Fixing a leaking fuel tank

matwor

Anyone ever had any experience with "creaming" a fuel tank on a four-wheeler to seal leaks? Pros, cons?

I've bought this 3 part system for the job.

dheffley

Make very, very sure you get all of the rust out before you use it, or it's a temporay fix at best.

The best way to get all of the rust out is to buy some fish tank gravel, put it in the tank with some water and dish washing liquid. then shake or tumble the tank until all of the rust is gone.

You can also bungie strap it to a car or tractor wheel and power tumble the gravel. In about 30 minutes, it will be clean as a new one inside.

Then, after it's clean, use the epoxy sealer coating inside.

FrancF

quote:Originally posted by dheffley
Make very, very sure you get all of the rust out before you use it, or it's a temporay fix at best.

The best way to get all of the rust out is to buy some fish tank gravel, put it in the tank with some water and dish washing liquid. then shake or tumble the tank until all of the rust is gone.

You can also bungie strap it to a car or tractor wheel and power tumble the gravel. In about 30 minutes, it will be clean as a new one inside.

Then, after it's clean, use the epoxy sealer coating inside.


+1[^]

scrumpyjack

For metal tanks, I prefer Red-Kote over Kreem any day. Much easier to work with and not as finicky about removing all the rust.

http://www.damonq.com/TechSheets/Red-Kote.pdf

Danny's cleaning method is excellent. You can also use BBs. The only thing that I would add is to perform your final rinse with distilled water.

haroldchrismeyer

Here is the real way to remove that rust. We used to do it all the time, and never had any problems afterwards. Get some brick cleaning acid, and put a couple of cups in the tank, and put the cap back on. Slosh it around for a little while, and watch for the rust to disappear. Then wash it with water, dry with a hairdryer, and then use the sealer. If you have any rust holes, cover them with duct tape first.

Jacob2008

When I wanted to do it on the dirt bike gas tank, I was told acid and Gravel / a Chain and shake it around to remove the rust, then put that stuff in there. I dont know if i trust it, so I havent done it.

dheffley

quote:Originally posted by scrumpyjack
The only thing that I would add is to perform your final rinse with distilled water.


Better yet, 99% isopropyl alcohol!

matwor

Thanks for all the great replies. What I need to do now is figure out some way to "tumble" the tank with the gravel/BB's inside.[?][?][?] Other than just hand shaking it.

Jacob2008

quote:Originally posted by matwor
Thanks for all the great replies. What I need to do now is figure out some way to "tumble" the tank with the gravel/BB's inside.[?][?][?] Other than just hand shaking it.



Got a dryer? [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

Wonder if you could rig a paint can shaker to shake it up. Probably wont find one, though..

Hire those kids!

matwor

quote:Originally posted by Jacob2008
quote:Originally posted by matwor
Thanks for all the great replies. What I need to do now is figure out some way to "tumble" the tank with the gravel/BB's inside.[?][?][?] Other than just hand shaking it.

Got a dryer? [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]


Now that would be a pleasant sound.[:D][:D]

grdad45

"Now that would be a pleasant sound."

Using any Tumbling method, it's going to sound like two skeletons making love on a tin roof!![}:)]

matwor

Looky there, another Edmund Burke quote!!

dheffley

quote:Originally posted by grdad45
[brUsing any Tumbling method, it's going to sound like two skeletons making love on a tin roof!![}:)]


Glad I didn't have a mouth full of coffee when I read that! It would have been all over the monitor![:D]

FrancF

Add rocks/bb's shake around by hand.

CHEVELLE427

Had to fix my 1983 4 wheeler 4 years ago, just took the tank off sanded the holes from the outside and coated the bottom with JB weld. has not leaked any yet.