How to Clean a Motorcycle Fuel Tank at home, 1978 Harley Shovelhead Lowrider, Part 3
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- čas přidán 11. 02. 2023
- How I cleaned both the tanks on my 1978 Harley FXS Lowrider Shovelhead at home with White Vinegar( not to harsh, but strong enough to do the cleaning), some chain & bolts( to knock loose the crusty stuff), distilled water & Baking Soda(to neutralize the acid from the Vinegar). The results were very good. Hope this helps anyone out there wanting to do this at home themselves!!
- Auta a dopravní prostředky
Im totally new to the bike scene....i had issue upon issue! Came across this video and brother! FINALLY I ENJOY MY BIKE!!! RESPECT TO YOU OL' GUYS! thanks so much for sharing the tricks of the trade!!!!
You’re so welcome!! Thanks for such kind words as well!! Thank God someone respects us!🤣🤣 I actually learned that in my shop class while in High School in the 70’s. I had a great teacher, mentor, & later a friend in my life, he taught me & my buddies a lot. I try to pass on whatever I can to whoever wants to listen. Thanks again for checking out my video & channel, Ride Safe!! Frank
This is the best informative video on line. Thanks
Thanks so much checking out my channel & watching my video! Also, thanks so much for the kind words, ride safe out there!! Frank
Great walk through
Thanks so much for watching!!
Straight up and Easy !! 👍
Thanks, I try!! Thanks for checking out my video as well, much appreciated!!
Very Good video,and step by step processes to do....for an AMAZING GAS TANK cleaning procedure. Sharing it with friend who recently got an older bike that's been sitting for a spell, and was wondering what exactly to do. The lines can be replaced,as can gaskets,etc .... But this was simply awesome,and seemed to work like a champ !!! Loved the Diesel & 2-Stroke Oil Mixture made,to help put a finishing touch on an already DAMN FINE JOB !!👍🤜🤛✌️.... Nice info man. Very 👍 Nice!!!🤜🤛
Thanks so much for such fine words & sharing it with your friend!! I truly appreciate you checking out my video & channel!! I wish I could take credit for coming up with the diesel & 2 stroke oil mix, but I actually learned that from my Auto Mechanic teacher in high school ( back in the’70s), he showed me that as I was rebuilding my 55 Chevy. I remember driving it to school 1 day & it was running so rough, it was the class project, we pulled the gas tank out & looked just like the Shovel tank! I glad the stuff I learned 50 years ago still comes in handy today. Thanks again & best of luck to your buddy!! Frank
Thanks for the information 👍
Your welcome! Thanks so much for checking out my channel & watching the video!! Frank
Great video! Thank you!!! New Sub. from the 641...Always thumbs up!!!
Thanks so much for watching, the kind words, & for subscribing!! Much appreciated!! Frank
Gonna get on this right now!
I hear you!! Thanks so much for checking out my video/channel & also for Subscribing!! Frank/AKA Springer
Awesome shit buddy😊, JR in 🇨🇦
Thanks!!! I appreciate you checking out my channel & video, ride safe out there!! Frank
Huge help with the diesel fuel and 2 stroke pre mix to coat it!!
Thanks so much for watching & commenting!!
What’s the ratio of the diesel fuel and two stroke
@@edlozano8694 I typically pour about a half of quart of 2 stroke oil per tank side & then fill up the tanks with diesel. No real ratio, I just try to get the tank good and coated so it doesn’t rust, the little bit that may be left over will mix with the gas, it will burn off as it runs through , a little bit extra top end lube on my old Harley 🤣. Thanks so much for checking out my channel & video! Ride safe out there!!
Good video 👍🏼, I could subliminally smell the bad gas I had to go outside for fresh air 🤣.
Coating a tank imop is a last resort eventually the coating starts to come apart and is a bigger problem than the original problem.
So very true, it’s not very fun taking a Petcock off on the side of the road, having to put a thumb in the tank to keep gas from coming out, blowing the crap out of the Petcock screen & putting it back together!! Sound familiar??🤪
Looks good. I’ve got an old bike here I’ve got to try to get going. It has old gas in it and I just assume it’s gonna need some work to fire up.
Thanks so much!! I appreciate you checking out my channel & video. Sounds like you’re going to be doing some of the same steps I went through, best of luck! But to be honest, I’ll bet you’ll get it back up & running in No F
Time!! Have fun!! Frank
👍
Thanks!!
