How To Remove Rust From A Motorcycle Gas Tank
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2021
- Here's one method to clean rust from a motorcycle tank. There are other ways to do this, obviously...but this method has worked well for me.
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Look at this guy, just cruising past 5K subs ! Congrats Tom !
Thanks, go comment on my last video for a chance to win!
Thank you for all the hard work on the tank! Damn, you were invested!!!!! Appreciate it!!!!!
I hope it works for a long time!
Thank you for the video! Worked great on my 1982 Yamaha virago gas tank
Sweet!
Thank you for sharing this informative and helpful video
I was just over at my friend’s place who has this motorcycle, the tank is still clean
nice clear presentation. I have a 50 year old BMW 5 gal. tank that has been sitting dry for 27 years. I looked inside, and I can see some rust, but I can also see that it was coated at some time in the past. I'm considering going to try the electrolysis approach to give me some idea how serious it is. Thanks again!
I have not tried that yet but I’m very curious how it works. Best of luck.
Thanks for the tips brother
I hope you have success, it’s always great to see projects getting completed.
Thank's Buddy for your time and effort. I have a 66 year old scooter. It has been laid up for 5 years. The fuel tank is now rusty inside and there are no new fuel tanks on the market so I'm going follow your video and try your method. Cheers from the U.K. 👍
There are lots of ways to do it, I hope it works well for you.
Great help brother, it's game on tomorrow, cheers
Lots of ways to get it done, this has worked for me several times…hopefully works for you too.
Great video! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching.
This is a great way to do tanks, I done the same thing on a CBR1100 afew years back... one thing I found was after the vinegar had been sitting for a day I put the bicarb in the vinegar what aggetated it like crazy and huge flakes came up...
I didnt know of the water and bicarb for neutralising... I used diesel after I rinsed the vinegar and hosed it out...
I have got a bad tank on my KLR650 build that I will be doing this process again.. will certainly try the water bicarb method 👍
Yeah, there are a few good ways to do this. Always feels good to see all that junk come out of the tank.
Thanks for sharing...👍
Thanks for watching.
good video Tom
Thank you for watching.
Owned a xs1100. Awesome bike!
Yes they are, still a very good riding bike.
Thanks, should I be able to salvage my rusty tank it will certainly save a few bucks.
My bike was stolen a couple of years ago. I just found it 3 day's ago at a repair shop. Long story on how it wound up there. But it's in my yard again, though it has a lot of damage. To replace everything damaged, retail, around $4,800 dollars!
Other than the many damaged parts and missing pieces, some idiot removed the gas cap assembly. Of course, rain just pours in the tank...
I've sorted out what it is I need to get the bike running and rideable again. Doing it all myself will save a ton of money.
She'll be back on the road eventually...
Thanks for listening, thanks for sharing this informative video ✌️
Blessings from Georgia, USA ✌️😎
Sorry to hear about that but I guess at least you got it back. Thieves suck!
@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures I despise a thief...
It's crazy that when it was stolen, I was living in a city 50 miles east of my location now, in the countryside.
2 years go by, nothing. A guy broke down in his Jeep just down the road day before yesterday. My cousin and I towed him a mile and a half up the road to a mutual friends house, he has a mechanic shop at his house. My bike was at his shop! Someone he knows had brought it from the city in which it was stolen, 50 miles away...My registration was still in the toolbag, in the toolbox, on the bike!
Besides that, I took my title to match the numbers, didn't have to!
Crazier than all this sounds, about a month ago I was on my porch around 1 am one morning and heard a motorcycle down on the main road, all of a sudden, a crash, seconds later a guy was crying out for someone to help him.
I made it down, scooped him off the road where he had landed after hitting a huge Deer with his brand new Harley.
I took him up to his friends house, where the shop is I mentioned earlier.
Back to the present time, the guy who brought my stolen motorcycle for service, at the shop of my friend, just less than two miles from my property, is the guy who hit the Deer and that I helped!
