Cleaning inside of rusty fuel tank

[Chuck-KY]

I'm trying to get a generator running for a friend during our power outage. I had tuned-up , cleaned the carb. about a year ago on this generator and installed new gasoline lines and a filter also. The fuel tank has a black residue in it along with rust- a really old generator- and I was thinking about using some Brick Cleaning acid to try and clean up tank. The clear filter has a black residue and color to it also. Does anyone have any experience in trying to clean something like this, it is only about a one gallon tank. I'm not sure what the black residue is, just trying to help a guy out in a bad situation. Thanks for any help or suggestions that may help - Chuck

 

[brandoro]

In the short term, to get it running I would replace the tank with almost anything else, like a portable boat tank or a riding mower you can park next to the generator and use its fuel tank or even a jerry can if you can adapt something to it without creating the hazard of an open fuel tank in the vicinity of a running engine/generator. I expect the engine carburetor is a gravity feed so once fuel is flowing it should continue to flow.
Probably others will come on with things they have used successfully to clean tanks or else take the tank to a shop that cleans and repairs radiators and fuel tanks and see if they can clean it for you.

 

[groundcover]

I agree,the new tank above the engine is going to be the quickest and you can get a longer run time with a bigger tank too. Might be able to swish a handful of BB's or small ball bearings around with a little gas to clean it out.

 

[art]

Eastwood carrys a coating that you install after you clean to keep it from rusting any further if you decide not to switch tanks. I used to get it from JC whitney years ago, it normally comes in large enough amounts to do auto tanks so the price might be prohibitive.

 

[NewCubGuy]

Any of the motorcycle places or online stores sell tank cleaner and coating. I cleaned and coated a tank one time. Just pour it in, mix it up, dump it out, then pour in the coating, turn it to coat it, and let it dry. When its dry you have one clean/dry/coated tank.

 

[Blagadan]

Or another trick is to feed a foot or two of welded link chain into your tank and swish it around with some diesel for as long as your arms can take it! That should take off any loose rust.
Some friends of mine have done that with motorcycle fuel tanks and it worked a treat.

 

[tommu56]

Google rust remover electrolysis you can do it with a battery charger and piece of rebar and washing soda.

here is one link Electrolysis - Rust Removal

tom

 

[srjones]

Or fill it 1/2 full of dry crushed gravel and pack the tank inside of a cement mixer.

It should be held in the center and packed tight against the walls of the mixer with polystyrene or wood and then duct taped into place. Let it run for a few hours or days. Check the progress periodically with a flashlight and change the position if needed.

A clothes dryer will also work, but be prepared to buy another one if you leave the heating element on (or if your wife catches you).

 

[MikeD74T]

Any of the motorcycle places or online stores sell tank cleaner and coating. I cleaned and coated a tank one time. Just pour it in, mix it up, dump it out, then pour in the coating, turn it to coat it, and let it dry. When its dry you have one clean/dry/coated tank.

This is the way to go. You'd be better off to just throw the tank away now than using muriatic acid then have to throw it away anyway. MikeD74T

 

[Chuck-KY]

Thanks guys for all the good ideas. I'm not sure what all was in the tank. I had to steel wool the float, bowl ,and jet seats to get the black gunk off of these parts. I found a plastic replacement tank, new fuel filter and gas lines. Got it running again last night. Thanks again, I had no idea how bad it was untill I got into cleaning stuff up.

Chuck