Loved the video, i have 2 questions, how do i protect the paint on the outside of the tank, how do i remove big chunks of the liner that have broke loose inside the tank?
Thanks so much for watching & loving the video!! Unfortunately I’ve never had great paint on any tanks I’ve cleaned & I’m planning on painting this one as well. I have a buddy that uses a plastic cling wrap that he gets from body/paint shop supplier. Many body shops use this method to stop from getting paint on other panels. I would also wax the heck out of the tank, can’t hurt! Then wrap in a towel? The vinegar really didn’t bother the paint on my shovel, but you never really know how good of paint job is on it, so be careful! As far as the flakes of crap in the tanks, it’s just a matter of repeating the process over and over, rinsing out, blowing out, vacuuming out, shaking with a small chain or bolts to break down the crap & repeatedly doing it again and again! I know it’s time consuming & a bit of a pain, but you know we love doing this stuff or else we would just buy new aftermarket junk 🤣🤣. Thanks again for watching & best of luck! Frank
Opened up my 1999flht that I bought. (Project bike)and the tank liner is coming off in chunks. I personally never had any liner coatings in any of my bikes. Bare metal and during winter months all tanks were kept full. I gotta play the shake rattle and roll tomorrow. Great video and explanation of what you used and how you dealt with it.
Thanks for the video. That gray stuff looked like the gray epoxy paint Harley used to coat the tanks. I have a 97 Evo with the epoxy. I’m not having much luck getting it out. Tried acetone and nothing. Gonna try your white vinegar and nuts & bolts & chain. Just curious why you didn’t line it afterwards. Seems like there’s an argument to not lining it. Anyway thanks again for the video.
I really didn’t want to remove what coating was in there, but it sat for almost 30 years. The crap inside was like old varnish, hard as a rock. My wife uses white vinegar to restore old cast iron pans, so I figured WTF, try it. It took only a couple days on 1 tank, almost 3 weeks on the other. I repeated the process about every 3-5 days. As far as not coating it, I’ve never had any issues as long as I keep gas in the tank . I always run non-ethanol or Stabil in it. I did fill the tank with a mix of diesel fuel & tranny fluid to keep it from flash rusting after cleaning, it will flash rust Very Quickly. Thanks for checking out my video! Frank
Plus, I don’t know if you ever had that coating clog up a filter as your running down the road, but that’s a PITA!!, & I know a few guys that are still using their old tanks on pans& knucks without issues. Just food for thought!
buy a nylon net bag with slightly big gap not like mosquito net . get some pebbles used in aqurium . get em inside the net bag then tie the net bag with a long rope then drop it inside the tank with some kerosin or vinegar. shake the tank gently in every friggin direction then pull the bag out with the rope. dont drop the rope inside.
Great idea with the nylon bag! Never thought of that. Vinegar is what I use as well, been doing it this way in my video since high school! Thanks so much for watching and checking out my video!! Frank
well theres a wee bit problem when getting it out you gotta use a bent spoon or fork & reduce the pebbles little by little. so thats a hassal dont put too much
For the concoction you used to coat the inside of the tank, how much diesel fuel and two-stroke pre mix did you use?
I used 2 quarts of oil for about 2 1/2 gallons of diesel . It was a concoction my old mechanic teacher showed us back high school many years ago! I’ve used this method on cars, trucks, lawn mowers & motorcycles. I always keep everything full of fuel from there on out . Lots of condensation down here in Florida, it definitely works, I’ve been using this process for about 45 years! Hope it works for you!! Thanks so much for checking out my channel!! Frank
My uncle has a 75 FXE and this is exactly what he has going on.
Well, we know the quick & easy solution is to replace tank & Petcock… But what Fun is that!!?? Thanks for checking out my video!!
hello, good vid. Question - when you reinstall the petcock - what is the sequence. The petcock itself screws into a collar that mates the tank to the petcock. The thin gasket goes under the screen/filter - which sits on top of the petcock. The collar screws over the peacock with one end and into the tank with the other. The collar has a gap where the threads change from fitting to the tank to fitting to the petcock. I guess that's where the screen/filter/gasket sits? Any insights here appreciated. thanks
Good morning to you as well! Thanks so much for checking out my video. Yes, screw on ring, place gasket on, push on filter. Back off ring off Petcock to the point it almost comes off. Install Petcock assembly in tank & begin to tighten ring. As you begin to tighten, ring has different direction threads . It will tighten up towards tank & valve at the same time. I always place a bit of grease ( tiny bit!) on threads of tank just to make it easier. I believe the Factory manual describes proper process, but I can’t remember for sure. Hopefully this helps you.!! Thanks again for watching, ride safe out there!! Frank
Ahhh the English language. ring=collar (assumption). Nothing in the shop manual or a Clymers publication - so we are in truly uncharted territory.
