain w/ a good nylon rope attached to it so you can pull it out. If you're thinking of welding or brazing it,fill it w/ CO 2. I've done it w/ the old garden hose hooked to car/PU exhaust. But I won't recommend it to someone else. MikeLast edited by mla2ofus; 08-07-2006 at 07:34 PM.Ol' Stonebreaker "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterback away from the tank....and get a new one...gas tanks...i wont go there... ...zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by mla2ofusIf you mean cleaning rust, etc.,put some small(1"-2") crushed rocks in it w? a couple of gallons of diesel. Then suspend it from a rope so it is balanced and start sliding the rocks back and forth alternating directions they move. Be sure the tank doesn't have a lip where spout enters tank. if it does, you won't be able to remove rocks. In that case use a short length of chain w/ a good nylon rope attached to it so you can pull it out. If you're thinking of welding or brazing it,fill it w/ CO 2. I've done it w/ the old garden hose hooked to car/PU exhaust. But I won't recommend it to someone else. Mike
Reply:Zap, I feel for your cousin. My question is why didn't they use a sawzall to cut it in half?By using the torch,what little gas was in in there certainly had plenty of oxidizer!!!Not trying to belittle anyone or start an argument!!! I've never cut one w/ a torch. Always filled it w/ CO 2 or exhaust gases and brazed cracks since oxygen is consumed in torch flame. Maybe I'm just lucky,tho I lived in Nv. for several years and never had good gamblers luck(LOL). MikeOl' Stonebreaker "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterdangerous... at best..listenin 1988 my cousin was in a factory..big factory that did plastic injection molding...the owners were car nuts just like us...they were building a dune buggy out back in the machine shop..nice tools everything you'd want..needed a gas tank...went out in the field and dragged a gas tank out of a vw beetle that sat for 10 yrs...no fuel in it so it was "good to go"they wanted to cut it in half and make it smaller...they filled it with water a couple of times to make sure it was clean..went to cut it with a torch?..burned the building down...everything..the owner was in the burn ward for 2 yrs... my cousin burnt his arm up pretty bad..he's ok now but just the thought..the moral is that anything can happen and will if your not careful...myself? after that i dont go near them.. never again..i get a new one and call it a day......zap!
Reply:I've worked on motorcycle tank some.. What I always did was pour in some methanol, shake it up real good, then fill with water and flush it for half an hour or so. That should remove any gasoline. I would still shy away from cutting it with a torch though. Another thing to remember is do it outside!Zap's right though, best thing to do is find another one.
Reply:Having welded on fuel tanks, I can tell you that it's not an easy thing to do. Just go to OSHA's web site, search on industrial accidents, and look at the number of fatalities per year related to welding on tanks. If you're going to do it:1. Go to your local motorcycle dealer, and get a Cream Coat kit. Inside are two containers, one's an acid, which will strip out the rust on the inside of the tank. The rust is what adsorbs (yes, adsorbs, not absords) the gasoline which will cause you problems and set your posterior on fire.2. Once the tank has been properly cleaned and rinsed per the manufacturer's directions, set a nitrogen or argon purge (nitrogen's cheaper) in the inside of the tank before cutting. Purge for at least 20 minutes at about 4-5 scfh. Don't get too high a flow or turbulent flow will result, and you dont want to pressurize the inside of the tank. This is for cutting with O/F, or with a sawzall. Remember, sawzall's make sparks, too.3. When you're ready to weld, again, purge the inside of the tank.Finish with the cream coat, per the manufacturer's instructions.I know how to weld tanks. If I can find a replacement at the local graveyard, rather than welding it, I'll pitch and replace in a minute. And if you're not absolutely sure what you're doing, stay away, we'd like to continue seeing you here in these forums.I r 2 a perfessional
Reply:sorry to get into it guys...but when something as "innocent" as that happens...i stay away..far away...if you like playing with old / new gas tanks then have fun..saftey first.....zap!i saw the results...thats enough for meI am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:You are right, Zap. If original tanks in good condition for vintage bikes were cheap and easy to find I would have never touched one.
