Sealing A Rusty Motorcycle Tank: Part 1

[@sthildas4857]

You are keeping the integrity of the tank, this is real content of how it can be, thx for sharing Cody.. The process is never quick nor should it be, a test for everyone.🏍️

[@TheMotorcycleMD]

Thanks man! You are 100% on that

[@colinculverwell325]

Hi Cody, I've done a couple of tanks myself with good results. Sometimes tank sealers get bad press as the early one you could buy weren't resistant to ethanol but any quality kit today should be fine. I think I paid around £40 for the last one I bought. I've seen people try and just take out the rust using everything fron electrolysis to vinegar and apple juice but the issue is the tank will flash rust straight after. You really need the resin coating to make sure the job will hold up. In a perfect world we would replace the tank but try finding a mint tank for any bike built in the 70/80s. If you could its not going to be cheap. Look forward to the next one

[@jessedphillips]

I used the Caswell 2 part epoxy and it's been fantastic. Cleaned it of rust with nuts and bolts in a bunch of white vinegar shaking for a long time. Then flash dried with acetone. Seal all the holes really well including any threads. The epoxy took the longest since I put the entire amount in there and turned it over and over for about an hour plus to keep it evenly distributed. My arms were so sore the next day.

[@mikeycod7377]

I did the same as you with white vinegar and some small chains in the gas tank, then shook like hell. After I drained that out I put distilled water and baking soda to neutralize the acid in the vinegar. Rinse that out with water and continue to shake with the chains in the tank do knock off any remaining rust, repeating until I saw no rust coming out of the tank. After blowing all the water out of the tank I immediately put in some marvel mystery oil and shook it around and coated entire tank to stop flash rust. I decided against coating the tank since I only run non-ethanol fuel in my bike. It has been a year since I did this and no rust has returned.

[@qivarebil2149]

White vinegar won't leave a protective layer on the bare metal. Your tank will start to rust immediately after the vinegar treatment. Looks nice at first, but will definately be a problem in the future. Phosphoric acid is THE way to go! Forget everything else!

[@jessedphillips]

@@qivarebil2149 yes. You're right! I had to do it twice, the second time drying immediately with acetone. Can you get phosphoric acid easily?

[@qivarebil2149]

@@jessedphillips Phosphoric acid comes in a big variety of versions. You can find it in everything from rust removers(of course), to special treatments for fiberglass boat hulls, and as a powder for use in all kinds of chemical .processes.

[@daveco1270]

With POR-15 metal etching, it'll look amazing when you're done with that step...then it dries and turns orange with flash rusts. There's ways to keep the flash rust to a minimum, but it always seems to show up a little.

[@jessedphillips]

This was my problem. I used acetone when it was still slightly wet. Since acetone is miscible, I had almost none at all. Even now, the metal is a beautiful dull gray under the epoxy.

[@MattVenezuela]

I just doubled the size of my tank in my truck, cut the side of the tank off and welded an extension on it. while I had it open I took a grinder and cleaned the heavy rust out of the old section, thankfully I bought the KBS kit, no matter how good you weld pin hole magically appear, now I'm applying the KBS to coat the inside of the tank to protect the fuel from the raw steel and future rush, it's a real pain to take the tank out again.

[@ScottRobinsound]

Hey buddy thanks! I just ordered some of this stuff. My bike sat for 3 years and after much much carburetor work (thanks to your videos) its running Ike a top! 95 ACE 1100

[@ajostrz934]

Just found you today while working on my Yamaha radian 600 it's a 89 bikes super mint but it was gifted because it was a beautiful problem child that I got pretty much running perfect from not starting so I'm pretty proud of this one

[@stevesvids]

Hey Cody I'm no expert in this but I'm thinking, if I had a tank in this condition I would go through the clean out process as you have, but then do 2 or 3 tank sealer coats. I'd try and form a tank within a tank. On a separate note. I watched a vid of yours on fuel pumps. It helped me diagnose a problem on my dirt bike. I spent over a thousand £ getting various specialists to diagnose, replace repair to get it running. All failed. I just the other day committed to strip out the fuel pump and guess what.... it was corroded and finished. I think at some point I've taken on water to the fuel tanks ( 2 on the Husky TE511) and its remained in the system over time rotting out the pet cocks and then the fuel pump. So thanks to your vids pal you've helped me understand how to think things through and hopefully when my new fuel pump arrives I'll be back in action. Cheers Boss 🍻 👍👊

[@philliphall5198]

Merry Christmas and Thank You’ll for information and advice

[@davidmahanna94]

Thank you very much for taking th etime to educate us poor souls. Had a thought about removing the rust before starting this process. If one were to get a long wire brush put on a drill, will it hurt the tank?

[@bikerrealengo]

Ecxelente video.thanks..I now the process..but all days we learn something new or a easy way to do the same.. Following

[@qivarebil2149]

You did wise, to choose phosphoric acid! I see people recommending vinegar as a rust remover. I can only relate to what people use in fabrication shops, to protect a bare metal surface. And - they are not using vinegar, that's for sure. If vinegar was so effective, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't take the extra cost of the phosphoric acid!

[@innovruptly1769]

Electrolysis to save the metal. Fill tank with water, add some bicarb (Sodium bicarbonate), attach negative lead to tank, attach positive lead to electrode (sacrificial metal), turn on 12V DC 4-8A transformer. This process can take some time to lift the rust. NB. Polarity is important! When done, do not rinse with water rather use benzene or parafin to avoid flash surface rust. Before treating the inside of the tank, rinse with degreaser and dry thoroughly. Apply a decent rust inhibitor, let dry then apply the tank sealant. NB! Let the tank stand in the sun to expand the metal, let it cool in the evening ... repeat. Then inspect the inside of the tank treatment for hairline cracks or simply do another (finishing) coat of sealant. The coating of rust inhibitor will hopefully release the epoxy sealant from the tank when the metal expands without forming hairline stress cracks. If you don;t do this step/check then fuel can get between the epoxy coating and the metal of the tank which can lead to a hard to treat rust problem. imho.

[@qivarebil2149]

@@innovruptly1769 Yes, I know. It's cheap, but a bit messy. 🤩

[@ajostrz934]

Damn I just put a in line filter In and was like done. As i listen to the video he shut that idea down

[@miltonrobinson5183]

Would u seal up a brand spanking new ebay gas tank or just leave it as is

[@mikeycod7377]

Cody I have also heard a process of putting small nuts bolts and washers inside the tank and putting the tank in a dryer with no heat just fluff dry packed in the center with pillows or blankets around it so that it does not come in contact with the inside of the dryer, as long as there are no fuel smell inside the tank or you may be sleeping in the dog house if you have a significant other 🤣🤣🤣

[@jessedphillips]

The nuts and bolts method was great for me. All the shapes got into corners well.

[@TheMotorcycleMD]

Hahahaha this sounds insane 😂😂

[@mikeycod7377]

@@TheMotorcycleMD Think of it as a rock tumbler, it will knock off rust you can not see inside the tank and polish the inside of the tank.

[@DC-sh8mr]

Distilled white vinegar. Kills rust.

[@WelcometoplanetMF]

Does a new tank still need cleaned before lining?

[@TheMotorcycleMD]

If any fuel or anti corrosion additives have been in the tank. Yes

[@tedking9793]

And...BOOM!...This is why we don't clean and seal fuel tanks. It is just too time intensive to go a quality job. It can be done but it is very expensive to do.

[@jamiestanley8774]

You need a endoscope. Either 1 for your ph or a complete unit . Camera and screen . Both quite cheap .

[@hawaiibikekahuna8204]

I seal it, wrap it in moving blankets and put it in the clothes dryer and run a couple hours full of lock washers and drywall screws.

[@danielyepes4831]

Don't waste your money get metal rescue from home Depot or Lowes leave it one night in one side and the other side another night and that is it trust me I tried everything and that works the best out of all the others metal rescue not the other brands

[@ogreunderbridge5204]

I´d love an engine that could run on garbage. Mr Fusion style

[@ajostrz934]

Dumb me used my bath tub and but big bolts in it and shook the shit out of it

[@scowlsmcjowls2626]

So my couple thoughts on doing tank sealing would be a one off job so get a pro to do it. Hes messed it up before.. Reconsider actually doing this cus if it fails down the line what kind of shit show will that be. Maybe keep a mindset of get shit out your tank not in. Just get it as clean as possible and your filling it and using it its a stable component. The addition of a lining in your tank if that fails down the line its an absolute shit show. But it could be an awesome one off fix.. if so get a pro to do it..

[@tomburdett6639]

👍👍👍😁