Fuel tank woes

[wango tango]

We have a 1969 Oliver 1650 gas. The fuel tank has so much debris in it that it constantly causes issues. We have removed and tried cleaning it twice. Including coating it on the inside dine by a radiator shop. Nothing works, I want to replace it.

They are discontinued. Looks like we will have to fabricate one. What are my best chances here? What kind of money am I looking at if I get a tank fabricated?

 

[AWSubie]

I would see if you can find a polyethylene tank that would fit in place of the metal one. If u don’t like the idea of a plastic tank then try replacing with a racing car fuel tank.

 

[CoyPatton]

If it will fit, try a boat tank. The flat style. You will need to put a port in the bottom if it will physically fit. This is likely one of the least expensive route, will not rust and is fairly easy to remove ti clean and fairly easy to locate.

 

[LouNY]

That may be difficult to find,

Steiner has a screen and also sedimate bowls and screens for them which could help;
Oliver 165 Fuel Tank - Steiner Tractor Parts

and then there is this;
Boyd Welding LLC — Custom Aluminum Diesel Fuel and Gas Tanks

Your best bet may be some of the various tractor salvage yards.

 

[dodge man]

They make stuff that will coat the inside of a tank and seal it. I used a kit years ago from Eastwood Company on a classic car.

 

[wango tango]

That may be difficult to find,

Steiner has a screen and also sedimate bowls and screens for them which could help;
Oliver 165 Fuel Tank - Steiner Tractor Parts

and then there is this;
Boyd Welding LLC — Custom Aluminum Diesel Fuel and Gas Tanks

Your best bet may be some of the various tractor salvage yards.

That helps but the tank plugs itself. Have to blow compressed air in.

 

[wango tango]

They make stuff that will coat the inside of a tank and seal it. I used a kit years ago from Eastwood Company on a classic car.

Did that. Didn’t really help.

 

[LouNY]

The first screen on the Steiner page is one that sticks up in the tank a couple of inches to screen out crap before it gets to the sediment bowl.
I used one on 1550 several years ago and it helped.
I finally got my tank cleaned out by sloshing around a couple of big hand fulls of 1/4" nuts and a couple of gallons of diesel.
It took quite a bit I actually strapped the tank in my pickup and drove it to work, I would rotate to a different side daily.
Rough roads and lots of turns did wonders.

I have heard of people strapping them to a cement mixer to agitate and clean.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

That is just a hard row to hoe.

We ran into an issue on replacing the gas tank on our 1966 Ford 3000. The after market bolted on just fine but had a shorter neck so my tractor guy took it back off and cut the top off just below the cap and cut the neck off of the old one and took it his muffler man and had him swell the old neck so he could just tap it down over the new neck and welded it on to the new tank.

I know you do not have a new one so all I am saying by thinking outside of the box might help a solution to pop into your head.

Korves Oliver - YouTube

Korves was mentioned in another TBN thread.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/199404-new-gas-tank-oliver-1650-a.html

 

[ultrarunner]

We had a great fuel tank sloshing compound for antique cars but added alcohol to reformulated gasoline turned it into slime...

 

[TimberHole]

I can’t understand why your current tank cannot be cleaned. Did they use a light acid like vinegar? Did the fill it with nuts and bolts and then tumble? A slosh coat should encapsulate anything that remains. To me, the only reason to replace a tank is if it is leaking and can not be repaired.

 

[grsthegreat]

#1 Antique TRACTOR gas tank repair & restoration gasoline or diesel tractor fuel tank

 

[Rebeldad1]

we used to put a piece of chain in the tank and spend some time shaking it around. when its as clean as possible took it to a radiator shop to have it boiled out. then after flushing it with clean hot water and fully dried put a can of tank sealer in it.

 

[Jim Nelson]

I have cleaned a few gas tanks and found that after getting it as clean and dry as I could dumping in about a quart of WD 40 and sloshing it around real good was good insurance against any residual moisture. For the younger group here, WD 40 was developed during WWII as a water displacement formula for equipment being shipped over seas.

There were several companies competing for the govt. contract but a company in San Diego,Ca. came up with WD 40 and won the contract.

 

[oosik]

I'd take it to a radiator repair shop and have it boiled out. Then some tank sealer. Just like Rebeldad1 said.

 

[mjw357]

I dont understand where all the debris is coming from? Is the tank so rusted and rotten that it is still flaking off chunks inside? Or is there a problem with the fuel going bad, or is there moisture or bugs and dirt getting into the tank?

 

[pmsmechanic]

I dont understand where all the debris is coming from? Is the tank so rusted and rotten that it is still flaking off chunks inside? Or is there a problem with the fuel going bad, or is there moisture or bugs and dirt getting into the tank?

Fuel tanks are quite susceptible to condensation. Any enclosed space vented to atmosphere accumulates condensation.