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Author Topic: CLR Tank Cleanup  (Read 2293 times)

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Offline leekellerking

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CLR Tank Cleanup
« on: September 20, 2009, 01:30:51 PM »
So the plan (yes, there is a plan) is that I buy a "temporary" tank for Bikey so I can ride while I do the full-blown-POR-15 refinish on the original tank.  Or, while I get the original tank cleaned and refinished at a good radiator shop.

I got my "experimental" tank in Friday from E-Bay, and I've started the CLR process.  I have the gas cap replaced by a large rubber stopper and an old, nonfunctioning petcock in the other side.  However, there are a couple of issues:

1. When I got the tank it still had some unknown (smelling very slightly of gasoline) fluid in it.  I was unable to get it all drained out, so I just flushed the loose crap out of the tank and poured the CLR (2 bottles) in. 

How the heck do I get all the fluid out when it is finished?  Turkey baster and tubing?  Hair drier? 


2.  There is something rattling in the tank.  Is there a baffle in there somewhere?  It doesn't sound like screws or bolts, but a piece of metal.  I'm going to go ahead with the project, but I am wondering what the heck it is!

Any suggestions?  (Or is everybody just laughing at me?)

Lee
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Offline HavocTurbo

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Re: CLR Tank Cleanup
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2009, 03:49:11 PM »
What year?
Model?
Make?

I'm assuming SOHC4 but you know how that goes....  ;D

Shouldn't be a "baffle" in any of the tanks.... but if someone made one well... yea.

Might be a big chunk of something or who knows.

Usually a flexible "magnet on a stick" will help get it out.
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Offline Toxic

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Re: CLR Tank Cleanup
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2009, 04:10:58 PM »
To drain the tank you have to do the "dance".  You hold it upside down and move all around.  Ya you will look like an idiot to your neighbors but it's the only way to get it all out.
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Offline mystic_1

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Re: CLR Tank Cleanup
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2009, 04:42:16 PM »
What bike is this?

Rinse the tank very thoroughly after the CLR.  I'd rinse with water once or twice then with acetone to drive out the remaining water.

Use a flashlight and one of those long grippy claw things to remove your hitchhiker.  Could be the petcock standpipe or filter depending on the model.

mystic_1
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Offline leekellerking

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Re: CLR Tank Cleanup
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2009, 04:24:14 AM »
Oops!  (I forgot new topic protocol)

1982 CB650SC Nighthawk.




Quote from: HavocTurbo on September 20, 2009, 03:49:11 PM
What year?
Model?
Make?

I'm assuming SOHC4 but you know how that goes....  ;D

Shouldn't be a "baffle" in any of the tanks.... but if someone made one well... yea.

Might be a big chunk of something or who knows.

Usually a flexible "magnet on a stick" will help get it out.
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Offline leekellerking

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Re: CLR Tank Cleanup
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2009, 04:25:41 AM »
Hmmmm.   The petcock has been rebuilt, so standpipe seems reasonable.  I'll check.

Thanks,

Lee


Quote from: mystic_1 on September 20, 2009, 04:42:16 PM
What bike is this?

Rinse the tank very thoroughly after the CLR.  I'd rinse with water once or twice then with acetone to drive out the remaining water.

Use a flashlight and one of those long grippy claw things to remove your hitchhiker.  Could be the petcock standpipe or filter depending on the model.

mystic_1
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Offline Frostyboy

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Re: CLR Tank Cleanup
« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2009, 06:45:31 AM »
How do you get the remaining liquid out of the tank you ask? In my workshop days, before I sent any fuel tank down the road for repair, I'd get a car up to operating temp by giving it a good hard drive & then position the tank filler over the tailpipe of the car & run above idle for a good 20 minutes or more.
I'm talking here about car fuel tanks that I used to get a radiator guy to patch leaks. He wouldn't put a gas torch anywhere near it of course for the obvious reasons, unless I dried em out.
I didn't blow him up, so it seems to work fine.
If you have a car with a cat converter in the line it might not take as long. There may be a small trace of condensation left behind, but hopefully not enough to be a drama.
Give it a try next time you need a dry tank.
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Offline Bob Wessner

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Re: CLR Tank Cleanup
« Reply #7 on: October 27, 2009, 06:56:09 AM »
To drain mine, I just inverted it and emptied it via the filler opening. This leaves a small amount around the raised neck inside. Holding inverted, just used a sponge to sop-up around the neck.
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: CLR Tank Cleanup
« Reply #8 on: October 27, 2009, 08:04:42 AM »
How about just let it drain out the petcock hole. Lowest point on the tank?
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Offline ev0lve

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Re: CLR Tank Cleanup
« Reply #9 on: October 27, 2009, 08:37:57 AM »
Quote from: BobbyR on October 27, 2009, 08:04:42 AM
How about just let it drain out the petcock hole. Lowest point on the tank?

Most will come out the petcock but it still leaves some sloshy bits that come out the filler easiest. Or at least that's how it worked for me.
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Offline Don R

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Re: CLR Tank Cleanup
« Reply #10 on: October 29, 2009, 05:22:27 AM »
I flushed with a garden hose to get the flakes out, drained, rinsed with methanol to remove the water, dried with a heat gun, sloshed with 2 stroke gas and seafoam to coat it.
 How did the CLR do? I did mine with muratic acid, now I find myself to be the local tank boil out guy. :P
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Offline Don R

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Re: CLR Tank Cleanup
« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2009, 04:37:01 PM »
A pre-soak with lacquer thinner seems to melt away some of the dried fuel exposing the metal for the next phase. It will swell the gas cap gasket though.
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Offline BeSeeingYou

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Re: CLR Tank Cleanup
« Reply #12 on: October 31, 2009, 10:39:53 PM »
I just wrapped an old washcloth around a bent coat hanger to get the last bit of fluid out.  Rinse it with baking soda and water after the acid or it will flash rust.  I think phosphoric acid is the only one you don't do this too.
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