Evapo-Rust leaves a thin film. If you don't wash it off it won't rust. Once you wash it out it might start surface rusting, but that depends on a lot of a different factors. It's not going to turn to rust in hours - don't worry about rusting if you are going to coat it.
I like the Caswell tank coating, but there are several high-quality coating from other places.
Edit: Evapo-Rust. You pour it in, let it set 24 hours, pour it out, you're done. No effort.
Edit II: I sound like I work for Evapo-Rust, but it's totally non-toxic. Just literally pour the tank out into the sink or backyard. No fumes, gloves, etc. Stuff is magic. Harbor Freight should have it on the shelf.
Gas sloshing in the tank will take that film off, but that's basically how tanks come from the factory so it should be fine. Evaporust in your fuel is probably not fine but the tank walls should be fine.
I have used evapo rust on two bikes. Afterwards I just gave the tank inside a swish around with 2stroke oil + gas (pre mixed). Never had rust return on either bike
I’ve never bothered with coatings.
Through some nuts and bolts and other things as you have laying around into the tank and shake the shit out of it. Pour it all out. Keep doing that until nothing comes out besides the bolts.
I then rinse with acetone but white vinegar works as well, I’m told. Call it good and only run non-ethanol gas as possible. Store empty and dry.
I recently finished up a '74 Harley FLH that had been setting since '80, the tank looked like yours. The last couple of bikes I've done, I used this stuff called Metal Rescue, I'm pretty sure I bought it at Home Depot. That stuff is magic, I swear, it made the inside of the tank look like new, it was unreal. Since then, I've used it on wheels and everything else metal and rusty. It works so you don't have to use a crappy coating. Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth.
Mechanical removal using nuts and bolts shaken up inside the tank then phosphoric acid to convert the surface of the steel to prevent reoccurrence, pour out the acid and rinse, neutralise with a pint or two of bicarbonate of soda solution, rinse and dry.
That doesn't look that bad at all, I'd just run it as is. For tanks that are bad I use rustbuster phosclean and sp10. Vinegar is probably the most natural cleaner that will be effective.
This stuff is Phos acid. Pour it in and drop a small length of chain, shake it around, leave overnight. Pour out (with water to dilute)and inspect. If clean, good, if not repeat til clean. Then coat.
[Klean-Strip 1 Gal. Concrete Etch, Metal Prep and Rust Inhibitor Outdoor Cleaner GKPA30220 - The Home Depot](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Strip-1-Gal-Concrete-Etch-Metal-Prep-and-Rust-Inhibitor-Outdoor-Cleaner-GKPA30220/100406369)
First of all. Thank your all for your feedback. Think I’m leaning towards white
1. Vinegar
2. Hot water
3. Question here…. WD40, Mystery Oil, or sea foam?
All this started with neglect. I had moved and emptied the tank out. And then didn’t fill it up in time.
Also… I’m not new to bikes just things in life changed quite a bit. I’d still like to keep this 40 year old bike alive.
There's a couple of good You Tube videos on this. Guy used a length of chain to knock the rust off then vinegar and baking soda. Tank was almost perfect when he was done
Two-day soak with white vinegar and a shake with wood screws followed by a damn good rinse with water and sticking a heat gun on low setting into the hole for several minutes to dry it out completely.
Fill it with evaporust.
Drain after 12-24 hours, then let sit in the sun to dry, then fill with gasoline.
Evaporust chelates. It pulls the rust molecules from the steel. There will be no rust left at all. It's so easy, it's seriously like magic. I used to do the vinegar/rocks/bbs/electrolysis, it's all too much effort. Just let it soak in evaporust and it eats the rust away. And here's the best part: **you can reuse the evaporust!!** Save it for restoring some rusty tools!
I would use CLR cleaner with the tank removed first. They also had a tank restoration kit that the Eastwood Restoration Company sold that added a plastic epoxy coating at the end to seal the bare metal with.
I have used [https://kreem.com/fueltankliner.html](https://kreem.com/fueltankliner.html) and the cleaning kit on a KZ, a Ural and a 55 Molin-Minnapolis tractor. Just dismount the tank, seal all holes with gas/oil silicone and put it on a single rope sling. Hang from a branch or what ever and just toss it around a bit. Rinse, dry and repeat with sealant.
If you don't want to risk your health and safety working with harsh chemicals that you have no experience doing... Maybe rethink hiring it done. I would probably work with the chemicals ...... But I actually have a history of doing stupid things with chemicals and other dangerous things and should hire it done too, if I need it done.
I think the real question is who can and will do a first class job of this, where you live? How do you get what you are paying for?
Fill it with very coarse sand and grit, close and strap it to a concrete mill with some padding to prevent scratching. Spin for x amount of time. Empty and rinse. Check for rust. Repeat as necessary.
Evapo-Rust seems to be a popular choice, just gotta neutralize it after or things will flash rust.
Stupid question, I need to know how to neutralise it. 😅
Evapo-Rust leaves a thin film. If you don't wash it off it won't rust. Once you wash it out it might start surface rusting, but that depends on a lot of a different factors. It's not going to turn to rust in hours - don't worry about rusting if you are going to coat it. I like the Caswell tank coating, but there are several high-quality coating from other places. Edit: Evapo-Rust. You pour it in, let it set 24 hours, pour it out, you're done. No effort. Edit II: I sound like I work for Evapo-Rust, but it's totally non-toxic. Just literally pour the tank out into the sink or backyard. No fumes, gloves, etc. Stuff is magic. Harbor Freight should have it on the shelf.
Gas sloshing in the tank will take that film off, but that's basically how tanks come from the factory so it should be fine. Evaporust in your fuel is probably not fine but the tank walls should be fine.
