Fixing up metal outboard gas tank?

[DirtyOldBoat]

I have this old 6 gallon OMC metal outboard tank that I'd like to clean up and paint. It has some nasty stuff inside so I started to take the fuel gauge off so I could dump it out. One of the four flathead screws is rusted on...any suggestions on removing it? Normally I would take a torch to it, but...it's a gas tank. My can of WD-40 just laughed at me.

Is it possible to buy a new fuel gauge and cap for this old tank? I'd really like to have a Mercury style connector on there if I can...

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Fixing up metal outboard gas tank?

I used to have a gas tank that looked just like that . . . . Hey you found it !!!!, where was it ???

Anyway, try the "liquidwrench", not the WD-40. Contrary to popular belief, WD-40 is not a lubricant . . . it is a water dissipater (thus the "WD").

Let it soak for a few days, adding more LW each day.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fixing up metal outboard gas tank?

Heat gun, and LW. I had Two of these tanks. You can remove the Float assemblys etc. and clean em up and they'll work just fine. I used Dawn Dish soap and BOILING Hot water After soaking for an hour I put a bunch of nuts and bolt inside and started shaking the Carp out of em. I repeated this process 3 times. They cleaned up Perfectly. I then had them Powdercoated. they look Brand new. Cost me a total of $20 bucks.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Fixing up metal outboard gas tank?

If you wash it out REALLY WELL with lots of hot soapy water, and rinse it a number of times until you don't smell any fumes (and then for extra safety - fill it almost completely with water) you can safely apply heat to that screw(even with a torch). A pencil tip torch is probably the best because it will give the best & hottest localized heating. You are really looking to heat the diecast fuel gauge housing up faster than the steel screw so that the housing expands away from the screw (freeing the screw).
For cleaning the junk from inside I have used stuff as simple as driveway gravel.

 

[DirtyOldBoat]

Re: Fixing up metal outboard gas tank?

Any idea if there's a place I can buy a new cap and gauge assembly? I swear I've seen a tank just like this with regular plumbing threads on the output...

I guess there's already some rusty water inside, so it shouldn't be an issue to fill it with water and try the torch. The biggest problem is that it's a flathead screw, and it's really gouged up. Can't get a good grip with the screwdriver.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Fixing up metal outboard gas tank?

The biggest problem is that it's a flathead screw, and it's really gouged up. Can't get a good grip with the screwdriver.

Soak it with WD or LW as previously mentioned after you have done one of two things. Using a cutting disc on a Dremel tool, cut a new slot perpendicular to the existing slot, OR, drill the center and use an EZ Out bit to remove the screw.

 

[skid572]

Re: Fixing up metal outboard gas tank?

for stuck rusted bolts try a 50-50 mix of acetone and atf fluid works great. better than off the shelf penetrating oils