How to clean out a rusty fuel tank?

[Tall Hat]

Just picked up an old Firestone outboard Im gonna give a shot at trying to get started. Definantly rust in the fuel tank so Im curious what to use for cleaning it out and sealing up to prevent further rusting.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: How to clean out a rusty fuel tank?

Welcome to iboats

Remove the tank and clean it with a big handful of nuts and bolts inside...... shake it and it will knock the loose stuff away.

Visit a motorcycle shop and ask for a tank cleaning/coating kit and follow the directions.

Have fun.

 

[jim j geezer]

Re: How to clean out a rusty fuel tank?

After a couple of nuts/bolts/shake-well - rinse - repeat routines, save yourself some $$$ and go to your home center and buy a can of shellac. Then make it a point *NOT* to use gasoline containing ethanol for your outboard fuel mix.
Coat the inside of the cleaned tank with shellac and let it dry (out in the hot sun), then give it a 2nd coat.