Author Topic: Testing the Vinegar Tank treatment... (Read 18295 times)

ekpent · « **Reply #25 on:** March 16, 2012, 10:08:51 AM »

I think there are a lot of gas fumes etc inside the tank that help alleviate that somewhat. Best if your pocketbook can afford it nowadays is to keep the fuel level high in the tank if you have etched out the original interior finish.

750K · « **Reply #26 on:** March 16, 2012, 10:32:59 AM »

I'm going to try this on a rusty Kz1000 tank, it's pretty bad so if it doesn't work there's no harm no foul. I've got a pretty clean tank off of the 72 parts bike I want to hardtail I want pristine inside, it's runnable as is but the hint of rust it has would be nice to get rid of.

So you went full strength with the vinegar? I was reading about a 50/50 water vinegar mix but I think I'll go full strength and throw some drywall screws in there as well and shake it a while before I fill with vinegar.

lone*X · « **Reply #27 on:** March 16, 2012, 10:34:37 AM »

First make sure the gas cap gasket is good. If you are riding the bike and keep fresh gas in the tank the vapor pretty much excludes oxygen which is necessary for rust to form. If you let the bike sit for a month or so without the tank full the gas goes old as the ethanol attracts moisture and rust occurs. Bottom line is you shouldn't see a problem with fresh gas, a full tank, and if your not riding it, treat it with Sta-Bil or some other stabilizer.

750K · « **Reply #28 on:** March 16, 2012, 08:57:01 PM »

So we shall see how well the vinegar works, after blocking off the petcock hole I filled the Kz tank to the top of the filler neck with white vinegar. After being out for a few hours I could wipe the surface rust off the filler neck rim, didn't bother with drywall screws this round. If there's still a ton of rust after I drain it I'll use screws and and vinegar for round 2. How long should I let It soak? 5-7 days?

Dave K · « **Reply #29 on:** March 17, 2012, 11:15:16 AM »

I just came across this thread and I just had done a vinegar treatment to an old XL 350 tank. There is no way I would have thought it would cleaned it up. But it DID! It appears as new inside. I am sold on it. My gas tank is roughly 2 gal. so I used 2 gal. of vinegar and let it soak for a week, as there is much to do on this bike. I simply couldn't believe it. I left the petcock and gas cap on. The cap is vented and I want them clean as well. My gosh my tank was rusty, but now more. I am not a lover of coating tanks and I won't this one either. A little 2 stroke oil sloshed around inside will keep it good to go.

JoshuaJames · « **Reply #30 on:** March 17, 2012, 11:06:28 PM »

You used the two stroke to prevent flash rusting? I ask becuase my bike has yet to run successfully, and I am wondering if that will affect getting her going? Is it fine for normal engines? Will it harm anything?

trueblue · « **Reply #31 on:** March 18, 2012, 01:43:27 AM »

A bit of oil in the fuel will make it a little smokey but shouldn't affect how it runs.

Bailgang · « **Reply #32 on:** March 18, 2012, 03:12:03 AM »

Simple tips like this is fantastic info, I just wish I knew about it before I did my tank. I used electrolysis on mine which actually did a good job but I probably would've tied vinegar first had I known about it.

apehanger 550 · « **Reply #33 on:** March 18, 2012, 07:51:17 AM »

I did electrolysis first, followed by 1/4 " hex nuts to clean out the grey loose stuff that remained. After all that and many rinsings,I used a little phosphoric acid,and the very tiny creases at the tank bottom turned blue,showing what little rust remained.
The phosphoric acid is made to convert rust to an inert byproduct so paint will stick to it.Put acetone in there,and then force dried it with a big shop vac,and the tank has remained perfect for 3 years. I try to keep it full,and any time I am not riding it for a few days,I put sta-bil in the fuel for insurance.
This might be a bit of overkill, but did not want any flash rusting

m00ntan · « **Reply #34 on:** March 18, 2012, 08:23:17 AM »

+1 on phosphoric acid. If it air drys on the metal, completely, I could follow with a water rinse and drying with no flash rust.

kslrr · « **Reply #35 on:** March 18, 2012, 08:49:59 AM »

I need to track this thread so when I get back to Vegas, I can work on the CB350F tank.

750K · « **Reply #36 on:** March 18, 2012, 10:44:56 AM »

A day into it I could wipe off all the surface rust around the filler lip and the inside neck, completely clean and bare of rust. Can't wait to see how things look next Friday, it's pretty rusty. I've been taking pics so I'll try and figure out how to post them after I drain the tank on fri.

grumpy · « **Reply #37 on:** March 18, 2012, 11:52:47 AM »

this is really cool.
I'm so glad there's a less toxic / corrosive way to do this.

lone*X · « **Reply #38 on:** March 18, 2012, 08:11:13 PM »

Guys, don't toss the nasty vinegar after your done. It is great weed killer! Just a splash on tough weeds and in a few days their dead. Totally environmentally friendly to boot. Saw that in the wife's gardening magazine. Of course they excluded the rust part.

750K · « **Reply #39 on:** March 18, 2012, 11:27:48 PM »

Quote from: lone*X on March 18, 2012, 08:11:13 PM

Guys, don't toss the nasty vinegar after your done. It is great weed killer! Just a splash on tough weeds and in a few days their dead. Totally environmentally friendly to boot. Saw that in the wife's gardening magazine. Of course they excluded the rust part.