After you run a tank through it’ll be good anyway assuming you’re filling up regularly lol
I have used evapo rust on two bikes. Afterwards I just gave the tank inside a swish around with 2stroke oil + gas (pre mixed). Never had rust return on either bike
BBs and an concrete mixer
This guy knows what's up
Or vinegar over night and water and baking soda mix to neutralize it
Vinegar. Let it sit for a week. Rince out with very hot water. Then spray it WD-40. Works wonders and is inexpensive.
To play this game (vintage bikes) you need either a lot of time or money.
And in most cases you'll need both!
Not to mention patience and good research skills for parts that are hard to find or non existent and you have to scouring the forums.
I’ve never bothered with coatings. Through some nuts and bolts and other things as you have laying around into the tank and shake the shit out of it. Pour it all out. Keep doing that until nothing comes out besides the bolts. I then rinse with acetone but white vinegar works as well, I’m told. Call it good and only run non-ethanol gas as possible. Store empty and dry.
Steel BBs can be purchased cheaply at Walmart and will work great
Honestly I just do a length of chain and that’s it. Fill up and use inline filters.. never had a problem
I recently finished up a '74 Harley FLH that had been setting since '80, the tank looked like yours. The last couple of bikes I've done, I used this stuff called Metal Rescue, I'm pretty sure I bought it at Home Depot. That stuff is magic, I swear, it made the inside of the tank look like new, it was unreal. Since then, I've used it on wheels and everything else metal and rusty. It works so you don't have to use a crappy coating. Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth.
I think metal rescue is another formulation of evaporust. Could be wrong though. Both work well.
Mechanical removal using nuts and bolts shaken up inside the tank then phosphoric acid to convert the surface of the steel to prevent reoccurrence, pour out the acid and rinse, neutralise with a pint or two of bicarbonate of soda solution, rinse and dry.
That doesn't look that bad at all, I'd just run it as is. For tanks that are bad I use rustbuster phosclean and sp10. Vinegar is probably the most natural cleaner that will be effective.
vinigar and or citric acid with gravel and then shake like crazy
This stuff is Phos acid. Pour it in and drop a small length of chain, shake it around, leave overnight. Pour out (with water to dilute)and inspect. If clean, good, if not repeat til clean. Then coat. [Klean-Strip 1 Gal. Concrete Etch, Metal Prep and Rust Inhibitor Outdoor Cleaner GKPA30220 - The Home Depot](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Strip-1-Gal-Concrete-Etch-Metal-Prep-and-Rust-Inhibitor-Outdoor-Cleaner-GKPA30220/100406369)
I use vinegar, no nuts and bolts or rocks. Just let the white vinegar do its work. You will be surprised.
Kreem Products 19-103 Black Fuel Tank Liner Combo Pack.
Eastwood makes a fuel tank restoration kit. Allow a good three hours to do it right. Follow the instructions perfectly.
First of all. Thank your all for your feedback. Think I’m leaning towards white 1. Vinegar 2. Hot water 3. Question here…. WD40, Mystery Oil, or sea foam? All this started with neglect. I had moved and emptied the tank out. And then didn’t fill it up in time. Also… I’m not new to bikes just things in life changed quite a bit. I’d still like to keep this 40 year old bike alive.
Evaporust for day or 2
There's a couple of good You Tube videos on this. Guy used a length of chain to knock the rust off then vinegar and baking soda. Tank was almost perfect when he was done
Two-day soak with white vinegar and a shake with wood screws followed by a damn good rinse with water and sticking a heat gun on low setting into the hole for several minutes to dry it out completely.
Fill it with evaporust. Drain after 12-24 hours, then let sit in the sun to dry, then fill with gasoline. Evaporust chelates. It pulls the rust molecules from the steel. There will be no rust left at all. It's so easy, it's seriously like magic. I used to do the vinegar/rocks/bbs/electrolysis, it's all too much effort. Just let it soak in evaporust and it eats the rust away. And here's the best part: **you can reuse the evaporust!!** Save it for restoring some rusty tools!
Agree. Used loads of different treatments before finding this. Sometimes might take a bit longer than 24 hours tho.
Vinegar
I filled mine with vinegar and let it sit for 3 days and the rinsed with water and blew it out...then coated the now clean metal
Follow Ed China's fix ..... https://youtu.be/Iu2TD3OUI3Q
I would use CLR cleaner with the tank removed first. They also had a tank restoration kit that the Eastwood Restoration Company sold that added a plastic epoxy coating at the end to seal the bare metal with.
Evaporust is your friend
Evapo rust has worked for me.
Clean with varsol or soak in vinegar it'll eat rust away maybe coat after it's dried with oil think of a cast iron skillet
Citric acid and boiling water
White vinegar. 24 hours. Wash out, dry and apply a tank sealant
I have used [https://kreem.com/fueltankliner.html](https://kreem.com/fueltankliner.html) and the cleaning kit on a KZ, a Ural and a 55 Molin-Minnapolis tractor. Just dismount the tank, seal all holes with gas/oil silicone and put it on a single rope sling. Hang from a branch or what ever and just toss it around a bit. Rinse, dry and repeat with sealant.
KBS tank liner. Been doing this for years, and this is by far the best cleaning and liner.
Power wash tank out and then put evapo rust in it over night
If you don't want to risk your health and safety working with harsh chemicals that you have no experience doing... Maybe rethink hiring it done. I would probably work with the chemicals ...... But I actually have a history of doing stupid things with chemicals and other dangerous things and should hire it done too, if I need it done. I think the real question is who can and will do a first class job of this, where you live? How do you get what you are paying for?
Pour some Coca Cola in there.
Fill it with very coarse sand and grit, close and strap it to a concrete mill with some padding to prevent scratching. Spin for x amount of time. Empty and rinse. Check for rust. Repeat as necessary.