how to keep motorcycle gas tank from rusting

2.1: Here is a step by step tutorial to remove rust from motorcycle gas tank. It is also near impossible to find a gas tank replacement, which is why every serious rider must know how to remove rust from motorcycle gas tanks using vinegar. The first prong deals with removing the heaviest rust deposits, and the second involves rejuvenating the finish, possibly in preparation for the installation of a tank sealer. How To Remove Rust From A Motorcycle Gas Tank: NO ACID Blaster Products 861K views 10 years ago How To Remove Rust From A Motorcycle Gas Tank Tom's Tinkering and Adventures 35K. If you dont mind draining it down the road, it can be a great way to keep the rust gone. If you are building a bike and the tank is likely to sit on the shelf for a bit, Id recommend something a touch thicker, like some motor oil, or nice, tacky two-stroke oil. I like to start with a mild acid (white vinegar), and work my way up to something stronger if necessary. No carrying extra fuel, no filling up 2 tanks, no BS with fogging or rusting. You will need hand gloves to clean just like you needed while cleaning fuse box terminals. Ill tell you my secret weapon a little later on. Then you just need water to clean out the residues. Cleaning is not better than replacing the tank. (1) Flooded the stuck gas cap with W-D 40 and gently tapped and prodded it for almost 5 days. So, does the stuff work? These component helps the water to break down faster. nous utilisons les cookies afin de personnaliser le contenu et les publicits, de fournir des fonctionnalits pour les rseaux sociaux et analyser notre traffic. Also, some paints (and inks) may use iron oxide pigments (usually orange or red). At a minimum, youll want to seal the holes in the tank. The first and foremost step is to neutralize the acid properly to keep the rust away. Finally the key cylinder gave a little then did the full turn a day later. The other day everything was running smoothly, and your motorcycle was doing exactly what you wanted it to do, but recently your motorcycle started experiencing engine sputters and stalls every now and then when you start it up. He will be better off this way trust me. Some agents take at least a week to do their job. Since the tank is going to be out of the truck, I'd think you could just pour in a little bit of motor oil, slosh it around to coat all the walls, drain out the excess and then put the gas cap on. Frequent use keeps the moisture from the air that modern ethanol-laced fuel will pull into the tank from getting a hold. Step 2 Add a fuel stabilizer during periods of inactivity. If any corrosion remains on the tanks surface, the scraper will help eliminate it. It etches in almost no time flat. However, unlike phosphoric acid, 25% hydrochloric acid is readily available at any hardware store. The highly dilute acetic acid dissolved in household vinegar is not particularly fast-acting, but that is the point. Watch the video a. Neat! Surface Studio vs iMac - Which Should You Pick? It only takes few months of negligence for corrosion to start forming up under your exhaust manifold, chassis, and even inside your motorcycle fuel tank! Paul's experience in riding and exploring on his trusted two-wheeler has become a go-to source for all things related to motorcycles. Take a flashlight and a mirror. You can try other methods of agitation. Now shake the tank for 15-20 mins with full energy till you get exhausted! . I know this, of course, because I learned how to do this moons ago because I was in a pickle just like you. How Often Should You Start Your Dirt Bike? In fact, modern fuels contain more ethanol than they used to. Now fill the tank to the brim with the mixture of soda and warm water you just prepared. The fuel stabilizer will protect the gas from pulling apart during storage and op gas from piling up. Open the can and give it a good stir and pour the whole contents into the tank. Over the years, Ive actually used much stronger acids to clean tanks. Pick up the tank and start shaking it as much as you can. In order to clean your gas tank using HCL, we recommend pouring some diluted acid in the tank and leave it open for some time. Petcocks are often made of pot metal. As a result of the water accompanied by the heat, corrosion forms quickly forming rust on the metal. Motorcyclists that want to remove dust from a gas tank safely should adhere to these safety measures: After taking necessary measures, the next thing is to gather the supplies that will be needed. Start by removing the seals you used. Its not that dangerous and its fine if you leave it like that. Remember that fuel caps are vented, so even if it seems to seal up well, it still may not be liquid-proof, which brings me to my next point. This is particularly difficult with motorcycle tanks because motorcycles have small, angled tanks. That means a plug or cap failing and leaking is just a day lost of soak time. The motorcycle tank happens to be one of the most prominent features and, if not well taken care of, can ruin the bikes outlook. Those that want to be thorough, get a borescope. But that isnt always the case. Once done, drain the mixture completely and rinse the tank with the petrol you had stored in the vessel. BBs are an option too. I can't