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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: loki7714 on December 10, 2008, 03:33:08 PM

Title: Rusty tank
Post by: loki7714 on December 10, 2008, 03:33:08 PM
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).
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: Turboryan on December 10, 2008, 03:45:25 PM
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...
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: wladziu on December 10, 2008, 04:39:58 PM
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/andyspatch/rust.htm (http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/andyspatch/rust.htm)

Repainting would be almost certainly necessary. 
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: loki7714 on December 10, 2008, 05:09:11 PM
Heard somebody say something about hydrochloric acid? Could i use the leftover from my battery?  :)
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: gearman on December 10, 2008, 05:17:25 PM
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.
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: loki7714 on December 10, 2008, 05:25:50 PM
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?
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: loki7714 on December 10, 2008, 08:38:30 PM
Bumpy bump  :D Like louisianas roads!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: bigfatcat on December 11, 2008, 05:29:15 AM
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.
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: The Buddha on December 11, 2008, 09:27:59 AM
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.
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: loki7714 on December 11, 2008, 12:43:25 PM
So if i install a fuel filter (already ordered one from bikebandit earlier this week) i dont need to clean out tank?
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: The Buddha on December 11, 2008, 01:34:59 PM
Do bandaids cure cancer ??? Yes, but only for a short period of time ... how short ... could be very very short.
Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: wladziu on December 11, 2008, 01:46:33 PM
_
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: wladziu on December 11, 2008, 03:05:46 PM
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. 
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: loki7714 on December 11, 2008, 03:10:31 PM
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  :cheers:
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: loki7714 on December 11, 2008, 05:03:18 PM
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?  :dunno_white:
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: xanthras on December 11, 2008, 06:46:24 PM
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.
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: loki7714 on December 11, 2008, 06:48:32 PM
My chemistry teacher told me electrolysis wasn't that hard... Then like wrote out all the formulas and stuff to show me  :cookoo:
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: xanthras on December 11, 2008, 07:04:22 PM
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.
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: loki7714 on December 11, 2008, 07:07:05 PM
Thinking i might try it.
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: The Buddha on December 11, 2008, 10:12:42 PM
Quote from: wladziu on December 11, 2008, 03:05:46 PM
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.
Title: Re: Rusty tank
Post by: wladziu on December 11, 2008, 11:16:48 PM
Yeah, I wasn't trying to seem like a know-it-all b!tch or anything. 
I was just saying, if somebody's gonna do it, then they need to do it right.  If they miss spots with the POR-15 after doing the muriatic thing, it'll rust even faster.  If they've got doubts about it, it would be best to send it to someone who's had practice at it. 


I'm not sure if this'll work, but I'm gonna try this on mine soon:
Just drain the tank and fill it with electrolysis solution.  Drop the sacrificial anode into the tank through the fill port, and plug some polystyrene packing or something around the fill port so it won't touch the sides.  Just clip the other lead to the lower mounting flange or wherever. 

Don't know if the paint will still come off, but I don't care.  I spray-bombed mine, anyway. 


Guess I'll just wait until it rusts, to do it again.  I don't like messing with POR-15.  It hurts like a b!tch to get it out of your hair. 
This is why I want you to start a zinc-plating business, Buddha!!