Reply:I get irritated every time I read one of these threads. Admittedly, that is my own shortcoming, but I don't see the necessity of attempting to constrain anyone from doing anything they'd like to do even if it is dangerous. It should suffice to simply inform the person of the risks involved and let them make their own decision.Welding and cutting on fuel tanks is an inherently risky business as it is difficult to properly passivate a fuel tank that has been soaked in fuel for any length of time. If it isn't done properly, there is a strong likelihood of a fire or an explosion. When there are significant risks involved, one has to consider how much faith to invest in any advice received from strangers on the Internet or from anyone for that matter. There are a lot of myths surrounding the proper procedures.I've never welded a fuel tank in my life, but I wouldn't hesitate to do so if I felt it were necessary. If I were going to weld a fuel tank, the very first thing I would do would be to get a copy of this publication and read it:http://www.awspubs.com/product_info.php?products_id=232The second thing I would do would be to purchase an LEL meter like this one:http://www.coleparmer.com/catalog/pr...sp?sku=8194835Then, I suspect that I would steam clean the tank, check it with an LEL meter, let it sit for a while and then check it again, maybe steam-cleaning it some more. Then I'd purge it with nitrogen, and get on with my welding and cutting. I wouldn't advise that anyone else follow this procedure or any other, but it is what I would do if I had the need.-Heath
Reply:Heath...now this is exactly why your on the team..did you enter and sign in please?...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Ive filled the tank up with co2 first then did the work. Welding, cutting, etc. and I cant imagine, drowning a gas tank in water twice, blowing up. Something obviously was overlooked, what? Only he knows.
Reply:I'm talking about cleaning out the dried up crap at the bottom of the tank, not torching it,( AH HELL NO ) ! Thanks
Reply:tompit9:I don't know how large the tank you are working on is, if it's a motorcycle tank or similar give this some thought:I clean and polish (Yes polish) the insides of really, really badly rusty, gummed up, grimy motorcycle tanks by mounting them on an old grill rotisserie and letting them roll for a couple of days with a quart or two of sand in them. Sometimes I have to let them roll for a while in one direction then turn them and let them roll for a while in the other direction to get good coverage.They literally come out polished inside!Patrick
Reply:the CREAM product is some good stuff have used on many motorcycle tanks but you might also try VINEGAR to clean it out, it is cheaper and will remove rust. but it takes a day or two of soaking... try a rusty bolt or some thing soak for a couple a days then wash off
Reply:i have welded fuel tanks it's not hard 'there is a safe way to do it and im not telling but rinsing with water an't itChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:Originally Posted by chopper5i have welded fuel tanks it's not hard 'there is a safe way to do it and im not telling but rinsing with water an't it
Reply:well heres the thing if i tell you and you dont do it right and get nuked it will be my faultso do this at your owne riskyou fill the air space with argon or co2 fule wont burn with out airthe fule can not be washed out you will still have some in the tank but the air can be displacedLast edited by chopper5; 08-08-2006 at 06:03 PM.ChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:I use phosphoric acid with about a half pound of nuts and bolts with the tank sealed to clean up rust. You can purchase 70% phosphoric acid from a chemical warehouse. The usual safety rules apply...long-sleeve shirt, eye protection, gloves, don't pour water into acid to diulte, etc.I've welded Harley fuel tanks numerous times after doing the phosphoric wash. I never feel good about it, however. The acid will remove the petrochemicals after about a half hour. It leaves a nice patina. As to the chemical tank liners like Kreem, they can work but only if the tank is surgically clean. If there is any rust at all, the Kreem will come off and clog the fuel tap.In general, if you can't get the fuel tank completely clean inside, it's best to just scrap it and get another one.
Reply:Cutting a tank with oxy fuel could be extremely dangerous, per Zapster's story. The oxygen jet used for cutting is not fully consumed, so you are pumping oxygen into an enclosed container that may also contain fuel and introducing a little heat at the same time.
Reply:Originally Posted by ulav8rCutting a tank with oxy fuel could be extremely dangerous, per Zapster's story. The oxygen jet used for cutting is not fully consumed, so you are pumping oxygen into an enclosed container that may also contain fuel and introducing a little heat at the same time.
Reply:years ago we used to steam them for an hour and then weld right away...but now a-days i think new ones are cheaper..at least for most cars and light trucks...if you were to steam one now for an hour , and then add your min. labor i am certain you would be well over the cost of a new jobber tank
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