Fuel tank cleaning

[Uncle carbunkle]

In getting one of my cubs back together I was wondering what others used to clean up inside old tanks. I have used a few common methods with old bikes and cars one of which I picked up restoring old British cars. We used a cement mixer with two pieces of angle welded to the drum and a light mix of muriatic acid water and 3/8 nuts for agitation ..... what other methods have you fellas used ?

[Stanton]

I've heard of people using nuts inside and then strapping the tank to the wheel of a tractor and riding around.

[Waif]

I have a couple Coleman power plant founts to clean out.
Debating about using some Prestone radiator cleaner , after checking to see that it still contains a lot of citric acid.
Then add steel b.b.'s. (A flex handle magnet can help retrieve strays later) and wish I had a paint shaker...

Water/all moisture will need to be removed after rinsing.

[Bill Hudson]

I've heard of people using nuts inside and then strapping the tank to the wheel of a tractor and riding around.

This may be what you're referring to. Definitely not driving the Cub around. http://farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18983&hilit=tank+cleaning A couple of pics, down in the thread, show Rick's setup.

Bill

[Uncle carbunkle]

I've heard of people using nuts inside and then strapping the tank to the wheel of a tractor and riding around.

this is precisely the reason i joined the forum and though that sounds a bit ecentric i have to say after staring at all the tractors i have laying around im sure i would have visioned that at some point. Cant wait to update pops on the new fangled ideaer there !

[Stanton]

I've heard of people using nuts inside and then strapping the tank to the wheel of a tractor and riding around.

This may be what you're referring to. Definitely not driving the Cub around. http://farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18983&hilit=tank+cleaning A couple of pics, down in the thread, show Rick's setup.

Bill

I've heard of people using nuts inside and then strapping the tank to the wheel of a tractor and riding around.

this is precisely the reason i joined the forum and though that sounds a bit ecentric i have to say after staring at all the tractors i have laying around im sure i would have visioned that at some point. Cant wait to update pops on the new fangled ideaer there !

HaHa!! My bad!!

I know I read CUB in your post, but am currently working on a Farmall AV. You meant what you wrote--CUB; I pictured what I was working on--AV. No, I wouldn't suggest strapping a Cub gas tank/hood to a tractor and riding around with it. A smaller tank with a detached hood, yes.

Sorry about that.

[Jim Becker]

With a Cub tank, it might work better to strap the tank to a tractor wheel then jack the tractor up enough for the tank to clear the ground. Adequately block the tractor in place. Let it idle in low gear for a while.

[Duner]

I use cement mixer and tumbling shot.

[790rivers]

I just tackled two old farmall cub gas tanks that were terribly rusty inside. I took off the sediment bowls and took them to my local car wash and power washed the interiors ( I should invest in a power washer some day). Then I corked the sediment bowl holes and filled them both to the brim with white vinegar and let them sit for a week (I think two weeks would be even better). Took out the corks and drained them and took them back to the car wash for another power wash inside. They are not perfect by any means, but given how terrible they were, I am thrilled with the results.

[inairam]

The white vinegar in the supermarket is 5% acid. If you look around online there are 30% solutions. it usually used as a "natural" weed killer. I got some to clean some concrete that did not clean well with just a power washer. I plan on using it on some cub projects.

I also just got a media attachment for my power washer. It will draw in some blast media ( I would recommend some light like walnut shells or soda ash on sheet metal) along with the water. I have yet to try that. It makes the power washer a wet blaster.

[Adamshan]

In my experance, throwing a old chain in the tank and rotating the tank on a tractor wheel or something works very well. Then when you're done you can just pull the chain out instead of trying to dump all the nuts and junk out.

[Scrivet]

In my experance, throwing a old chain in the tank and rotating the tank on a tractor wheel or something works very well. Then when you're done you can just pull the chain out instead of trying to dump all the nuts and junk out.

That is a BRILLIANT idea!