Topic: How hard is it to de-rust a tank?

[veloracermike]

Not sure if I should have posted this in the tech section. I've found a smokin' deal on a tank but it's pretty rusty inside. How hard is it to clean this out or should I avoid a tank like that completely?

[ekpent]

There is a danger when you de rust it if it is really bad that you may develop some pin holes along the bottom or other locations.Tap it well along those areas to try and determine the integrity of the metal as much as possible.The de rusting itself is not hard to do,many different methods here on a search.

[Patrick]

Check especially the left rear corner of the tank. That is where all the crap and condensation collect when lawn art is displayed on its kickstand. If the tank is weakened that is the place the damage is most likely to occur. Clean the area real well and look for rust or bubbled paint. If you find either you likely already have a leak. Leaks can be fixed if the tank integrity is still OK, but it's better to use a leak free tank.

Patrick 

[Rigid]

A Kreem seal kit costs the same as a rust free tank, I'm just sayin'

[veloracermike]

A Kreem seal kit costs the same as a rust free tank, I'm just sayin'

Thanks guys, I guess Rigid pretty much sums it up.  The tank is not local, it's a craigslist find and since I can't really check it out I'll just pass and continue my search.

[BeSeeingYou]

Pretty rusty is subjective but if it's just surface corrosion that would be fine but thick flaky corrosion is what I would avoid.  Maybe hard to tell from pics but if you have to take a chance don't pay too much.  It amazes me at the junk that gets peddled so I would rather see it in person if I were spending any decent amount of money. I would rather have a solid tank than one that needed a liner with their high failure rate.

[Really?]

I ended up with pinholes after removing the rust from the tank.  The POR-15 kit came with a repair kit for the outside of the tank.  So, the liner in the tank and the repair on the outside, I think I am good to go for a while.  It's doing the lining that is the extreme PITA - I had to do it twice!

[Cevan]

@ Rigid: If you can find me a rust free '76 F1 tank for less than $100 let alone the cost of the Kreem product, I'll eat my hat.

[Duanob]

@ Rigid: If you can find me a rust free '76 F1 tank for less than $100 let alone the cost of the Kreem product, I'll eat my hat.

Yeah rust free is a relative term. Even after derusting a tank there will be some surface rust and flash rust.

[Rigid]

@ Rigid: If you can find me a rust free '76 F1 tank for less than $100 let alone the cost of the Kreem product, I'll eat my hat.

I have been selling K tanks for $30.00.  I'll look around in my garage, I am sure I have a F model tank and you can youtube the clip of you eating your #$%*ing hat.  Cost is also relative.  Does he have a 76 F model?  What about a wrinkle sandcast?  No, we are talking standard K model tank here and it is $30.00 all day long.

[Patrick]

I paid $20 for my latest tank. It had no discernable rust and a working petcock. The paint was original and bad, but the tank is solid.

Check out local stuff before gambling on Ebay. I like to see what I buy before I buy.

Patrick

[veloracermike]

That's really the big problem. There is nothing really close to me available to look at.  There are a couple of tanks in Dallas but that's 6 hour round trip from Austin.  The tank I really want is off of a 69 CB 450 like this one.

http://img.perthstreetbikes.com/img/3/8/6/honda_cb450_1969_cr_01.jpg

Second choice would be a Benalli Mojave tank, third choice wold be a early 70 CB350/400/550 tank and I'd have the knee dents cut in. 

[Patrick]

I'm in Austin too, Mike. There are deals on Craigslist from time to time. That's where I found mine. I can give you the name of a boneyard in Belton that sepcializes in 60s and 70s vintage bikes, mostly Japanese. Pete almost certainly has 750 tanks, although they won't be as cheap as my Craigslist find. If you want the junkyard info, PM me.

Patrick

[veloracermike]

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