Rusty tank

[loki7714]

Is there any way to clean rust out of a tank? Just wondering because i'll be cleaning my carbs soon and will drain tank and check for rust (more than likely have some).

[Turboryan]

I bought my 99' from a dealer in spring.  A week after buying it she broke down. Turns out the inside of the tank was severly rusted.  The dealer said tuff luck...  The way i fixed it was first completely remove all paint from the tank then i took it to a local radiator shop where they boiled it down several times then lined the inside of the tank with a pvc type material.  Works like new now, the only problem is i still have to repaint the bike...  Total cost= $80 + Several hours of sanding...

[wladziu]

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/andyspatch/rust.htm

Repainting would be almost certainly necessary. 

[loki7714]

Heard somebody say something about hydrochloric acid? Could i use the leftover from my battery? 

[gearman]

I used Evapo-Rust. Throw in a gallon and let sit for 24 hrs. Rotate and repeat as needed. Doesn't harm paint or the base metal and it's reuseable.

[loki7714]

1st: Where i get that (plus how much)
2nd: I don't understand why you need to repaint the tank if you just remove rust off the inside?

[loki7714]

Bumpy bump  Like louisianas roads! 

[bigfatcat]

My tank was rusty when I bought the gs - seller had installed an inline fuel filter. Haven't had trouble yet, change the filter every so often. But I will clean out the tank, someday.

[The Buddha]

I can almost guarantee a coating job without having to paint. $60 and return shipping, turnaround - totally depends on weather, I need dry and relatively warm days - 60's is fine, today and yesterday were in the 60's but soppy wet. OK Shameless Plug over.

Battery acid is sulphuric acid and will eat rust, but leave sulphate in its place. White powder.
Hydrochloric acid is sold as muriatic acid at lowes types. It will etch and get rust out, but will need to be removed. Baking soda does that, then dried ... heat, sunlight, towels, and luck do that. Then Put in the POR 15 sealant and coat and warm it and dry it. Do it badly like some people ahve done and even the buddha cant help you ... OK OK just kidding, the buddha can for 150 bones. Cut under the tank, scrape the MOFO off, re acid treat, re POR 15 it some times with a brush, then weld it back on, and coat that part. This is like armnageddon, but a bad coating job with POR 15 is a nuclear weapon with launch codes in the hands of osama bin laden.

There is several threads about it in the FAQ.

Cool.
Buddha.

[loki7714]

So if i install a fuel filter (already ordered one from bikebandit earlier this week) i dont need to clean out tank?

[The Buddha]

Do bandaids cure cancer Yes, but only for a short period of time ... how short ... could be very very short.
Cool.
Buddha.

[wladziu]

_

[wladziu]

Yes, Buddha, because dissolving rust with muriatic acid leaves Iron Chloride, which is also corrosive (even on stainless steel) and tends to stick around. 
I wish you'd start up a zinc coating business.  It's a lot cleaner, permanent, a lot easier, and a lot harder to screw up.  Slight overhead, but that POR-15 isn't cheap either. 

[loki7714]

here here
finally got tank off, had to cut longest fuel line b/c the wire was fused to the ummm thing lol.
Any way wat do i do now? Drain and check for rust?
Oh yeah and note to self: Even fused gas lines are springy enough to sling gas in your eye and make you look like an @$$hole as you run through the living room towards the bathroom sink... At least i got it off 

[loki7714]

EMGO Universal Glass fuel filters have glass body with chrome end caps and include hose clamps and spare nylon filter element. Size=5/16 inch

That sound like a good fuel filter? 

[xanthras]

I have a 94 GS500E that has a rusty tank. I just got the tank off today and am planning to try that Rusteco stuff. It is supposed to eat the rust without harming anything but is kinda expensive. Sounds kinda crazy, but some of the things I have read on it make it seem legit. Anyone ever used it? I could use some advice actually. I emptied the tank which was a real PITA. Also, I need to rinse it out pretty well but really dont want to stink up my house with gas. I am in upstate NY and its pretty COLD so doing things outside is not an option. Also, I am wondering if the Rusteco will mess with the tank fuelcock. I would leave it off, but I need to seal the tank. Anyone got any ideas on this? Anyways. I feel your pain about the tank. Good luck with whatever you use. Really though, anyone who has used Rusteco, please give me any tips that may help.

[loki7714]

My chemistry teacher told me electrolysis wasn't that hard... Then like wrote out all the formulas and stuff to show me 

[xanthras]

I am sure it could work, but it seems like it would take ages. I would be curious to know how it comes out if you do it.

[loki7714]

Thinking i might try it.

[The Buddha]

Yes, Buddha, because dissolving rust with muriatic acid leaves Iron Chloride, which is also corrosive (even on stainless steel) and tends to stick around. 
I wish you'd start up a zinc coating business.  It's a lot cleaner, permanent, a lot easier, and a lot harder to screw up.  Slight overhead, but that POR-15 isn't cheap either. 

Well ... I get it out with hot ... boiling water and baking soda ... it will flash rust by the time it gets dry ... usually I can dry it fast enough and get it coated before it flash rusts ... POR sticks to flash rust pretty well it its dry and oil free.
I doubt there is anything eating the thing under the POR 15, I have 10 year old sloppy kreem jobs that still are intact.
Cool.
Buddha.