gas can cleaning

[monk-monk]

i have an old merc kiekhaefer gas can w/ lots of sludge in the bottom.. is there any way to clean this tank and put it back in use?

 

[Solittle]

Re: gas can cleaning

Yep - - I would dump out (no - no that is not environmentaly friendly!) errr - dispose of any gas in the tank. Then flush with water to get any fumes/residual out. Put a hand full on nuts in the tank and some paint thinner or other solvent. The nuts shoiuld act like a scraper or wire brush. Shake vigerously and repeat a few times. Inspect as best you can until the crud is gone.

 

[monk-monk]

Re: gas can cleaning

solittle, that sounds like a great idea! one other ques. if i cause any scratches or the like is that ok? wasn't sure if the inside of the can had a treated surface or not. i'd take 1/4-20 nuts and work my way down to small shot type stuff for an even finer cleaning...waiting for your reply. thanx

 

[monk-monk]

Re: gas can cleaning

hey ya know what, solittle we could even take that a step further! once i use the nuts to loosen that goo-get that out of there- i could take a certain grit of blasting sand..put it in there and take an air hose, put it in the tank use a heavy rubber glove to shroud the hole and hose and create a sandblasting affect or whirlwind in the tank...but, better clean really good afterwords. what's everyones opinion on this idea?

 

[bigtwin]

Re: gas can cleaning

Fuel syst. + Fine sand = TROUBLE

 

[monk-monk]

Re: gas can cleaning

yeah! the more i think about it... pretty risky..just use smaller nuts or bb's

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: gas can cleaning

A new inexpensive plastic gas can from Walmart would save you lots of predictable problems.

 

[monk-monk]

Re: gas can cleaning

yeah i understand cobra. i have two brand new tanks, i was just wondering if i could put this old antique back in service. it's pretty cherry outside w/ beautiful kiekhaefer/ merc decal...even clean i probably couldn't bring myself to running this 1150 off of it!

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: gas can cleaning

I hear ya! I just had years of problems from a metal gas can, back when plastic cans weren't yet available. Yet the same old engine runs just fine now with gas coming from a plastic can.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: gas can cleaning

Go to a motorcycle shop and purchase a gas tank resoration kit. Ones we sell at work are seen here http://www.instantop.com/CyclePage/Kreem.htm

These help clean and then coat a tank inside. The stuff repairs pinhole leaks and rust on abused tank interiors. It usually lasts about 5 years if a tank was bad and longer if the tank was sound.

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: gas can cleaning

Hi,

I suppose a new plastic can would be the most sensible soultion...but why dispose of a perfectly good tank if you can save it. I had a tank full of sludge like that. I flushed it out as best as I could...and then threw in a couple of fistfuls of glass marbles and then put it in the back of the truck and drove around for a couple of weeks. The tank looked new inside after that.

Thanks for reading, Chuck

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: gas can cleaning

Fit a hose to the end of a power washer, insert hose and go to town. The nuts/bolts shaking method works, but can you say molasses? About that fast. Hose it out, clean it out with carb cleaner or other solvent, then get a tank resto kit (aircraft/motorcycle) and follow the instructions. You'll have a very functional tank afterwards. The kits are good for several tanks.

 

[monk-monk]

Re: gas can cleaning

great input!! That really makes me happy. I'll be purchasing one of those kits first thing in the morn. Thanks so much!!!

 

[bassboy1]

Re: gas can cleaning

No, use a plastic can for the boat and use the keikhafer can in a display case. Especially when cleaned out a metal can will rust. A minimal amount of rust can turn an ouboard motor into a worthless hunk of aluminum in no time.