I had never met him, he didn't know me from Adam, but he had bought my stolen motorcycle from the one's who took it two years ago for $300.
I know who stole it, reported it at the time, but could not get the police, the sheriff's department, no one, to show up.
It sits right off my porch now, dismantling it for the rebuild!
Sorry I was so long winded here, but I needed to share this crazy story. Even the guy who had bought it is shocked, and I might add, very apologetic about it.
✌️ 🪶 🪶 🪶
Ripley's Believe It or Not would be proud 😂
@@revelationakagoldeneagle8045 great story, thanks for sharing. I wish you all the best in getting it together again.
Naporan si brate mili, umjesto savjeta, dobih tlacenje
Pressure? I didn't feel like I pressured anyone, but I guess it's open to interpretation. Ride safely!
Thank you thank you thank you. I am goin to do my gas tanks on my 1980 Harley shovelhead very soon. Tired of buying new filters all the time
There are several different methods, this has worked pretty easily for me. Good luck and let me know how it turns out
@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures oh I bet. Thank you and will do
Sodium EDTA + Citric acid mixed to neutral pH7 = rust remover.
This is a cheap version of Evapo-Rust, which uses Phytic acid instead of Citric acid.
Phytic acid is a very expensive chelating agent that strips out the iron from the Sodium EDTA.
Citric acid is a very cheap chelating agent that strips out the iron from the Sodium EDTA.
I might have to try that next time, thanks.
I have 2 Honda ATC tanks that were rusty. The 79 had a bunch of pinholes covered in jb weld from the prior owner. They were leaking. Chipped it off, taped it up and did vinegar, distilled. I was still getting rust out of that thing a week later. Never could get it all out. Went with Caswell's liner, epoxy based. Supposed to be the best and can go over rust and will fill small pin holes, if taped over first. So far it looks good. Stuff is like steel hard. Only seen them fail on fiberglass tanks. The 84 big red was not as bad. Tried electrolysis on it, hoping not to damage the inside as much, as the vinegar would. After one night, it got about half the rust out. Plan to try it again another 24 hours and see how it goes. I've had the 84 since i was a kid or about 33 years, so hoping to not damage the tank or let it get any worse. Jury is still out on the electrolysis, scaling rust on the side didnt let go.
I have not had good luck with tank liner but never tried Caswell. Lots of different ways to remove rust, glad you are keeping the ATC’s going.
Thanks doing the same with my ct70 gas tank . Vinegar and a box of 1 /4 20 nuts.
There are a lot of ways to do it but I have had good luck with this, hopefully it works for you too.
Will this method work on a tank that has a sealer kit already. I am working on an 84 magna that looks like had a sealing job done poorly as there is a bunch of rust build up in it.
I don’t think so, and I don’t really know what to use to remove the liner. I’ve never had any long term luck with those.
After the vinegar soak, I stuck a power sprayer in my tank , blasted it out - looks showroom clean !!
That’s a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
2011 HD Sportster that's been sitting up for 10 years. Fuel pump and tank so very rusted. Gonna give it a go! Let ya know our results!
There’s lots of ways to get rust out of tanks. This works pretty good.
nice job.. No need to "seal" tank when done? The oil/gas mixture will do the trick to seal any flash rusting in future? thanks
I have had good success so far, but every job is a bit different. I have wanted to try the electrolysis method for rust removal because it is supposed to add a “coating”. Good luck with however you do it.
I need to try this. I have an old orbital sander with rubber pad. I'm think duct taping on the bottom to agitate while soaking.
Not a bad idea, let me know how it works.
@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures I'm not hi-tech but have been told it's basically the same principle as an ultrasonic cleaner.
Hi Tom
I’m in the process of removing rust from my fuel tank (Honda Blackbird) using your white vinegar method.
I have already used CRC Bio Degreaser, which has removed a fair amount of rust and residue.
I was initially confused about the baking soda and bicarbonate soda.
(I’m in Australia)
But a bit of research helped.