believe all these horrible advices given to you like wd40. Finally, plug the tank once more and drop some dish soap in there to neutralize the acid. Required fields are marked *. Again, seal up the holes, exactly like you did before. If its a big block it wont know it has a little extra fuel. When the gas tank of your motorbike is not kept away from rust it is at risk of the following: Those that wish to prevent their motorcycle tanks from rusting can take the simple steps described in the next paragraph. Required fields are marked *. I have some very, very old fuel tanks, and they dont rust because I keep them full of fuel, and I use the bikes! Depending on the level of scale and rust in your tank, this process may take as long as a few weeks. some fuel vessels that had more barnacles and scale than the hull of the Queen Mary. Dont worry about flash rust. Fifteen minutes usually does wonders on even deeply damaged tanks. When Tank B runs low, he fills up Tank A and leaves B low. Finally the key cylinder gave a little then did the full turn a day later. Attach the negative lead from the battery charger to the tank. Heat guns can get hot enough to locally damage paint. Design To sum up, a motorcycle tank should be replaced if theres rust on the exterior of the tank. Once done, blow dry your tank using hot air gun to eliminate any traces of moisture and reassemble the tank back in its original position. I mention this because this is a very viable option nowadays, especially with so many online avenues for replacement. It has very few additives compared to other products in the market and prevents rust effectively. It is worth noting that destroyed motorbike tanks can become dangerous quickly because explosive gasoline circulates into the rider and ted elements. Leave the mixture in the tank for 8-10 hours. Obviously the cost of a fill up is high when using both tanks, but the frequency between fill-ups will be longer as well. Thanks for the responses sent. Photo by Lemmy. Use anti-corrosion products on bare metal to keep the moisture out. I can't believe all these horrible advices given to you like wd40, that will not work because the acid is still not neutralized. The world needs those love big trucks. Even if you can clean the tank, if its badly rusted, its going to take you a while. It happens as a result of tank penetration. There are many gas tank treatment products out there, specifically called tank sealers. But this can be quite expensive. Fundamentally, all oxidized metal parts can be electrolytically de-rusted. With widely used bikes, there are a lot of used replacement parts available. After I give it a good shakin, then set the tank on its receptacle, and go into the shop and sip beer. I have an admission. You should achieve the goal of starting the motorbike for 15 minutes per week. This will relieve any loose particles. Water will not sit on top of the surface of the material if theres paint coating on it. Damn.. on day 3 it was like brand new inside. Now take the board and drill a hole in it. He's currently got Tank A filled. The fogging treatment should work. If you want to use one, now is the time. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'engineneeds_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-engineneeds_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Firstly, we need to clean the gas tank and then follow these steps to prevent the rust-if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'engineneeds_com-box-4','ezslot_3',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-engineneeds_com-box-4-0'); Buy a tank with rust prevention materials. They ain't light, but to get a set to rust through you almost have to drop 'em in the ocean for a few decades. It doesnt need to be boiling, but it does need to be uncomfortably hot to the touch. Get air flowing through the tank. If you want to hit the road more confidently, were your go-to solution. The gas tank can be cleaned from rust, you just have to know how to do it. 5 Ways to Connect Wireless Headphones to TV. Materials needed for electrolysis rust removal: Scrap nuts and bolts. And if your bikes not too old, heck, a dealer might have a new one sitting on a shelf somewhere. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. A handful or two will do. Get it good and clean and then walk away for a week. So in the mean time, once the tank is cleaned and reinstalled, to prevent it from internally rusting I was thinking of "fogging"" the tank with fogging fluid, or, put a couple of gallons with double the normal about of Stabil--as they reccommend for long fuel preservantion.. ( I have not used used Seafoam, and I understand that's more for cleaning than preserving fuel.). Similarly, even a repaint that cannot be easily reproduced to match other items on the motorcycle may be costly to duplicate. After a bit of a discussion, we came to exactly the suggestion above. To do this, one should fill the gas tank with water and then drain it out. 9. A nifty safety feature. Also consider used tanks that may be in better shape than your own. Dont give up now, you are nearly done. As such, there are a number of caveats you need to be aware of should you choose to go down this path. In fact, small concentration of oxalic acid does not pose a problem, even in an