[Mg-mmm] J2 gas tank sealer removal

[Roger Garnett]

I think gas tanks are one of the biggest pains these days... the ethanol
petrol has certainly added to the problems. It eats old rubber, some
metals, dissolves lacquer (old floats), and old tank coatings. Besides
separating out and turning to goo... And lower energy content.  Just say no
to ethanol fuel requirements!

I tried acetone to clean up a (non MG) tank that had varnish hardened
inside. It didn't do much. I then did ball bearings & manual agitation
which loosened up some of it - but the baffles had narrow gaps which were a
problem.  I finally decided an easily replaceable fuel filter to catch
anything left and trying to escape.

I know someone who had a sort of tumbler for smaller gas tanks - just mount
them up, insert loose shot, turn on the motor and let it run.  There's a
few video's of them on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gas+tank+tumbler

While it seems excessive, doing the repair surgery on a tank may well be
the most effective. Finding someone who can do a nice job for a reasonable
price being the trick there.

Roger





On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 1:36 PM, <bill at clovermachine.com> wrote:

> Back in ~1971 I had my J2 fuel tank de-rusted and internally sealed
> with the old zinc chromate (yellow) sealer; the stuff that is
> supposed to not stand up to todays ethanol gasoline.  47 years of
> just too busy to finish the restoration went by (good intentions are
> cheap). Hope to paint the J2 soon so the tank is now a priority.
>
> I have been told by the local radiator/gas tank repair shop and Bill
> Hirsch automotive the old coating has to be removed as the new will
> not stick to it.
>
> The local radiator shop says to cut the tank open, bead blast/scrape
> out the old sealer, re-weld panels back and re coat. Bead or shot
> blast will warp metal if not careful.
>
> Several YouTube videos suggest acetone or lacquer thinner (which is
> 95% acetone) to clean motorcycle tanks. J2 tank is too large to be
> shaking and sloshing.
>
> I doubt there is a better solution to this procedure, but thought I'd
> ask the group...Anyway, we need more activity on this MMM autox
> resource.
>
> Bill
> J2 3343
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-- 
Roger Garnett
rwgarnett at gmail.com