SuzukiSavage.com - rust in fuel tank fix?

matt_savage

Full Member

Offline

I love YaBB 1G -
SP1!

Posts: 177

rust in fuel tank fix?
04/04/09 at 14:31:57

So I have removed the gas tank as part of the transformation my bike is under right now. When I tried to drain it no fuel flowed in on, res or pri positions! I removed the tank and drained the gas through the cap hole on top. When I removed the petcock it was jammed up at the bottom with rust particles (uh oh). I used a flashlight to look inside the tank and there is some surface rust on the sides and bottom of the tank! My question is how do I go about fixing it? Anyone come across this problem and found a permanent solution to it? TIA

-side note, bike is coming along great! carb rejet is done [52.5 pilot jet, 152.5 main jet and 2 washers on the needle from Lancer's kit], K&N style filter is on, seat is modded ala DiamondJim, drilled sportster muff is on and new rear fender/brakelight, side lic. plate mount/handlebars and mini apes are ordered!! Will have pics when everything is done Wink

-Matt

Back to top

IP Logged

grandpa Senior Member Offline Old but not cold!!! Posts: 259 Bartlett TN Gender:	Re: rust in fuel tank fix? Reply #1 - 04/04/09 at 15:12:28 You can get a kit at NAPA or other auto parts stores. I have never done it but basically there is a chemical cleaner. A piece of chain helps to clean as you rotate your tank around. Then you rinse and dry. Top it off with a coating to seal and protect. The kit's not much. Just a good day (or weekend) project.
Back to top	Blue '06, seat mod, K&N drop-in filter, desnorkeled, 55 pilot, 152.5 main, 1/3 spacer, dyna muff, factory bug shield, 11.5 Progressive rear shocks, debadged, fork boots, 110/90-19, 140/90-15 IP Logged

Savage_Amusement Serious Thumper Offline On this steel horse I ride. Posts: 1004 Omaha, NE Gender:	Re: rust in fuel tank fix? Reply #2 - 04/04/09 at 15:44:39 Kreem is a brand and also is KBS. Both can be had for between 20-40 bucks. The 3 part kit is probably the best way to go. I'm getting something here pretty soon because I have a brand new tank and will have to seal it.
Back to top	2K5, 1975 Sportster tank, blacked out motor, K&N cone, Much more to come later!! IP Logged

Gort

Ex Member

Re: rust in fuel tank fix?
Reply #3 - 04/04/09 at 15:46:44

I've restored a number of cars and cycles with internally rusted gas tanks, and I've always used the products sold by Bill Hirsch Auto.

http://www.hirschauto.com/

He has been around for many years and is a trusted name in the automobile restoration business. I've never had any problems or failures with his gas tank rust removing and sealing products.

Back to top

IP Logged

smokin_blue

Serious Thumper

Offline

From Cafes to
Streetfighters! I
build them all!

Posts: 830
St. Paul, MN
Gender: male

Re: rust in fuel tank fix?
Reply #4 - 04/06/09 at 03:53:26

I have both kreemed and only cleaned a number of tanks over the years. I would NOT kreem it unless it has pin hole leaks or really bad rust. For surfuce rust get a rust remover from a car restoration place like www.Eastwoodco.com or you can make up your own.... and do a cleaning. The key is to get it neutralized and covered right way so it doesn't flash rust again. One piece of advise I was given when working on a tank you don't plan to paint, apply a very heavy coat of turtle wax. The cleaners a usually acid based so you want to keep it off the paint (and eyes, skin, etc)

good luck

Back to top

My website http://street-unique.com

IP Logged

Big Nix Junior Member Offline Screw dieing of natural causes. Posts: 51 Atlanta, GA Gender:	Re: rust in fuel tank fix? Reply #5 - 04/06/09 at 14:14:28 You know again i come from the farm and kind of an old school quick thing is just get some diesal fuel and swish it around and let it dry out. Did this with a 56' plymouth (my first car I dug out of some guys barn after it sat for 20 years) and it worked great. Just thought I'd throw that out there as a quick fix.
Back to top	Courage is being scared, but still sadeling up and riding out. IP Logged

Louisiana_Geezer

YaBB Newbies

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 22
Baton Rouge, LA
Gender: male

Re: rust in fuel tank fix?
Reply #6 - 04/12/09 at 17:17:23

Savage_Amusement wrote on 04/04/09 at 15:44:39:

Kreem is a brand and also is KBS. Both can be had for between 20-40 bucks. The 3 part kit is probably the best way to go. I'm getting something here pretty soon because I have a brand new tank and will have to seal it.

Is the popular opinion to have a brand new tank sealed before a new bike is put on the road?

Back to top

IP Logged

matt_savage Full Member Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 177	Re: rust in fuel tank fix? Reply #7 - 04/12/09 at 17:31:01 I ended up going with the Bill Hirsch gas tank fix. I got it in the mail at the end of last week and it looks like it should work nicely. It's a 3 part process- clean, etch and coat. Hopefully it'll work since my tank is in good shape with a small amount of internal rust that plugged up my stock petcock.
Back to top	IP Logged

srinath

Serious Thumper

Offline

I love YaBB 1G -
SP1!

Posts: 5349

Re: rust in fuel tank fix?
Reply #8 - 04/12/09 at 17:37:18

I can line with POR15 for anyone that needs it. $75 - done many and put many pics up on gstwin. If someone is a serious perfectionist (and I am so I do mine this way ... I'll put in a vent hose fitting in the top part in front of the speedometer and that way your tank will never vacuum lock either. An added 10 bucks for that and I rate that as 100% worth it.
Cool.
Srinath.

Back to top

IP Logged