immersion bath. Insert the tube inside the tank. Drain prior to use. Since its highly likely youll be doing this on a different day, before you go to flush, put a five-gallon pot of water on a stove or hotplate in the shop and get it hot. Stronger acids can damage the tank, especially thin ones. Don't be this newb. Photo by Lemmy. When he's on a six month deploy, both tanks will be topped off, and appropriate amount of Stabil added to the fuel. Done on the cheap and totally effective. This works in several ways:1) a full tank leaves little room for condensation to form, and 2) lower octane fuels contain higher levels of alcohol that promote rust by attracting water. If you do use something stronger, you may want to think about protecting the paint, and you definitely want to protect yourself. Once complete, one can use a spare towel to seal it. You cant work while the tank is installed in the bike, you need to remove it. If it flows into the fuel lines and the engine, it may heat it up too much. Those who believe that only vintage motorcycles that are sitting for a long time are affected by external factors are under wrong impression. Clean it thoroughly, make sure the pressure isnt too high so you wont damage the gas tank paint job. Make sure to limit water exposure to your gas tank. How To Remove Dust From Motorcycle Gas Tank With Vinegar? Factoring into this is also the outside of the tank: Original paint certainly helps an original bike retain value. Ready to run. Place a jerrycan under the other end of the tube. Real bad. Yes, you carrying around extra weight and fuel, but as long as you alternate tanks, you are only ever filling one tank at a time. How to clean a fuel tank Plan your work Assess commercial options Prepare the tank Add chemical and mechanical descaler Agitate (Shake it!) He's not out the extra money for storing gas in an unused tank, he's keeping all the mechanical parts working, and the fuel will help prevent rusting. Rust will just slide into fuel lines. This should be done with the utmost attention. Because theyre round, theyre not very likely to get caught in a tank that may have very pronounced lobes with sharply tapering walls. Since medieval times, hydrochloric acid (HCl) has been known to be one of the most aggressive chemicals in the world. Before you pour the vinegar in, youll want to go outside. Note: Do not leave the acid in your tank for more than 30 minutes at a stretch. At this point, apply a sealant on the inside of the tank, using products like Kreem or KBS, to seal the tank permanently from corrosion. It must be able to hold 110% of its contents, so if theres a leak, its overfilled or water forms in the tank, the outer bund can fully contain it safely. Phosphoric is said to work well, and my go-to has always been muriatic acid cut 50/50 with water. As a result, clogging and rusting will likely occur. Riding a motorcycle with a rusty gas tank is a bad idea. How To Remove And Replace Gas Tanks On Modern Motorcycles. Was just on the verge of drilling it out. 5 Ways to Connect Wireless Headphones to TV. Your email address will not be published. Should mention the rust was minimal: Flooded the stuck gas cap with W-D 40 and gently tapped and prodded it for almost 5 days. God love em for trying! Free shipping for many products! The beauty and aesthetics of a motorcycle will diminish considerably if the gas tank has a lot of rust. Mix a small ratio like 5:1 gas to oil. However, it is important that the gravel stones are small and sharp-edged. They are usually made by welding together three separate pieces; these are the bottom part, the top, and the left and right sides of the tank. It'll keep both fuel senders, filtes, lines, etcstuff, moving and prevent gumming up of the tanks/lines. You are done with the cleaning process, all you need to do is let it dry. If you are using vinegar, you want to let it sit for a while before adding the abrasives. I repeat this process whenever the urge strikes me (a few times a day, perhaps?) I use my arms. After 24 hours open and empty the tank, using the same procedure as in the vinegar method. Is Cleaning A Gas Tank Better Than Replacing? The easiest way to break apart those huge chunks of rust is with abrasives. Hydrochloric acid is quite popular and effective agent for de-rusting; however, it is very aggressive and can make the material of the tank more vulnerable to corrosion (metal rusts faster if de-rusting is done manually using HCL). 32:1 Castor oil mixed with gas in mine William1 Posted January 29, 2020 My Rides (2) I believe he wants to restore an old MT Honda, so he is looking for Kreeme or similar. Put some recipe soap to neutralize the acid and also add warm water you have actually formerly heated up. It is vital to ensure every tank area is covered with vinegar, mainly where rust is evident. It is essential to ensure that the sources of power and heat are far away when removing the gas tank. In electric water heaters, a power loss or heating element failure can cause water to no longer heat in the tank. The acid will eat the rust, but its also going to eat through some of the raw steel it reveals, too, and that steel has already been made thinner by the portions that have oxidized to rust and scale. Join. Remember, if youre using phosphoric acid or muriatic