In short, bicarbonate of soda, sodium bicarbonate, bicarb soda and baking soda are different names for the same thing. In Australia and the UK it’s called bicarbonate of soda, but in the US it’s known as baking soda. However, baking powder is a differently thing entirely - so don’t make the mistake in thinking they’re interchangeable.
Thanks for the video
I sometimes forget how wide reaching these videos are! I recently got a Blackbird myself. Let me know how it turns out
@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures Shall do 👍
Just came across another product this morning.
CRC Evapo Rust
Bit expensive, but if it works, doesn’t matter
@@peterwenderoth1765 that stuff works, I have used it. Vinegar works as well for less money.
I’ve also been trying to find out if any protective coating was applied to the inside of fuel tank during the manufacturing process.
No luck so far.
When they’re new, they have that brushed aluminum look to them.
That’s the sorry state it’s in
th-cam.com/users/shortsY8DQJqQGJsY?feature=share
I used POR15 to line my tank. It's a 3 stage process, first you clean the tank with a degreaser then you put this etching liquid into it and that gets rid of 100 percent of the rust. It'll flash rust a little bit right after that, but you can use the POR15 over the flash rust. It's working great so far.
I hope it works well for you, I’ve never had luck with tank lining.
@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures me either, it's easier to clean the rust out of the tank than removing a liner when it starts to deteriorate after a few years.
@@twistedgreymatter oh yeah, that’s terrible! Only had to do it a few times, but it’s a chore.
I'm about to do the same on a tank off of a '79 XS1100. Is there a reason you did not remove the petcocks and seal the openings before you soaked the tank? I'm concerned about the aluminum being affected by the vinegar, and I know those petcocks are not cheap to replace if you can even find them..
Ahh, never mind, I commented before watching until the end lol. Thanks for the video! How's that XS running?
I have not had any issues with the vinegar but it’s a possibility. I can’t remember if I had the stock ones on during this? I thought I had some other old random ones on. Anyway, the vinegar works well for rust removal
Hey Tom, thanks for this awesome video. What percent oil to gas do you like to use? How long will this method of coating last? I would like to try this method instead of a sealer. Thank you!
I mix 50/50. It’s just to prevent flash rusting, it doesn’t do a permanent coat or anything. If you keep the tank full/mostly full it will stay rust free a long time. If it sits mostly empty, it may cause condensation and start to rust again. Anyway, it’s worked well for me over the years.
Hey Tom. Thank you so much. I will give it a shot. I really appreciate the help!!
Hi Tom yeah I’ve got a tank 5 years gonna follow ur method cheers mate chinny 😎 uk
@@ChrisArmstrong-qn1ob good luck, it works pretty good. Lots of ways to do it if it doesn’t work.
After the vinegar wash, no fresh water😓... Add 2 or 3 gallons of diesel or jet A or kerosene with 16 oz of 2 cycle oil or Marvel Mystery Oil, shaken not stirred then drain that through a filter for later use. Install tank, add gas and ride.
?
I cleaned my gas tank with PH neutral solution..The tank is clean but I have a feeling the rust would get back on the sheet metal since my motorcycle is more than 15 years...Can you recommend any inside coating for the gas tank through which rust could be avoided.
There are lots of commercially available tank sealers. I have never used them myself but have dealt with a few that have failed. I just have been doing the gas/oil treatment and had good luck so far.
@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures Thank You
So after you put he oil and gas mix you dump it out so you rinse it after that or leave it In and it doesn’t bother anything?
I usually put a fair amount in, shake the tank all around to get a good coating on it. Then I drain out whatever settles in the bottom.
And no rinse after? The costing of oil doesn’t effect anything I assume? Im on 48 hrs of soaking going to check it tomorrow
@@Pokemonballers87 the gas/oil just coats the tank to prevent flash rust. Once you add fuel it will mix in, won’t hurt anything.
can i leave the electric fuel pump and the float in the tank do you think the vinegar will hurt them
I recently did the same thing with a BMW tank. The float sending unit was already in really bad shape, it cleaned the rust from it and showed that it was ruined. Vinegar won’t affect plastic, it’s shipped in plastic jugs.
