Topic: Check out this tank pics

[Johnie]

A couple pics inside of what looks like surface rust. Hate to line unless absolutely needed. Do you think I can get away with an aggressive clean of sorts? Maybe the Vanish treatment?

[Leanier]

You should be fine if you clean it.  I have revived much worse tanks than that.  I find that filling it a quarter full with gas, and then pouring a container of bb's in it and rattling it around for awhile gets most of the particulate out.  Then just run an inline filter for awhile (if it was me).

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I hear good things about using The Works on a tank like that.

[VTCBike750]

Im spending part of the weekend cleaning out a tank and lining it.  Your tank looks 10 times better than mine does. I would use the Works to clean it, rinse it out with some baking soda to neutralize the acid, rinse it out with acetone to dry it up faster and prevent flash rust, and finally spray WD-40 or fill it with gas.

Good luck

[youn6372]

I've had success with this operation out of PA.  It wasn't cheap, but if you are looking for a job done right these guys are great.

MOYER FUEL TANK RENU

1-800-328-9550

[malcolmgb]

or Electrolysis http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=21623.0

[Stev-o]

I've seen a lot worse. After you clean it, keep it full of fuel as much as possible.

[fmctm1sw]

I've seen a lot worse. After you clean it, keep it full of fuel as much as possible.

+1.  I got about 4000 miles on a tank that was much worse than that...  Lots of tank cleaning threads out there.

[vames]

I think that might be too mild a situation for an acid as aggressive as the HCl in The Works -- you don't want to needlessly cut into the good metal when going after that little rust. You might want to go for just some white vinegar and nuts and bolds and I bet it'd all break free.

[NickC]

That rust looks like it would come off with a toothbrush 

Here is what I did for a tank with more rust that came out great......

Remove petcock, use a cork or some other method to plug the hole (I just used duct tape)
Get the works toilet bowl cleaner (or something similar, make sure it's acidic)
Have a box of baking soda ready
Throw a few nuts/washers in the tank, fill with toilet bowl cleaner
Carefully shake and slosh the tank for about a minute (you may not even have to go that long with your tank.
Drain, use the baking soda & water to neutralize the acid. Rinse extremely well.
Grab the wife's hairdryer and dry the tank (you can throw some denatured alcohol in there as well to aid the drying)
Pat yourself on the back for a job well done.....

I took a small amount of gas and 2-cycle oil and covered the tank with it, to avoid flash rust.