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Tank Cleaning Tips Wanted

Discussion in 'Hangout Lounge' started by FirstYamaha, May 26, 2014.

  1. FirstYamaha

    FirstYamaha Member

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    Hi, I hope everyone is enjoying Memorial Day,
    I've searched the forum and the web and filled my head with so much advice that I can't think straight so I thought I'd try the experts.
    Here's my problem;
    I want to clean the tank before I wet set the carbs (carbs done, Chacal hooked me up) The tank has been lined with some kind of yellow coating, thick and heavy in some areas and so thin it's almost see-through in other places, but it looks...hmmmm...not bad. It was peeling around the filler and that area was rusty so I removed the cap and wire brushed that area to bare metal. Originally when I got the bike the gas had stringy snotters floating in it and a lot of very fine particles so I did a quick flush with gas.
    Now I don't want to go overboard and fix something that isn't broken(I can imagine you guys loading up already) but I want to kill off the snot floaters; clean up any light rust that is hiding in the cracks, and thoroughly rinse out any other crap. The tank is off the bike, the paint is perfect, and I am not in a rush.
    Is vinegar the way to go??
    What type and mix ratio??
    What do I flush with??
    Will it damage the original yellow coating?
    Should I just use general household cleaners?
    I really don't see any rust!!!
    Or am I spending too much time and getting OCD on the whole thing.
    I have noticed that I'm starting to get rusty, my ears have gotten so stiff they don't bend anymore and I'm leaking gas and oil from somewhere near the bottom of my frame. I guess I'm vintage too.

    O.K. take aim and fire at will.
     
  2. chacal

    chacal Moderator Moderator Supporting Vendor Premium Member

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    The yellow coating is not original; some previous owner has "lined" the tank with a coating of some type to either hide a rust problem, to cover-up small pinholes in the tank, or as a (foolish) "rust prevention" attempt. They did not apply the coating correctly (a VERY common problem) and thus the coating is coming loose, and will continue to come loose, forever.

    Your solutions are to either:

    a) remove the coating, which is easier said than done (it involves the use of caustic chemicals), examine the condition of the tank, and then either:

    b) re-coat the insides properly (again, easier said than done) or....

    c) acquirer a replacement tank.
     
  3. FirstYamaha

    FirstYamaha Member

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    Hey Chacal,

    Option two is interesting. Unfortunately I have no idea what was originally used to coat the tank but if it can be treated with a second coat that would work.
    So it doesn't have to etch into the bare steel like the first coat??
    I'm worried that if I go down that road I'll end up having to strip everything and then somewhere along the way the paint will get screwed up.
    How about this...lets just say the rust is in my head and the coating is gonna be OK, so I just want to do a common sense clean up before I start running gas through my carbs, what do you recommend then???
    I'm guessing white vinegar but what do I flush the vinegar out with.
    It's like like the old Lady that swallowed the fly...to catch the spider etc., etc.
     
  4. chacal

    chacal Moderator Moderator Supporting Vendor Premium Member

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    No...........if the first coating is peeling/flaking,it must be COMPLETELY removed (easier said than done!) before any re-coating is possible.

    If the coating is starting to peel, and you get the long yellow stringers, then the coating is NOT going to be "OK"............
     
  5. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    If you really want to save that tank then you will have to clean it out completely using Methylene Chloride (found in many paint strippers) to remove the old liner, then follow with a through derusting and finally this: http://www.caswellplating.com/restoration-aids/epoxy-gas-tank-sealer.html

    Follow their directions to the letter and you'll have a permanant, ethanol-proof repair.
     
  6. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    methyl ethyl ketone or MEK will take it out also but whatever you do don't put new liner over old bad liner
     
  7. junkmn

    junkmn Member

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    MEK or Acetone should work. I use Caswell Tank Liner. Ts epoxy and super easy to apply once yo have the old out and the tank clean .
     
  8. FirstYamaha

    FirstYamaha Member

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    Thanks for the ideas so far. It's hard to get pictures of the inside of the tank so it's hard to explain what I'm seeing.
    The original coat of sealer is in good shape, it just wasn't sloshed around very well.
    The only placed it peeled was around the filler cap. And that's because there was rust around the filler. Whoever did the sealant job decided to leave the gas cap on!!! and the sealant got all over the latch mechanism so it didn't close all the way.
    That's where the rust started back again, and I think it also leaked allowing water to get in the gas and that emulsified into the stringy snot stuff.
    The only area I had to wire brush was the first lip where the seal sits. The next piece(call it the down pipe) and the rest of the tank I can see look OK.
    Problem is there was no way to stop the dust and crap going into the tank when I wire brushed it so I have to do some clean up even if it's just flushing with a gallon of gas.
    Oh and I need to get one of those metal ring/rubber seal things from Chacal.
     
  9. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    You won't flush it ll out with just a gallon of gas. A few, maybe........then let it sit I the Sinn to air dry completely, then a lot of compressed air and vacuuming.....etc......

    Then you might get most of it-----
    Dave
     
  10. 4freese

    4freese Member

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    I use MEK for all of my botched tank lining jobs. That stuff does wonders. Be careful though, it is very bad stuff. Use some apple cider vinegar to remove rust. let it sit overnight and then rinse it all out and add some baking soda to the water to neutralize the acid in the vinegar. Then reline it and follow the instructions. I do NOT use Kreme as it is junk in my opinion. POR15 makes a good liner though. If there are some problem rust areas throw some nuts in the tank and shake it up real good. Throw it in the back of a truck and take a ride on a bumpy road, that always works. Hope this helps.
     
  11. FirstYamaha

    FirstYamaha Member

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    I've been able to get into the tank with a mirror and flashlight and the liner is pretty good except for the raised portion in the middle of the tank, and that's the area you can see most when you look in through the spout. I'm going to do a white vinegar soak for a couple of days with the petcock and filler sealed up with metal tape. Then the baking soda and finally a gas rinse.
    I know it won't be the last time I have this issue but I need to get the bike roadworthy to decide if I'm going to keep it.
    I only had the beast a month when the wibbly wobbly put me down on the low side, so it's kind of a luv/hate relationship right now.
    I have rebuilt a lot of mechanical stuff, forks, triple tree, brakes etc and maybe a ride will renew my enthusiasm so that's my goal.
    The DMV want their money on the 16th June so I don't have a lot of time.
    Thanks for all the help and comments, it wouldn't be any fun without the support.
     

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