Kawi2strokes.com Forum

Although the outside of the the fuel tank on my Kaw looks quite bad, I took a flashlight and peered down into the interior of the tank today and was shocked to see ... actually not much rust at all. Some surface rust in places but mostly clean metal. I could get some steel wool inside it and it'd clean up pretty well, I bet.

Other than the smell. Very "varnishy".

What does one do if the inside of your tank _doesn't_ need the usual prep and sealer treatment and you want to rid the tank of the bad smell?


Have bought a new cap assembly and petcock.

TIA

Mine got a severe case of that smell, with actual tar-like goo on the bottom. I used lacquer thinner to clean it out. It will dissolve paint though, so it must be used with caution.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

Would filling it with fresh gas disolve any of the old gunk?

Not when I've tried it, Steve.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

If using gas to clean out the gunk, I would be very concerned with creating some small globs that would get into the carbs later. I want that tank hospital clean on the inside before connecting to the carbs.

When I clean a tank I remove the petcock and the gas cap. Then I buy a rubber stopper that fits the hole in the petcock fitting and a rubber thermos style plug - called a test plug - that fits the filler hole. I get them both at the local hardware store. Then I add solvent carefully (1/2 to 1 gal) and install both plugs - tight. Then shake the heck out of it till your arms are sore. It helps to throw a piece of light chain from a swingset to scrub the insides while shaking. The chain is easier to fish back out with a piece of bent wire than loose parts like nuts or gravel, etc.

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Rotortech
Indianapolis
1974 S3

I have found that evaporust does a great job on light rust and pitting in the tank.

Vinegar and BB's

Evaporust...??

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1973 Kawasaki 750 H2A,
1969 Garelli Rekord 50cc,
1985 Ducati Mille MHR.

^^ great stuff

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she will never be pretty but she is a fun ride.

73 KAWASAKI H1 (Sold).
82 YAMAHA RD350LC
2000 KAWI KDX200H
2001 Triumph TT600