Rigging a replacement fuel tank for 2HP Johnson

[Elkins45]

I inherited a 2HP Johnson outboard from my grandfather. It’s a late 60s-early 70s model with an attached metal fuel tank. The tank is filled with rust, and no matter how well I try to clean it out I find mysl f having to take apart the carb and blow out the rust. The part is long since discontinued, so finding a direct replacement seems unlikely.

Because it’s gravity fed the motor doesn’t have a fuel pump, so just hooking a regular 6 gallon portable tank to the fuel hose barb would only work if I build some sort of shelf to mount it above the carb, That seems awkward, plus this little motor hardly needs a huge tank like that.

I thought about trying to rig up something using a small plastic gas tank, but attaching a hose barb looks difficult to do on a regular old gas can. Wonder what my options are to find a plastic gas tank like from a mower or other small engine that I could cobble into place?

I doubt I’m the only person who has experienced this issue. Surely someone has made it work.

 

[GA_Boater]

Can you take a photo and what year and model number is the Johnson?

Here's an old thread with a similar problem about a rusted tank and using Kreem or a product like that to seal the inside of the tank. https://forums.iboats.com/forum/eng...utboards/8036787-evinrude-2-hp-mate-fuel-tank

Maybe even doing a clean with solvent and nut and bolts may clean the insides enough to stop the rust from flaking.

 

[racerone]

I myself would look into installing a pump on that motor.----Yes that can be done / adapted.----Then use a small portable tank.

 

[interalian]

Would you drill/tap into the side of the crank case to get the pulse?

 

[kbait]

2 easy solutions
1). Re-rinse tank and install an in-line filter to the fuel line. Use a medium sized filter, as it will hold more crud before plugging up.
2). Get a used tank from salvage yard.. my favorite is Tim’s Outboard 218-682-2331.

- I’d go with the filter if tank isn’t leaking..

Good luck!

 

[Elkins45]

I think I may try the tank sealer plus inline filter route. Adding a fuel pump would be an awful lot of work for a motor that only gets used occasionally.

 

[Chinewalker]

I've seen them with lawn mower tanks mounted on bent steel brackets to support them. Even saw one with big zip ties looped around. The motor doesn't care one way or the other...