When is a tank too far gone?

[silverhorse47]

Or just sand by hand thoroughly, then solder in with lead solder with an iron.
You can go all ape **** on it and cut, weld, braze and etc., but the safest way is just to clean it off with sandpaper, then use an iron to solder over the pin hole.

S.

 

[ohiocaferacer]

I just repaired my 78 GS1000 skunk tank last summer. You can read about how I did it here:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?p=2042174#post2042174

Dont try and do any welding or brazing on that tank, it will only get worse. I'm experienced at welding tanks(steel and aluminum) and tried to tig weld mine first. Didnt work as the metal is so thin.....would just blow through and make a bigger hole. Also...the rust inside the tank contaminates the weld. Just put some duck tape over the holes and use the Caswell tank liner kit. I duct taped the entire bottom and part of one side of my tank. Follow the instructions. Mine came out perfect and has held a full tank of gas for the last year, with no issues.

 

[oldgrumpy]

when is a gs tank toooo far and not worth fixing,,,

when is a gs tank toooo far and not worth fixing,,,

hi guys ,,,unfortunately i fell for fixing my first gs1000 tank 1980 model,,, i fell for letting a retired boiler maker aged 72,, he actually had a fab business in morwell well the left side of the tank which included the seam was plated with2mm plated he formed sort of ,,,and around the seat seam looked crap heavy welding my tank ended up looking like the titanic ,,,it still sits under my current garage work bench,,,,, my second gs1000 tank had some pin hooles along the left seam 2-3 not big and a couple around the seam near the seat,,, so i welded it up with tig,,, and sprayed it hot red ,,,,thats also sitting under the bench with the fuel cap hole taped and the petcock hole taped ,,, i currently have a vgc... red /white 1980 gs1000s gen.tank from western australia,,, thats currently on my bikei,m looking at maybe spraying that or at least a spray painter in bordertown is going to spray it in 2 pac with clear over to finish he,s a very good painter and panel beater regards oldgrumpy

 

[chuck hahn]

Ohiocaferacer....Really..cant weld on it and your an experienced welder?? Better check out a thread here. I MIG welded it all up and the holes were the size of thumb nails. Then soldered over to be sure any micro pinholes were sealed.....

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=192039&highlight=Cooley+tank+saved

 

[ohiocaferacer]

Ohiocaferacer....Really..cant weld on it and your an experienced welder?? Better check out a thread here. I MIG welded it all up and the holes were the size of thumb nails. Then soldered over to be sure any micro pinholes were sealed.....

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=192039&highlight=Cooley+tank+saved

Chuck....thats great.....you must be a talented welder.
Based on the OP and his issues related to welding the bottom(not top) of his tank, that metal from where it has rusted out gets thin....at least it was on my tank. When the metal is tissue paper thin, once heat is applied it burns like a tissue in a flame. Since he is already having issues with burn through, trying to share my experience with my tank. Not looking to flame anyones skills or talents, just trying to help.

 

[chuck hahn]

True.,..and I also suggested he cut it out to the point there is good solid metal again and braze a patch over the hole. I have welded on metals as thin as 21/1000 all my life ( 24 years of it anyway ) as a Steel Rule Die Maker back in Detroit. It takes some crazy control and patience but its very doable.

That being said..Even I am not skilled enough to MIG that hole shut... Its gonna take a patch. Good thingb its on the bottomk..no concerns for asthetics there.

 

[Gregory]

I haven't played with the hole yet, but went looking at Lowes for something to dip the tank in to eat all the rust on the inside of the tank but didn't have any luck.

Is there anything cheap out there that I could fill a tub with to soak the tank in?

 

[ohiocaferacer]

I used about 3 jugs of this stuff from Home Depot.

Filled a large storage tote with it and set my tank down in it to soak for a few days. Holes in bottom of gas tank allowed prep/etch to fill into tank. I put some drywall screws inside the gas tank and would shake it around every now and then.

Took about a week to clean it all out.

 

[Gregory]

Thanks Greg. I had see that from you on another post and was looking for it at Lowes. ... I will call Home Depot now.

I used about 3 jugs of this stuff from Home Depot.

Filled a large storage tote with it and set my tank down in it to soak for a few days. Holes in bottom of gas tank allowed prep/etch to fill into tank. I put some drywall screws inside the gas tank and would shake it around every now and then.

Took about a week to clean it all out.

 

[chuck hahn]

Thats what i have used before and its a strong Phosphoric acid...I dilute it 50/50. MONITOR IT CLOSELY and then a wash with baking soda inside and out to stop the acids corrosive effects.

Rinse well and dry it immediately. I use my heat gun down the filler neck and dry it as fast as I can. Then do the liner. Best to have everything on hand and go from step to step and get it done before flash rust takes root again.

 

[Gregory]

Thanks guys. I just went and picked up two and put them in the tub. I then filled the tub above the tank with water. I know that is diluting it an awful lot, but I have time to wait. If it doesn't dissolve it all I will go buy more.

 

[Nessism]

That phosphate sauce is good stuff. I use it all the time, just keep recycling it.

 

[cougar]

have you seen this?

have you seen this?

http://www.fullcustomfab.com/page_79gs1000tank.html

 

[ohiocaferacer]

http://www.fullcustomfab.com/page_79gs1000tank.html

Nice link Cougar!!

I've been toying with the idea of making an alloy 78 tank with the indents and all......may still fab/weld one up yet. Just need to find the time to do it.

 

[Nessism]

Thats what i have used before and its a strong Phosphoric acid...I dilute it 50/50. MONITOR IT CLOSELY and then a wash with baking soda inside and out to stop the acids corrosive effects.

The beauty of the phosphate sauce is you don't need to neutralize. Just water rinse really well.

 

[ohiocaferacer]

The beauty of the phosphate sauce is you don't need to neutralize. Just water rinse really well.

When I used the Klean Strip Prep & Etch from Home Depot and washed it out with water, it did start to flash rust. I followed the wash out with a ton of baking soda on the inside and outside of the tank as Chuck had mentioned. Followed with drying out with a heat gun.

As Chuck had mentioned.....I had everything ready to go and at hand, to start lining the tank.

 

[chuck hahn]

I never knew that Ed..I figure acid is acid and it needs neutralised.

 

[Gregory]

No matter what..... I am going to get this thing repaired. I started.. but stopped bidding .... on this old tank and look what it went for.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/29112837944...em=&sspagename=ADME:B:EOIBUAA:US:1120&vxp=mtr

 

[GSEScraze]

and some can't under stand why people like my self hang on to extra ones there like money in the bank

 

[markb]

I have not had had to work on a whole moto gas tank, but I just did a generator tank that had gas in it for the last 15 years I bet. it was pretty rusty. I did the electrolysis and was amazed at the results. I didn't have any soda crystals so I used baking soda, but you have to cook the baking soda for for an hour at 200 degrees and it will work.
after I got a lot of rust broken down, I filled it with a handful of screws and those wachers with the grabbers on the end and filled it halfway with vinegar and sealed it and shook the crap out of it every 15 minutes. it came out great. another person said to do the vinegar thing with bb's and seal it up tight, then wrap it in blankets and put ut in the dryer...

but i'm sold on the electrolysis.