How to clean the inside of a rusty tank??

**Cuztom Racing** · 08-18-2010, 06:16 AM

The outside of my 200x tank is in great shape but i cant say the same for the inside. Due to sitting up for quite a long time there is a fair amount of rust in the tank. What is the best way you guys have found to clean the inside and get that rust out??

**Mrs.Mosh** · 08-18-2010, 07:49 AM

Put some nuts and bolts in the tank and gently shake and turn it. You will also want to get a tank liner kit.

**harryredtrike** · 08-18-2010, 10:39 AM

you can also use muratic acid from a pool supply or hardware place.after cleaning make sure you run a fuel filter

**JayBone** · 08-18-2010, 11:39 AM

I used 2 gals of distilled vinigar (WALMART) and about ounce of salt. The next day I hosed it out well and once you get most of the water out i soaked the inside with Wd40.

**Fungo Wizard** · 08-18-2010, 11:53 AM

Did you line the tank after the vinegar treatment?

**harryredtrike** · 08-18-2010, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by fungo wizard

did you line the tank after the vinegar treatment?

you really should use a tank liner after treatment,the tank will flash rust again with very fine particulates and clog the carb and float pin .also the hotter the acid the better it works.

**Mosh** · 08-18-2010, 12:03 PM

I just did a tank reseal on my Motorcycle tank a few months ago.

Go to your cycle shop and buy a Kreem kit.

It has the cleaner, flasher and reliner all in one kit.
Follow the instructions, and you cant go wrong..Worked like a charm for me..
And the tank was leaking badly before I treated it.

This method will remove the rust and seal the tank so it does not rust anymore.

**harryredtrike** · 08-18-2010, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Mosh

I just did a tank reseal on my Motorcycle tank a few months ago.

Go to your cycle shop and buy a Kreem kit.

It has the cleaner, flasher and reliner all in one kit.
Follow the instructions, and you cant go wrong..Worked like a charm for me..
And the tank was leaking badly before I treated it.

This method will remove the rust and seal the tank so it does not rust anymore.

bingo,thats the ticket right there.i think they are relatively inexpensive also

**Mosh** · 08-18-2010, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by harryredtrike

bingo,thats the ticket right there.i think they are relatively inexpensive also

Kit was about 40 bucks here.

Originally Posted by Mrs.moshman

Put some nuts and bolts in the tank and gently shake and turn it. You will also want to get a tank liner kit.

That is how I did it. Filled the tank with dishsoap and water and threw in some 3/8ths nuts and bolts and carefully shook it around for a few hours, rinse and repeat..
TIP:

Count how many nuts and bolts you used so you know you got them all out. And shake easy, or the sharp edges of the nuts and bolts can dent the tank from the inside out.
Ball bearings are actually better, they wont dent the tank as easy.

**dear140** · 08-18-2010, 01:42 PM

warm up some muriatic acid and let it sit in there for 15 min. take it out and put it back into the container because its strong enough to use like 3 times. your tank will "flash rust" if yyou dont use a liner. im ns about the whole fuel filter thing.

**dksix** · 08-18-2010, 01:51 PM

I just checked ebay and found the 3 gallon tank kit for about 35 shipped. Is the 3 gallon kit enough or is over kill better?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KREEM...Q5fAccessories
I used Naval Jelly rust remover in my tank and it cleaned it up well. I put about a half pint of WD40 after I washed it out to prevent surfaced rust til I got a liner kit. I called a local shop and it was 54.99 plus tax there.

**Cuztom Racing** · 08-18-2010, 08:03 PM

Im going to get the one off ebay! Thanks for the help guys!

**Mosh** · 08-18-2010, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by Cuztom Racing

Im going to get the one off ebay! Thanks for the help guys!

Originally Posted by dksix

I just checked ebay and found the 3 gallon tank kit for about 35 shipped. Is the 3 gallon kit enough or is over kill better?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KREEM...Q5fAccessories

I used Naval Jelly rust remover in my tank and it cleaned it up well. I put about a half pint of WD40 after I washed it out to prevent surfaced rust til I got a liner kit. I called a local shop and it was 54.99 plus tax there.

That is the kit I used.

There was some youtube vids I watched before doing mine. They helped alot.

At the end of the process, they tell you to drain off the extra liner,and let sit overnite.

I never drained it off, and I kept rotating the tank in the sun for about 3-4 days.
My wife helped with that while I was at work, changing the tank angles through the days.

Telling you guys, My Cycle tank had a BAD leak at a weld seam, and this deal done the trick. Ironically, the tank had not that much rust in it, just a factory weld at the mounting bracket gave out on me.
I have run about 8 tanks through it since the KREEM kit and had no problems.

**daniel_250r** · 08-19-2010, 12:20 AM

all these ways are great and may work very well but if you want to do it for around 10 bones just go to the hardware store buy some evapo rust, pour it in and rotate every two hours, this stuff eats the rust off to bare metal then just drain. wash out. blow out with compressed air and fill with gas immediatly. this stuff is non corrosive and non toxic (dont ask me how)

**Cuztom Racing** · 08-19-2010, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by daniel_250r

all these ways are great and may work very well but if you want to do it for around 10 bones just go to the hardware store buy some evapo rust, pour it in and rotate every two hours, this stuff eats the rust off to bare metal then just drain. wash out. blow out with compressed air and fill with gas immediatly. this stuff is non corrosive and non toxic (dont ask me how)

Im sure you have to recoat the tank afterwards?

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How to clean the inside of a rusty tank??