If you have a lot of rust in your tank, there's a good chance your sending unit and pump are damaged also. Are you able to purchase new parts?
I’ve purchased a 2005 Honda rebel 250 and it has rust in the gas tank from it sitting for so long it only has 1000 miles on it. should a replacement gas tank be a better option or would cleaning it also work? I rode it for a little bit so I’m not sure how urgent cleaning it out will be. I don’t know how quickly this will damage the bike if anyone could help
Replacement tanks are expensive. Give this a try, it works well!
do we have to treat it with baking soda right after treating it with vinegar OR we should rinse it with water, dry and then use baking soda.
The baking soda neutralizes the acid in the vinegar, so it’s best to use it right away in my opinion.
Have you ever used EvapoRust from harbor freight in a tank?
You can get EvapoRust almost anywhere, it works well but it’s more expensive than vinegar.
I'm gonna try this on my 1974 trial yamaha wish me luck
It works, there are lots of ways to get it done but I've done this a few times with good results. Good luck!
Any reason why you didn’t use 2 stroke oil for the post treatment instead of motor oil?
I didn’t think of it, great idea!
@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures the best oil to use is transmission fluid, it has rust inhibitors in it to protect the transmission components.
@@noahdunaway that’s a good idea, thanks.
To whoever is reading this wondering if there is a better way, well your in luck there is.....
I have a 30 year old tank it to had been standing and living in northern Europe it' has a high percentage of Humidity for a lot of months ...
Just use the Electrolysis method , 48 hours your all done like new , there are plenty of videos showing you how to do it on Utube so take your pick watch a few until you understand clearly how to do it . Good luck to all my fellow kindrid spriit motorcyclist and ride safe 🤘🏼
There are several ways to remove rust from a fuel tank, it’s always good to have different options. For this tank, I really think doing the vinegar soak first and then following up with electrolysis would provide the best results. Thanks for watching and for the information.
Thank you for commenting, have tried both methods, but not in conjunction.. great idea will definitely give it a go regards.
Andy.
@@Claude1100 I’ve never done both on the same tank either but on this one it had a lot of old sludgy fuel and caked up rust. Removing the majority of that with vinegar would then give the electrolysis a great opportunity to make the tank perfect. Might have to do it now, my buddy bought the bike and then proceeded to park it ever since.
If you have a week or 2 this can work. But not for me. I bought a gallon jug of muriatic acid from Home Depot. It is only around 27 percent acid so it is rather benign. Still be careful with it. Since it is so diluted, instead of removing all your rust in 3 minutes, it takes around 30 mins or so. Once done, simply dump it out into a container and wash tank out 100 times or more with water and then dry with a hair dryer which can take an hour or so. Make sure it is bone dry!!! Run dryer for 3 hrs or more if needed by make sure it is bone dry!! Once dry, pour in a whole 8oz can of Por-15 and this stuff is amazing. Plug all your holes and every 5 mins for the next half hour or so swish it all around . Once you can see it is getting thicker, then swish it all around again and then dump all t he excess back into your POR15 can. Let the tank sit and every 15-20 mins rotate tank up down and all around for the next hour.. Once you look into your tank and can see the POR15 is no longer able to move around, then it is time to let it sit for the next 24 hours and cure. The por15 will stick to everything. Some sort of flexible concrete or something. This stuff is amazing. Tank liner it is!! Wow!! Once it cures over night, you are done!!!! Fantastic stuff!!
There are lots of ways to get this done, this is just one of them. Thanks for your input.
The draining of the tank made me think of my prostrate 😂....& I'll bet the garage smells like "Summers Eve"!!! Solid tutorial though, what's your thoughts on "Kreem" tank coating?
Extra fresh! 😂. I personally don’t care for the tank coating products, have seen too many of them fail. I really want to try electrolysis on a tank, maybe the next time.
