| Targalid |
03-05-2011 12:14 PM |
Had the same problem with my Norton. Go to the auto parts store and get a gallon jug of "mag wheel cleaner". It contains, if you read the label, a mixture of phosphoric and sulfuric acids, diluted, along with a powerful detergent. Remove tank from bike. Remove all gasoline. Rinse the tank once with alcohol to remove residual gasoline, then rinse with water to remove the alcohol residue. Plug the fuel line outlets. (I just turned mine closed) Pour a quart or more into the tank, close the lid and slosh it around. If you only have a light film of rust the solution will remove it in ten minutes or so of sloshing. If it has big chunks, add some old bolts, nuts and washers and slide them along the entire inner surface of the tank with the solution. This breaks loose the larger deposits adhering to the inside of the tank and lets the solution get down to bare metal. It also cleans up the nuts and bolts. The phosphoric acid leaves a nice gray coating on the steel which helps protect it from oxidation. Dump out the solution with freshly clean hardware into a bucket, inspect, repeat if needed. Rinse with water, then with alcohol to remove the water and air dry. If you have any leaks they will be apparent and can be repaired, otherwise you just use the newly cleaned tank.
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