Removing Rust In a Fuel Tank With Electrolysis - How To

Removing Rust In A Fuel Tank With Electrolysis How To! In this video I am using my CB750 fuel tank to show the process of using electrolysis to remove the rust from inside. This process works great for light to medium amounts of rust and is my go-to method more most cases. This process is very inexpensive, very easy, and far more safe that other rust rust removal options that use acid or more harsh chemicals.

"Electrolysis is the passing of a direct electric current through an electrolyte producing chemical reactions at the electrodes and decomposition of the materials."

"The main components required to achieve electrolysis are an electrolyte, electrodes, and an external power source."

"The electrolyte is a chemical substance which contains free ions and carries electric current (e.g. an ion-conducting polymer, solution, or a ionic liquid compound). If the ions are not mobile, as in most solid salts, then electrolysis cannot occur. A liquid electrolyte is produced by:

Solvation or reaction of an ionic compound with a solvent (such as water) to produce mobile ions
An ionic compound melted by heating
The electrodes are immersed separated by a distance such that a current flows between them through the electrolyte and are connected to the power source which completes the electrical circuit. A direct current supplied by the power source drives the reaction causing ions in the electrolyte to be attracted toward the respective oppositely charged electrode."

For the electrolyte I use hot water and sodium carbonate which is known in the pool industry as pH increaser and can be found at any pool store, Lowes, or even hardware stores.

For the anode I just use a piece of steel round bar and extend it into the tank as much as I can in a safe manner as any contact is bad. I keep them stable with a paint cap and tape.

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[waynepaterson]

I followed exactly the steps you did on my CBX1000 tank that I am currently restoring. The results were awesome. This is now my go to method.

[manus.]

I did the same with my cx500 tank this weekend. I noticed that after the elektrolysis it increases the effect, if you fill in a mix of water and citratacid. I used 400ml of acid on the 17 liter of the tank and filled it up with boiling water.( Sorry I'm from Europe, we use metric units😅) let that mixture rest over night. The surface of the inner tank looks almost like new after that. After flushing the tank with water, use 94% ethanol (here that's called "spiritus") to neutralise the rest of the water that's left in the tank. 1 liter will be enough. Then you can use spray-oil or just fill the tank with gas.

[cruiser]

Great content. You mentioned the process works better with hot water. A general rule of thumb I learned from high school chemistry is: "The chemical reaction rate will double for every 10 degrees temperature rise".

Also, for the light rust remaining after the electrolysis is done, rinse the tank and pour in a gallon of Evaporust. Let the tank sit for several days in various positions. I have had good results with this product restoring rusty tools.

[quadsman]

Definitely one of those saved videos that I will be able to keep going back to for a solid reference !
I have always understood the process, but never actually applied it in real life application !
Great job with the video !
Extremely easy to understand !

[CobraVeight]

The other way i did it on my GL1000 tank was to get some thin rubber tube, like a bike tube and put a few holes in it, and put you steel electrode inside and this stops it earthing on the tank, worked good too . Cheers .

[sargefreedom]

Excellent tutorial! Easy to do and not as intimidating as many people may think. An older fella near me would use this process with a plastic tote to clean up rusty parts. Well done young man

[BrickHouseBuilds]

Well I hope you all enjoyed the video as it was intended to be a straightforward demo on the process I've been using for years now with 100% success. I see many questions online about how to do this and felt a video was much needed in order to help all those unfamiliar with the process.

Unfortunately though it seems everyone has an issue with this whether it be potential for gasses building up, me using a battery, not using one the 10, 000 other preferred rinsing menthods, not using a more expensive or dangerous method, not using harsh acids, you name it. I am simply showing my preferred method from doing this over the years.

[Tonyous]

You never cease to increase my knowledge and confidence. I'll be a life-long fan of the channel because of that!

[rogerbradbury]

A nice, clear description. I've been removing rust using this method recently, but on motorcycle chassis parts. I used a large plastic storage box with about 11 UK gallons of electrolyte, and a car battery charger. The cathode was three strips of 1" mild steel, bent and bolted together so they sat on edge along the bottom of the box. Another strip was bolted to them and stuck out of the electrolyte for the negative connection.
The parts hung on steel wires from another 1" strip that I laid across the top of the box; the positive connection went to this strip. As you did, I used sodium carbonate to adjust the resistance of the electrolyte. Mine came as "Soda Crystals" from the household cleaning shelves of the supermarket.
I added the sodium carbonate until the charger was working at close to its maximum; 9 amps. I kept an eye on the current, and saw that the current falls as the cathode gets coated in the same sludge you found; when it gets down to about 3 amps it's time to remove the sludge. It's soft and comes off easily as I'm sure you know, but eventually this doesn't get the current back up as the cathode now has a hard coating. An abrasive angle grinder wheel soon sorts it out for another rust removal session.
I'll certainly use this process again.

[mestep]

Nicely done video. Got my first virago tank over there cooking at the bench. Batteries, cables, chargers, like a science fair project. RighT up my alley. Thanks

[truethought]

Yes this is a good idea to clean gas tanks. If you wanted to do this on an old custom, and make it last for a long time, You could then add Tank Sealer which
comes in two or three colours. This is applied by poring the liquid into the tank and sealing both filler and tap holes, then sloshing it all around the inside until
you have a nice even coat. Empty any excess and leave to dry. It looks best when it is done in white! Thanks for the Vid.

[rockbay]

I really respect the way you make so many tools and items you need!!! You work with what you have. Broken side plate, fiberglass work. Love it!!!! New subscriber!!!!

[nickvinten]

Have found a company in India that hand makes fuel tanks for the domestic bike market who have informed me can copy any old wasted tank that’s sent to them. Not the most convenient solution I know but possibly a good fall back for almost impossible to source good condition vintage tanks.
Really enjoyed the series, informative and entertaining 👌✌️

[mehdimirza]

Excellent beautiful Explanation good service to Humanity and believers

[maciejkowalczyk]

I was always using electrolysis to clean things that I found with metal detector. Never thought to use it on a tank 😄 Great idea!

[stevenwarner]

This is crazy B.J. ~ Not gonna lie. Just yesterday I finally got around to looking at the 600 Bandit, got the seat off, looked into the tank. Yea. Needs this treatment. I am just getting into motorcycle mode. So distracted. Now working on the Nighthawk cb750 and making more plans for the 1200 Bandit. This demo is gold for so many people. Thank you so much for this. ~~~Mr. Not Worthy from New Hampshire. 〰💥👍💥〰

[kennymcquinkiss]

I think I'm going to give it a try. I'm going to step it up a notch see if this will work. My situation is I have an rd350 motor with a seized crank because it's rusted not because it ran low on oil for anything and the Pistons are awesome so I'm going to dip the whole thing in some water and see if I can use that electrolysis on Breaking Free these parts. Thank you for sharing

[JedediahSmith]

Gotta love this channel it’s like learning on the job no music no bullshit thanks pal talk to yous later 🏁

[Rick-]

I dont know if anyone mentioned but if you put your towell in it then use compressed air to blow it around, it does a really good job of cleaning and dryin the whole tank

[tombaumann]

Thank you so much to show this easy way to get away rust. I bought a cbr 600 F pc25 a few months ago and it's got nasty rust und particels inside the Tank, becaus the bike stood for three years with only a few liters of Gas inside, so the rust could made Party. Even two of four throttles from the carbs where stucking, so I had to put them in Diesel for a few weeks.
Long Story short, my biggest issue was the rusty tank, but now I got a solution because of your Video, thanks a lot man 👍💪😊