Question sir. After the oil and gas. Do you let it dry or how ?
It’s just an additional step to try to prevent flash rusting. If you want to install the tank and fill it up, you can do so. Cheers!
Thank for the reply. So you do not need to reline or anything the tank?
@@mumeendaniels45 it’s really going to depend on the tank. I have done several, majority stay pretty clean but I have had one that just rusted up again quickly. I don’t like tank liner, have seen a lot of failures with it.
Okay cool. I am following your method at the moment. The vinegar is in for a second 24 hours. It doesn’t have a lot of rust but it clogged my fuel filter. It’s a 07 zx14 Kawasaki. So tomorrow after work I will be draining the vinegar doing the clean with the soda and then the oil and gas mix.
@@mumeendaniels45 that new of a bike you should be fine. I can’t remember if I rinsed the tank with alcohol in this video, but it’s a good idea after the baking soda rinse. Helps remove any water.
seal with oil mix? I dont quite get it.
Oil and gasoline mixed together, 50/50 mix. It doesn’t really “seal” it but it prevents the tank from flash rusting.
can we add citric acid with vinegar inside
If you have access to citric acid at a reasonable price, it will probably work better than vinegar by itself.
I'll have to give vinegar a try. I usually put a handful of nuts and small bolts in the tank and shake it a bunch of times, then repeat. Which leaves me with spots in the tank that are still rusty and a bucket full of filth and toxic liquid to dispose of.
I have done the nuts and bolts with vinegar for a quicker job when there’s a lot of scale in the tank.
How much baking soda to water ratio?
I just add a 1/4 cup or so to a gallon of water. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
Tom are you still making videos
Yes, and I was just working on this motorcycle a few days ago
What about scaling barnacle rust..?
It will help, might need to do a longer soaking. It also might show you that the metal is thin, developing some pinhole leaks.
@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures Cool man, I'll let you know what happens in the morning.
@@ryanmillay8782 it will probably take several days. Good luck, looking forward to hearing how it goes.
Seems like the vent might be clogged in the gas cap
It’s possible, will check it
I don’t think this will fix bubbles in the tank paint but for everything else😁
Yeah, you’re gonna need a new tank buddy! Go hit up my Super Clean video…
Got some blood veins that need the rust removed from them! Will have to drink more vinegar and see if that helps!?.
I have heard some apple cider vinegar is good for digestion, but I can’t really stomach it!
I'm here for my 82 xj1100. haha.
Awesome bike, keep those Yamaha bikes running!
@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures Got her for $800 and never had an issue. How's that tank holding up?
@@Hunter1st my friend bought the XS from me, it’s still good to go!
@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures That's great to hear.
I didn't know cowboy cerrone was into bikes
😂I guess so! 😂
@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures haha kidding man. thanks for the video. I'm referencing it to get the rust out of my dad's '76 kz900 tank. hopefully all goes well!
@@joesmoe4778 I didn’t know who it was, had to look it up. 😂
@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures i swear he looks just like you lol
@@joesmoe4778 thanks, I hope your tank turns out well.
I have a borescope......
It’s amazing how reasonable those things are these days
Did I forget my toothbrush?
Were you missing it?
You know what is worse than rust? A old failed liner with rust underneath.
I have never been a fan of the tank linings. Had a few bikes with them done before I got them, only once that it didn’t fail.
Yup been there done that, I didn't do a good prep job and the rust was under the liner. For myself clean the tank several times then fill it fully with gas without drying it out. Don't forget to drain the water out before installing the gas line
Pee pee poo poo?
cant hear a damn thing
Unfortunate, but thanks for the feedback?
Vinegar is a rubbish idea
Great input, thanks for sharing.
@TomsTinkeringandAdventures you just don't know the properties yet. I don't blame you, we all learned at one point
@@Rman1100 sure, only done this several times along with many other people. But thanks again.
@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures I know. It'd hard to teach an old dog new tricks. To each their own