acid, adding the chemicals and shaking should be done as fast as possible. Quart of oil, drive over some speed bumps? If you are going to reinstall the tank immediately, toss a little kerosene in there, seal it back up, and swish it around, coating the tanks innards completely. One can then fill it to the brim and use a towel or cloth to seal it. To treat, pour the mixture directly in your fuel tank and allow the mixture to soak for at least 45 minutes. Since, ethanol attracts moisture, oxidation is highly likely, especially when the motorcycle is stationary for a long time and not moved. I would use 2 cycle oil and gasoline mix in the tank. A Comprehensive Guide, Discover the Ultimate Guide on How to Bump Start a Dirt Bike and Get Back on Track, How To Buy A Motorcycle So You Will Not Get Ripped Off, How To Adjust Carburetor Air Fuel Mixture On Motorcycle. Its a lot of effort, lets just say that. Totally coated. Tell us what you love or what we need to fix. Nevertheless, if there is only a mild breakdown or dirt, the tank can be cleaned. If you don't, they might disintegrate by the time your tank's innards are sparkling. Here's a full guide on how to clean rust out of a motorcycle gas tank. Subsequently, with the help of compressed air, the blasting agent is blown into the tank. In my opinion, as long as rust has not gotten through to the exterior of the tank, it can be cleaned. Step 3: Hook up your battery to a charger, or take it inside and charge it during the winter. If your tank has rusted through in any areas, that too may be an indicator that the tank is beyond saving, depending on your time and finances budgeted to the task. 5. Empty the tank by using a flexible hollow tube. Everything you see on the blog are from what Ive learned over the decade. Emptied the vinegar, and totally flushed it with baking soda and a garden hose. To do it effectively, one should use a wire stripper. Metal screws like lugs and nuts are the preferred choice. In order to clean the tank using dedicated products that are readily available in the market, you first need to thoroughly pre-clean the tank by throwing a handful of small steel nuts along with the solvent. Youre using hot water because it will quickly transfer heat into the metal of the tank. Hi all: The water and soap solution will dissolve any leftover vinegar. Therefore it needs no saying that using the pure form of gasoline is essential. Vinylester is one of the best prevention materials available in the market. Then hang the piece of metal (your anode) on the board. Then take white vinegar and pour it inside the gas tank and close its cap. To ensure that the rust particles bind, some additional fluid should be poured in. This includes emptying the tank, flushing it, and letting it dry. Although, this is an economical process, but unfortunately, also a potential cause of corrosion. The course of action one would take may differ wildly in those scenarios or they may be exactly the same. Some people dont stop here, they add fuel tank additives. Southseascycles.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Not rotted through, but definitely one of the more problematic tanks Ive wrestled with. Your email address will not be published. Here you can see our tank prepped correctly, with all ports on the bottom side of the tank securely blocked off. Applying gas tank coating to prevent rust such as Hammerite Direct to Rust Metal Paint to your gas tank will protect it against rust, moisture, and water. Currently, you can empty the tank for the last time. To prevent them from posing a threat to people and the environment, it is vital to remove dirt and rust particles. 6. The tanks content should get emptied before sealing it back with the side covers or other materials used initially, pour fresh gasoline in it. Typically, 250 ml will do for a standard tank, but this can vary depending on the type of tank you have. There are other products designed to do this that are awesome. Last, empty the tank and dry it. Old Harley-Davidson fatbob tanks, for instance, have excellent survival rates simply due to the insanely thick steel used in their construction. Those can be tricky to seal up because theyre so dang big! But one major drawback of these types of tank de-rusting techniques is that the tank must be emptied and cleaned again at the end of the blasting process. The best way to avoid corrosion is to wash your motorcycle regularly and lubricate all the metal parts including the chain for a prolonged life. The phosphoric acid based anti-rust that body shops use? Photo by Lemmy. With the passage of time and the lack of proper maintenance, oxidation is inevitable. Fortunately, with the simple steps, people will have no problem removing rust from their motorcycle gas tanks. A couple of days later, no rust. We got to know what causes rust in a tank. Yes, a rusty gas tank can affect an engine severely. This is definitely not the worst I have seen, but make no mistake, this tank needed help a long time ago. The Inquisitor Posted January 29, 2020 My Rides (4) EvapoRust comes to mind, as does Metal Rescue. Thanks to all for your help. Top it up and let it chill out. You need to do this in a well ventilated area, and as the acid can splash about, you dont want to be near anything it could damage. 48. r/handtools. