Annual Tank Cleaning maintenance

[Barry]

I found some water in the float bowls after running on reserve and thought I should consider flushing out the tank. Next time I get down to reserve again I'll empty out the fuel and remove the tap to get everything out.

The original red liner is in good condition and I don't get any red  bits in the bowls.

Anybody do this as an annual maintenance task and is there a special method to remove traces  of water from the tank ?

[Bob_Roller]

I leave mine on a table in the shade, on the back patio, when it's 115 F. (46 C.) outside, only takes a day or so to get everything evaporated out of the tank .

[Bengt_Phorqs]

IMO tank cleaning should be an annual task, like flushing the brake lines.  Isopropyl alcohol has the unique ability to mix with water and with gasoline.  Perhaps emptying the tank of gasoline then adding some isopropyl alky, sloshing it around, then draining it would remove the last vestiges of H2O.

[bruce_launceston]

As Bengt says, isoprophyl alcohol mixes with water - the old remedy for water in the fuel was to add a cup of metholated spirits to a tank of fuel and drive the vehicle. I suspect of cup is way too much for a motorcycle sized tank but I have added a good slosh without any nasty side effects.
Although I've not had any water in fuel problems since changing the original fuel filler cap seal for a more modern twin lip rubber one (off a later model) many years ago.

Cheers Bruce

[montmil]

Alcohol is hygroscopic, tending to absorb moisture. Pour a bottle of isopropyl alcohol in the emptied tank, do a serious sloshing and pour out the combined liquids. Allow the tank to air dry. It will not take long.

Monte

[Barry]

Alcohol it is then.  Might just have one myself while I'm waiting.

Cheers [smiley=1drink.gif]

[montmil]

Alcohol it is then.  Might just have one myself while I'm waiting. Cheers [smiley=1drink.gif]

You're my kinda guy, Barry! [smiley=beerchug.gif] Any chore should have the proper ratio of adult beverages to labor intensity.

Monte

[Ed Miller]

...so I'm not the only one who thinks it takes at least one beer for the oil to drain?

 "Oh, I pity the abstainer!"
Percy Dovetonsils, Poet Laureate

[R65Singh]

While searching on the web for tank cleaning I came across this nice little article with links about ways to clean rust of the gas tanks.  I liked the last one on the list "electrolytic rust removal".  Will be next on my to do list this winter.  Any one tried this way of rust removal?  Just curious.

http://www.motorcycleanchor.com/motorcycle/how_to/mc_tankrust.html

[drewboid]

I have used the electrolytic method to clean rust from the hinges and locks on my saddlebags. It works very well - never thought of using it inside the gas tank. If your tank has the typical divider down the center you may have to place the sacrificial iron in each side for it to clean properly.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

[size=12]While searching on the web for tank cleaning I came across this nice little article with links about ways to clean rust of the gas tanks.  I liked the last one on the list "electrolytic rust removal".  Will be next on my to do list this winter.  Any one tried this way of rust removal?  Just curious.

http://www.motorcycleanchor.com/motorcycle/how_to/mc_tankrust.html[/size]

That is a neat idea!

I envision some sort of plastic "foot" - buttresses, if you will, to put on the bottom of the anode(?) to keep it from touching the tank.
Perhaps a skeletal hot-dog bun made of plastic....

[montmil]

[/quote]... Perhaps a skeletal hot-dog bun made of plastic...[/quote]

I see you've dined at my ex-wife's table. Gag me!

Monte

[Landlubber]

Good old Treacle, mixed with the same quantity of water makes the very best rust remover you will ever see, the metal is bright and shiney new.

Simply pour the mixinto the tank and leave overnight, do some Google searching on treacle to see just how good it is, a very old product that has been enzyme cleaning long before it was politically correct to do so......

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Good old Treacle, mixed with the same quantity of water makes the very best rust remover you will ever see, the metal is bright and shiney new.

Simply pour the mixinto the tank and leave overnight, do some Google searching on treacle to see just how good it is, a very old product that has been enzyme cleaning long before it was politically correct to do so......

You put sugar in your gas tank???  

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=Treacle&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&aqi=&oq=&fp=2cca7b2e99206b9c

[Lucky_Lou]

Good old Treacle, mixed with the same quantity of water makes the very best rust remover you will ever see, the metal is bright and shiney new.

Simply pour the mixinto the tank and leave overnight, do some Google searching on treacle to see just how good it is, a very old product that has been enzyme cleaning long before it was politically correct to do so......

Dare say you could recycle it .... make a nice sarni when youve done
Lou