Cleaning the Gas Tank on the '48 Scottie

[coolness]

I'm trying to clean the interior of the self-contained gas tank on my '48 Scottie. I tried acetone but it didn't cut the old oil/gas crud. It's not real bad in there but I'd like to get it nice and clean. Will rubbing alcohol work better??

Any suggestions?? Thanks!!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Cleaning the Gas Tank on the '48 Scottie

Completely remove the tank. Use kerosene and a handful of nuts and bolts tossed inside. Shake shake shake the nuts and bolts will help loosen the crud and you may have to repeat a few times but it works great. The nuts and bolts are easy to get out when done.

Some people have dumped in an entire box of new 3/8" nuts which are a great size............ oh yeah....use clean nuts and bolts.

 

[coolness]

Re: Cleaning the Gas Tank on the '48 Scottie

Thanks Bob. I've already removed the gas tank. I'll try your method - I've read somewhere that BB's or small steel shot works well. My son has a lot of BB's......... The 3/8" nuts have those corners that might help get the crud out of corner areas.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Cleaning the Gas Tank on the '48 Scottie

Might also use a couple of handfulls of pea gravel and some solvent like paint thinner, shake it around, the gravel has a natural abrasive characteristic that will remove rust, scale, most anything. Shake it until it's shiny inside, then wash it out real good! Good Luck@

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Cleaning the Gas Tank on the '48 Scottie

A friend of mine who restores a lot of motors bought an old paint shaker from a hardware store. He made up a jig with foam padded clamps to put pretty much any tank in it. He used BBs as his agitator. Inside would be bright metal when it was done...

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Cleaning the Gas Tank on the '48 Scottie

The fuel tank in Partner's bass boat had almost an inch of what looked and felt like tar. He used carb dip and nuts/bolts to clean it out.