rusty tank

[JahklaR]

I am going to be restoring a 1973 TS185 that I just acquired recently. One big thing is that the tank has rust all over the inside. I'm not sure what the best method of getting it cleaned up would be, any tips would be helpful.

also, anyone that has any other general tips for the restoration of an older bike like this would be appreciated.

Thanks

[DrBob]

Fill the tank with hot, soapy water using dishwashing liquid or laundry soap. Runs it out good, then pour some Simple Green, Formula 409, or similar degrease in it and swish it around. Dump it out and let it dry. This will get rid of a lot of the gunk in the tank.

Now plug the fuel outlet holes and vent. Then carefully mask off the entire outside of the tank with plastic, as the next step will eat off the paint.

There are two ways to do it: quick and dirty, or permanent. With a restoration, I would go for the permanent fix.

Order a Kreem Tank Liner Kit from JC Whitney or see if you can find one at AutoZone/ Pep Boys. This is a three-part kit. The first step is an acid wash for the inside of the tank. You dump in the tank and put a couple of layers of plastic bags in the filler hole and force on the gas cap. Let it sit for 24 hours, swishing it around every now and then. Dump it out, rinse with water, and dry with a hair dryer or compressed air.
Then you dump in part two, which absorbs water and coats the inside of the tank. Swish it around for a few minutes and then dump and dry, but not with compressed air, which will leave water behind.
Step three is a milk-like liquid you dump in and swish all around to coat the tank. Poor out the excess, and keep swishing the tank around until it all dries so it doesn’t puddle. Let it air-dry overnight, and repeat with a second coat the next day.
BMW coats their tanks like this, as does Harley, but Jap bike tanks are just bare metal on the inside, so they rust out. Your tank is now rust-free and lined so that it will never rust again.

The quick and dirty way is to get some phosphorous solution from the paint shop or hardware store, like Naval Jelly or rust remover. DO NOT get the stuff that turns rust into black stuff; get a phosphorous solution that will eat away rust. Fill the tank and swish it around every now and then to keep the insides wet, and in about 24 hours rinse well and dry. The rust will be gone, but it will of course come right back.

[JahklaR]

Ah thanks for the info

[87gsxrnut]

Your tank is now rust-free and lined so that it will never rust again.

Unless the kreme coat is done wrong, and it starts disintegrating in the tank thus causing lots of problems.

I hate that stuff.

Some other ideas:

http://www.evaporust.com/?p=1

Or you could just use some ball bearings and shake them around.

- Nut

[DrBob]

Yup, like most things, if you don;t follow the directions bad things happen! Don't skimp on the prep, don't cut the acid bath short, and make sure you dry it completely and Kreme Coat works wonderfully. I have used it on bike tanks that are still rust free after 10+ years.

[sparty]

www.por15.com
same type of stuff, might be cheaper, usually ships withing a couple days. i've used the stuff a couple times as well, works wonderfully.

[Spyder76]

Also, might want to check www.rusteco.com. They have a product that seems to be a good one step, paint safe, non-corrosive fix. There is a review of it at http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/tech/Rust/. You can also send them your tank and they will do it for $145-$155. Anybody know anything else about these guys or their product? I ask because I too have a rusted tank to clean.