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, Motorcycle Anchor: How to Deal with Rust in your Motorcycle Gas Tank, "The Professional Motorcycle Repair Program;" The Professional Career Development Institute; 2000. Do not empty the tank by riding until its empty. I hate em, and will only use them in super-specific scenarios, like when a replacement item cannot be sourced or made reasonably. No sign of Flash Rust. After youre convinced your chosen mechanical abrasive is somewhat inert in your chosen acid, add your sheet metal screws, hardware, or BBs. You must log in or register to reply here. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. After 24 hours you can see considerable amount of rust deposit around your anode. Oneshould ensure that the tank is full of distilled white vinegar, and a piece of cloth or vinegar should be used to seal it. Step 1 Keep your fuel tank filled with high-octane gas. To do this, add some sodium hydroxide (around half teaspoon) and stir well before draining. Strip off all the items you used to seal the tank and empty it for the final time. However, it is recommended to thoroughly rinse the tank again after de-rusting. Ensure the tank is air free and theres no space for air. These highly accelerated blasting agents penetrate inside the rust and bring the bare metal back to the surface. The rule of thumb is if rust broke through to the outside paint, you should replace the tank immediately. (You can get this at your local hardware store.) The first thing you'll need to do is rinse out the tank using a high pressure hose. Hot water assists with this, and it will certainly drive moisture off. I would use 2 cycle oil and gasoline mix in the tank. If he's currently under the sea somewhere and is not driving the truck, then just ignore me. Gasoline can last for a minimum of three to 6 months, while diesel has a shelf life of 1 year before it completely wears out. Seal every hole in the tank except for the filler hole, the hole where you pour fresh fuel. How To Calculate Wind Chill On A Motorcycle & Understanding Its Effects Popular Reads 15 Simple Solutions When a Motorcycle Won't Start (But Battery is Good) How to Know if Your Regulator Rectifier Is Bad: Symptoms and Solutions Save That Old Tank: How to Clean Rust Out of a Gas Tank Great Deal or a Big Headache? 10. Aerosol cylinder fogging spray ought to work too. (Ospho? I said, just go with one tank, but that's not flying. The fuel stabilizer will prevent the gas from breaking down during storage and will prevent condensation from building up. The second step is to add a fuel stabilizer when the tank is not in use. For more details and information, feel free to write us back. Because you cant use any chemicals on major metals, you will need alternative rust removers. Some people like commercial tank sealers. guess I'm on the hunt for parts. And if you're using something stronger, it's a possibility the item(s) may react violently and turn to dust. ;-)Camera: GoPro Session 5 Settings: 1080p 60fps widetime lapse: 1P/0,5sec. First, that stuff will chew through solder quickly, so if you have a valuable old tank thats been soldered in either manufacture or repair, avoid muriatic acid. What Materials Do You Need To Remove Rust From Motorcycle Gas Tank? It is important to neutralize the acid before draining to prevent the tank from rusting again due to acid corrosion. I dialed mine to the 10amp setting. 21 Lake Ave, East Brunswick, New Jersey, United States, motorcycles that are sitting for a long time, corrosion to start forming up under your exhaust manifold, motorcycles that are stored during winters. Bendable steel or iron rod to be used as the sacrificial anode (do not use stainless steel as it will omit toxin during the process). I added a half cup of table salt and sloshed it around for two days. Rust is one of the nightmares every vehicle owner doesnt want to see in their engines.Every restoration usually seems an impossible feat whenever they see rust covering the entire vehicle. Drain the fuel completely and allow the tank to air-dry. Weird. When objects are exposed to humidity and moisture or have been kept idle for a long time, vinegar can restore their viability. When you do need to use the tank and add more fule, there will be no problems, not like some other solutions that have been suggested. When done shaking, open the tank, see if the level of rust has decreased. Yup, you're on to something hereThis is about the best of the ideas. Remove the abrasives too, make sure you get everything. Design How Do You Keep A Motorcycle Gas Tank From Rusting? The odds are low if you're using vinegar, but you dont want to ruin anything, make a mess of your tank innards, or poison yourself. The third step is to ensure the 12-hour duration expires. Be careful though, a tank liner product can cause trouble with the carb. One of the safest ways to remove chemical rust is mixing vinegar and baking soda. How To Prevent Motorcycle Tank From Rusting? Will Vinegar Remove Rust From The Gas Tank? Do you think it would be worth it to clean it up? The acid doesnt care about what it corrodes: paint, human flesh, clothing, surroundings it doesnt matter. These are meant for protection against rust reappearing.

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