Page 1 of 1

cleaning gas tank out

Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 6:11 am
by broncofan
ok guys, whats the best way to get all the caked up varnish stuff out of the tank without breaking any laws? I couldnt believe how nasty it looked and smelled after I dropped the tank.

Re: cleaning gas tank out

Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 7:50 am
by cajun66
My truck sat up since 2001 with a hole in the tank so all gas evaporated into varnish. After dropping the tank, I took a hammer and lightly tapped all over which broke up most of the varnish. My shop-vac with a good dust filter removed all the loose stuff. I found the holes with a flashlight and brazed them shut. I then used my pressure washer to break up as much as I could. After drying out the tank with a hot air gun, I took a wire brush and stuck my arm in the big hole and took care of the rest.
Hope this helps.

Re: cleaning gas tank out

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:19 am
by RClem
I had my granddaughter stick her hand inside the tank with a acetone soaked rag and wipe it clean, took about half an hour.

Ray

Re: cleaning gas tank out

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:12 pm
by cajun66
I do a lot of work on old motorcycles and I use this trick a lot too:

Put a few pounds of gravel and a box of sheet metal screws in the tank, tape off the holes, Use bungee cords and tie the tank to the inside of a tractor rim. Cut a few acres of grass. Shiney.

Re: cleaning gas tank out

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:45 am
by RClem
That really sounds neat, but, I don't have a tractor, let alone a field to work in.

Re: cleaning gas tank out

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:41 am
by oneway
lol @ cajun - when I had my motorcycle gas tank powder coated...i totally forgot i had the inside lined with a thin vinyl to prevent corrosion...well....vinyl in an oven at XXXXX degrees to cure the powder coat = disaster for the inside.

i pulled out the big stuff (was like burnt newspaper) with a coat hanger and then tossed in about $5.00 in change (mostly pennies) and shook the hell out of it...took about 2 hours...but worked flawlessy.

Re: cleaning gas tank out

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 2:56 pm
by cajun66
Improv has worked for me in the past.

Re: cleaning gas tank out

Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:06 pm
by broncofan
Alright guys, got it all back together and shes running. now for the hard part, since the carb was rebuilt i need to fine tune
it. She runs well at high idle but stalls when I idle it down. found 1 leak at base of carb (air leak) rubber hose at base was bad. TSP seems to be working, and she drives ok, but lugs when i slow down for corners, any ideas would be appreciated thanks