Ditch Caustic Chemicals : Clean Gas Tank Easily

Clean the inside of your motorcycles gas tank without using expensive caustic chemicals . By using this technique and a combination of common houshold items you probably already have, you can achieve incredible results . Follow along , step by step and see how easy it really is .
For another very effective way to remove rust from a gas tank you may want to consider using electrolysis .To see how its done and to follow step by step click the link below

Note : Be sure to inspect the interior of your tank for any vent tubes or anomalies that may catch or snag chains or bolts or whatever you decide to use to scrub the inside of your tank . They can make extracting the hardware very difficult sometimes .

The rubber expansion plug I used in this video can be found on Amazon described as
LASCO-13-1820-Economy-Rubber-2-Inch Expansion Plug
I have no affiliation or sponsorship with this product or Amazon and offer the details only as a courtesy to those interested in sourcing the same device used in the video .

[TRyanLearnBikes]

To see another excellent way to remove rust from the inside of a motorcycle gas tank using electrolysis click the link below .

[HondaFanboy]

One of the best tank cleaning videos I have watched and there are many out there. Thanks. Vinegar is non toxic, cheap, and it works. I learned a lot with my first tank years ago. Your caution against should be taken seriously. I had chain tie itself in a knot around a vent tube and if you ever untangled chain before you know how difficult it can be. Now put it inside a tank where you have no working room, no access, and poor lighting you should think twice. I do not recommend chain. "Note : Be sure to inspect the interior of your tank for any vent tubes or anomalies that may catch or snag chains or bolts or whatever you decide to use to scrub the inside of your tank. They can make extracting the hardware very difficult sometimes." I can vouch for this.

[tjansson]

Hey! That's my Suzuki GT750 Water Buffalo. Owned it from 1978 to 1981. Rode it from Chicago to Dallas in '78 and then to home in NJ. Loved it!

[Zedicus-XG]

as someone who regularly uses the dishwasher as a parts cleaner, i am SOOO going to try this ASAP.

[morgansword]

I had a old dryer that the heat element was done for and so out to my shop area it went. Then on my bike tank, I used a concoction of vinegar and molasses that I just filled the tank with it. After a few days (been a good minute now) I poured everything out. The inside of the tank looked like it had been chromed! Then I poured some Ospho in it and swirled it around till I knew everything was coated. That tank never ever rusted again.

[dwgutierrez]

I really appreciate your filming technique. No jerky hand held phone. Good on you!

[USCG.Brennan]

Por 15 also makes a liquid gas tank liner and as many guys know....Por 15 makes a great anti-rust product. After cleaning your tank well, let it dry and then pour the liquid in. Swish it around thoroughly and then dump out the rest. Let is set up overnight and you've lined your tank! ;-)

[paulhare]

I rcently cleaned a tank coated inside with rust and sludgy varnishy muck. Rather than use a solvent first to remove the bad fuel residue, I went straight with white vinegar figuring that if I could loosen the rust, the varnish would have to come loose too. It worked like a charm. It took several days of soaking and was neutralized afterward with a baking soda/water solution. Phosphoric acid is another wonder product for rust.

I also clean hubcaps in the dishwasher when the wife is not home.

[randynason]

Cleaned my tank same way but strapped it to my concrete mixer and let it run all day.kind of loud but did a great job!

[KensWorldRestorations]

Hahaha!! love your videos man. I got burned for $400 for the "professional" services of paint & rust removal on a tank. Never again. My subsequent tank repairs have been similar to yours but I've found ceramic stone polishing material (looks like rice) and a few hours tumbling does a great job. At the end, I've sprayed a bit of WD40 in the tank (after the baking soda) and it's great because it absorbs the water and leaves a light, oily residue that can be used for long term storage. Swish a little solvent around and it's ready for gas. Keep up the great content!!

[rickfazzini]

‼️ Whatever you do don’t use that chain!!! (When I saw him drop that chain in that tank my stomach sank lol)My brother brought me over my nephews vt750 tank because he had tried to use that exact same type of chain to do this very thing. I tried everything to remove it but never could. I ended up cutting the bottom side out of the tank to find this tank had a metal vent tube that went from the bottom of the rear of the tank to the top near the cap and this chain had gotten wrapped around that tube every which way. No way it would have come back out. I’m sure this tank he is using in the video is wide open as it’s older but just wanted to give that warning. And I did get it all welded back up 👍🏻and he’s had no problems since.

[Fixitall-ibnc]

Chain works great and is a lot easier to remove from the tank. Great info, thank you sir

[DangerousSportsForSeniors]

Excellent tutorial. I especially liked the dryer method for agitation.
The last tank I derusted, I used electrolysis . Great result, and thanks for sharing.

[reazourrahamanrabbi]

I appreciate your job. My bike tank is highly affected by the rust inside. I had washed it using soap and petrol 2 time by jerking it. but the Rust is still alive. Thats why it had damaged my Carburetor. I will try this idea in few days. And then I will change my carburetor. Love from Bangladesh

[Barden-Hyoke]

An old friend/racing-mentor of mine; Don Framstead....used to race that WTR MONSTER! I'm so grateful to have had Him and that monster!...as a fellow competitor/ collaborator.
great vid thanks

[nowhereman]

I love the cloths dryer idea! Don't think I would've thought of that. The only thing I might add to the process involves the final soaking with the vinegar. "Heat" is such a potent catalyst to the efficacy of the vinegar, that it can cut the soaking time down to about a third of the time needed when the vinegar is cold. Set that tank out in the sun all day in the summer. You'll be amazed at how much quicker that vinegar has gone to work!

[genuismensa]

First run I do heavy purple degreaser just straight out of the jug. Then I put in a decent amount of dawn dish soap. And to top it off, lemishine. I found using this when polishing range brass helped really bring the shine out since its a mild acid. I use stainless steel pins. They are easy to rinse off after you are done. I just dump them into a bucket and use a sieve to get them out. You can make a tumbler out of a reclaimed electric motor or even an old corded drill. You can use a 5 gallon bucket and then stick the tank in there and wedge foam or whatever you have to keep it from moving. If you make a little cart for the bucket to roll on, you can use a rollerskate wheel or something as the drive, just chucked up in the drill. I just let them tumble for at least an hour. Then I will either do that again if its still nasty, or then I take it and fill it full of evaporust. I let that sit 24 hrs. Then I rinse it well with water, and then coat the inside with WD-40. I have rescued a ton of tanks, I don't like the tank liner epoxy. I'd rather get it back to metal and then just make sure to remember to store it full of non-oxy gas. That will keep it from rusting.

[guillermogreen]

Impressive! Thank you. Many of us have fought with rust in the tank !!!

[Kevin_]

Nice work. Your before and after photo of the petcock area told the whole story.

[KrakensGarageandAdventures]

Excellent tutorial. I have used pretty much the same method over the years. Only difference was I used a 2 liter bottle of Cokeacola instead of water or vinegar. Great video!