I plan on straining it through a coffee filter and pouring it in a 72 cb750 tank with almost no rust, which will be easily cleaned out. Once that's done it's getting strained and put back in the jugs for future use. Took another peak today and a big patch of rust on the top of the tunnel just rubbed off with a quick scrape of my finger, things are looking up!

750K · « **Reply #40 on:** March 23, 2012, 01:50:48 AM »

So after six days of soaking a rusty Kz1000 tank, I have a rust free tank basically. It blew me away, all I can see is bare metal inside the tank with some loose flake that didn't pour out into the bucket I dumped the vinegar into. I strained the vinegar and ended up with over an inch of loose scale rust in a plastic pint sized glass. I didn't have any baking soda or acetone on hand so there was some flash rust inside by the time I strained the vinegar back into the jugs, so I refilled the tank for a second soak till I find the time to grab what I need for the rinse stage. I'm floored at how well it worked, and I didn't even try the drywall screw shake part of the treatment.

I've been taking step by step pics and will post them once I figure out how to post pics, is it the HTML tag or the Image tag I use when linking from a photobucket account on this forum? Once you see the pics you'll be surprized...

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #41 on:** March 23, 2012, 02:45:01 AM »

I use the IMG code.

MoMo · « **Reply #42 on:** March 23, 2012, 04:08:29 AM »

the direct link code works for me...Larry

750K · « **Reply #43 on:** March 24, 2012, 09:39:18 PM »

Lets see if posting pics works.

This is what the Kz tank looked like when I brought the bike home, pretty rusty through out the whole thing

One day into the vinegar soak I could wipe off the light rust around the filler hole and neck inside.

This is 6 days of soaking, I dranied the vinegar into a bucket. Some loose flake was still inside that didnt pour out when I drained the tank but man its looking clean.

I strained the vinegar back into jugs through a t-shirt I use as a rag, this is what was at the bottom of the bucket.

I was really surprized at how well it worked, but seeing as I didn't have baking soda or acetone or methyl hydrate on hand for a good rinse I just re filled the tank with the strained vinegar as a bit of flash rust had started to form. I dont think there will be any rust inside after I drain and properly rinse the tank.

Just to be clear, I filled the tank and left it for 6 days. No shaking with drywall screws or chain, I took the petcock off and wrapped a couple layers of electrical tape over the hole and a second layer or two of tuck tape I had around the house. No leaks from the tape and the paint was fine anywhere the vinegar spilled on it.

HondaMan · « **Reply #44 on:** March 24, 2012, 10:27:57 PM »

Quote from: lone*X on March 16, 2012, 10:34:37 AM

Bottom line is you shouldn't see a problem with fresh gas, a full tank, and if your not riding it, treat it with Sta-Bil or some other stabilizer.

A word to the wise about Sta-bil and other similar formaldehyde-based preservatives: it mixes with ethanol to form a milky-looking liquid that, when it dries, successfully plugs most of the emulsifier tube holes and pilot jet holes in your carbs.

Look into boat fuel preservatives instead: there are some now that are made to cope with ethanol. As of now, Sta-bil does not do well.

nccb · « **Reply #45 on:** March 25, 2012, 04:22:50 AM »

damn 750k, you got a lot of rust out of that tank. Did it leak anywhere after the full treatment?

750K · « **Reply #46 on:** March 25, 2012, 07:40:35 AM »

^^^nccb, no leaks or pinholes so far. We'll see once the second soak is done but I think I'll be fine.

Imago · « **Reply #47 on:** March 25, 2012, 08:07:47 AM »

Quote from: HondaMan on March 24, 2012, 10:27:57 PM

Quote from: lone*X on March 16, 2012, 10:34:37 AM
Bottom line is you shouldn't see a problem with fresh gas, a full tank, and if your not riding it, treat it with Sta-Bil or some other stabilizer.

A word to the wise about Sta-bil and other similar formaldehyde-based preservatives: it mixes with ethanol to form a milky-looking liquid that, when it dries, successfully plugs most of the emulsifier tube holes and pilot jet holes in your carbs.

Look into boat fuel preservatives instead: there are some now that are made to cope with ethanol. As of now, Sta-bil does not do well.

It's tips like this, that I would not glean elsewhere, that make this site and it's participants so great!

750K · « **Reply #48 on:** March 30, 2012, 10:24:59 AM »

After a second week of soaking I dumped the vinegar, imeadiatly rinsed with water and baking soda. Rinsed that with warm water till no flake rust came out, sloshed a whole can of acetone around and blew dry with compressed air. The tank is completly rust free now, a bunch more flake rust came out after the second soak. Managed to avoid any flash rust luckily, poured a good amount of two stroke oil in and coated the inside really well. Poured out the excess and will leave it sitting in my heated laundry room, I'll keep my eye on the inside to see if things start rusting again but I'm very pleased with the outcome. Now I just need to get the Kz running.

hoodellyhoo · « **Reply #49 on:** March 30, 2012, 10:42:13 AM »

Thank you very much for the pics and updates!

News:

Author Topic: Testing the Vinegar Tank treatment... (Read 18295 times)