How to clean a rusty tank

alex2013 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 01 Jan 2013 Karma :

I have a "sort of" rusty tank, which was on a bike when I got it, when I drained out the tank it was rusty water/petrol that came out.

So far I've put bolts and screws basically anything that will hopefully loosen of some rust, placed a few magnets to hopefully attract fragments of rust

Is there a way of sealing it to stop it from rusting again?

Thanks

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Pet seal apparently works well Thumbs Up

mospeed · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 26 Dec 2012 Karma :

https://www.caswelleurope.co.uk/gastank.htm

This should help. Although there are other products also available.

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Phosphoric acid. I've done quite a few tanks with it now, search in the forum for phosphoric acid and you'll find my instructions somewhere.

Actually gets rids of rust, rather than just binding it into a layer of epoxy. Eats aluminium and rubber though.

andym · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Nov 2010 Karma :

To make sure it's clean in the first place try a bit of electrolysis to remove the rust, then slap in some kreem (or other tank sealer)

katana · Trackday Trickster Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Karma :

POR15 tank kit.

BTTD · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

I've done electrolysis on a small generator tank, same process as a bike tank. There's lots of info via youtube and google.
After that I filled the tank with sainsburys cola and let it sit for a week to disolve any crud left, then a small tin of POR15 tank sealer.
Tip - shove a whittled down stick/pencil/whatever up the breather tubes etc so they don't get blocked by the POR when you slosh it about. Pull em out when the tanks drying.

Srengam · Scooby Slapper Joined: 23 May 2012 Karma :

I took my tank off, removed the fuel filter, took the tank to work in the car, and steam cleaned it (lowered to pressure a little on the jet washer to be on the safe side), just stuck the end of the pressure washer in the top and give it some welly.

It cleaned up fantastic, spotless, like a bran spanking new tank.
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Suzuki GSX600F Katana (1997)

nowhere.elysium · The Pork Lord Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

The POR15 kit is good, but the POR15 stuff itself is useless.

The key is to use the Marine clean, then Metal Ready, and only use the POR15 if there are holes. However, I've never managed to make it work.

I did it on my FZR400 tank, and I used Marine Clean, and then Metal ready which coats the inside of the tank in some sort of salt. I then rinsed it with clean water, and then old petrol.

On the RD tank, it was a different matter. I ended up with huge holes in the tank that could not be fixed even with the POR15.

Just buy a gallon of metal ready and a gallon of Marine clean.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

Vincent · Banned Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Karma :

BTTD · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

MarJay, interested that you couldn't get the POR15 stuff to work - what went wrong? Did it flake off or not set properly?

My tank wasn't holed, but had a shit ton of rust all over the inside. My process was rinsing out with hose pipe (to blast flakes off), electrolysis, rinsing, cola, thorough rinsing and an hour or so with a hair drying blowing hot air through the tank to dry it out.
Plugged up the holes and poured in the POR. Lots of rotating and sloshing about, pour out excess, unplug holes and leave to dry for a week.
It went off rock solid.
Mate at work used the same on his Fazer tank, but he did repair small holes first.

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :