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Simple Method to Clean 44 Gas Tank Rust / Varnish

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mick

07-17-2001 08:22:18




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After several years in storage, I'm trying to get
the old 44 Special running. The gas tank in dirty,
had sludge,rust,residue. Removed tank, soaked with
lacquer thinner several hours, rinsed w/water five
times, still black flecks. Any simple home remedy
to flush the tank? Knowledge is power. Thank you.




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Tim

08-04-2001 21:32:20




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 Re: Simple Method to Clean 44 Gas Tank Rust / Varnish in reply to mick, 07-17-2001 08:22:18  
This is something I read in a magazine. A guy cleaned a rusty gas tank by putting sand and gravel in it, and tied it to the rim of a tractor wheel, jacked up the tractor, and ran it for two hours. Just like a big rock tumbler.



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Pete

07-24-2001 19:53:34




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 Re: Simple Method to Clean 44 Gas Tank Rust / Varnish in reply to mick, 07-17-2001 08:22:18  
Mick, I use pea gravel, shake it good, then a 2 stage kit I get for tank cleaning/sealing (you can get them through Eastwood Auto's catalog, but the cheapest place I have found them is the local Harley shop believe it or not} the 1st stage I imagine is mostly muratic acid, then flush and seal with stage 2. Be sure to seal it as it will rust even quicker the second time. Local radiator shop does 'em, but quite expensive as he really doesn't like to work with the sealer. Pete

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M.B.

07-17-2001 20:15:34




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 Re: Simple Method to Clean 44 Gas Tank Rust / Varnish in reply to mick, 07-17-2001 08:22:18  
Bluelite nailed it, but I've had good luck with plain old vinegar. Buy the cheapest you can find. Fill it up and let it set for about 3 or 4 days. Throw the leftovers on some weeds, not as hazardous as thinner. Try to get as much of the rust particles out first. Option B is take it to a radiator shop and let them clean it. You may find a lot of pin holes after all this :-(



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BlueLite

07-17-2001 16:21:09




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 Re: Simple Method to Clean 44 Gas Tank Rust / Varnish in reply to mick, 07-17-2001 08:22:18  
Tie the tank up with a rope on a rafter so it will swing. Use a 4 way tie, like you would wrap a gift package. Put a couple pounds of scrap metal in the fill hole, but not galvanized stuff. Shake back and forth for a good half hour. Tie it upside down and repeat, and so forth for other sides. Remove scrap. Rinse with a couple gallons of paint thinner. Keep pouring it off into another container using a sieve. (The best filter I found is a stainless steel coffee filter basket which comes in differing micron sizes, wal-mart,zellers.etc). Keep rinsing until the thinner comes out clean. That's how I did my MH30 tank.

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Robert W. Bob Bentley, Sr.

06-02-2002 04:02:42




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 Re: Re: Simple Method to Clean 44 Gas Tank Rust / Varnish in reply to BlueLite, 07-17-2001 16:21:09  
My former mechanic put something in my gas tank.
First the gas gauge quit working then car started missing and quit. I check it out completely and found I was getting no fuel. Upon pulling the fuel tank it was full of rust, the worst I have very seen. Also got out about a quart of what looked like sand and rust. The gas sending unit was complete gone with rust.

This is a family car which has alway had a locked gas cap and the only time it was out of our sight
was when, I left it with the so-called mechanic to go get a brake line hose.

Just what did he put in the tank to cause so much rust?

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eddie

07-18-2001 19:06:18




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 Re: Re: Simple Method to Clean 44 Gas Tank Rust / Varnish in reply to BlueLite, 07-17-2001 16:21:09  
i have a mf50 that sat for many years. i bought two gallons on carb cleaner, the kind in the gallon can with the dip basket at a auto parts store, put it in the tank, let it set for a couple hours to get the bottom good, then sloshed it over the rest of th tank for awhile. this got the tank very clean, and i just poured out the cleaner into the original cans, flushed the tank with water, and reinstalled and filled with gas. BUT, my tank was virtually rust free but did have a thick layer of varnish on the bottom

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BlueLite

07-19-2001 14:48:02




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 Re: Re: Re: Simple Method to Clean 44 Gas Tank Rust / Varnish in reply to eddie, 07-18-2001 19:06:18  
Eddie, you got me thinking of something I read a while back. Someone let the tank dry out
real good and put in some muriatic acid in the tank and after a few minutes was perfectly clean
bare metal at the bottom. Ate the rust right out. It's the same stuff they use to etch concrete
floors smooth like glass.



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mick

07-23-2001 09:47:35




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Simple Method to Clean 44 Gas Tank Rust / Varnish in reply to BlueLite, 07-19-2001 14:48:02  
Blue Lite:
Thank you for continuing to follow through on
these old tractor problems. I've been working with the vinegar, first straining out black
paste, similar to raw brownie mix. More moving,
seemed to be cleaner straining, then I did two
rinses of hot water, and more ugly black rust.
Dumped the vinegar back in. Possibly this black
rust is in the topside, since I can not leave it
soaking upside down, as it leaks out the cap. If
in a few more days it remains unclean, I'll get
the muriatic acid. Again, Thanks for the advice.

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