Let me try my hand at interpretation.
(1) Screw ring onto petcock assembly.
(2) Push gasket into the ring.
(3) Push screen filter in so it sits on top of the petcock assembly and gasket
(4) Screw ring towards the direction to remove the ring from the petcock assembly. Note, the ring comes off the petcock when the non-threaded band in the middle of the ring is reached.
(5) Screw the ring's top threads into the tank threading - which are of a different size and thread orientation (in the opposite direction) from the threads on the petcock body itself.
Result: As the ring is tightened onto the tank threading and if the petcock body remains in a fixed position, the ring will also tighten onto the petcock itself.
Note - the petcock I am using is a Drag Specialties after-market (JP cycles SKU: 1257513) and the screen/filter has two alignment bumps so that it fits in a specific orientation onto the fuel petcock body. As I am turning the ring to tighten to the tank, the orientation of the screen on the petcock body needs hold. I will need to hold the petcock body in the correct position (valve controls facing out) and look into the tank and observe the screen as I am tightening the ring onto the tank.
The alignment bumps are not that significant so the screen has/may have a tendency to turn as things are tightened.
I can see how this should work - thanks to your vid and description - THANKS!!!!. That said, I have not tried this yet so I don't know how this will work out.
And a question - I have the OEM petcock - the O-ring gasket you replaced in yours it the current failure point in mine. When I disassembled it, as per your vid, I can see that someone used a grey gasket sealer to correct a leak in there before. I'd like to follow your example - would you know - or - where did you get the replacement O-ring/gasket? My read on this was that you had one handy. The old gasket/O-ring I fished out looked like a flat O-ring versus round edged.
If you made it this far, thanks for trying to interpret my understanding. If not, no worries, trial and error will continue - after all, successes are built on false starts and failures - right?
@@georgejanz1313 Looks like you got it. I posted part #’s in my description for most of the items , the ring/seal I used I purchased from the local Harley Dealership, it’s 1 that I used for 1 of my newer bikes (which is now 20 years old!!) It might of been a tad bit thicker but it’s been 8 months and no leaks!, here’s the #: 2003 twin cam petcock gasket part #:62172-02
I’ve seen this part still available as of this morning on EBay & other sites, I feel pretty confident it is also available at the dealer.
Hopefully this helps you out , sorry for the miscommunication! ✌️
Hi! This is awesome, I have a Suzuki ga750 LT and the gas tank is all gummed up and needs to be cleaned out. To prevent rust, do you have any ideas of what I could use? Trying to keep my work and simple as possible because this is my first time working on a motorcycle. One thing to add is I love the vinegar and baking soda idea rather than acetone which is hard to use and takes a hazard waste disposal area to get rid of it
After getting it all nice and clean on the inside, immediately stick a heat gun in it to dry, then I immediately like to fill the tank with a mix of diesel fuel & 2 stroke oil . Fill it up completely & let it soak into the metal. I’ve done this to car tanks, motorcycles, lawnmowers. I’ve had some buddies fog their tanks with WD-40 & or cylinder fogging spray as well after cleaning like I do. Always try to keep your tank full with gas, especially if you live with a lot of humidity. There is also many different tank coatings you can use, but all the ones I’ve used start to peel away after a few years and clog up the Petcock & fuel filter. Thanks so much for watching & feel free to subscribe!! Thanks again, Frank
@@springersadventures7654 so you're saying that spraying WD-40 in the tank, maybe swirling the fluid around to coat the inside and prevent rust, that will work? Maybe I'm not understanding fully. Maybe I am. The whole mix with 2 stroke and diesel seems in my mind a bit much and I'm thinking there might be a simpler solution. But I greatly appreciate this knowledge and your help.
@@And13BW yes, you understand. You must coat the clean metal inside the tank or will flash rust. The diesel & or oils sucks into the steel, all metal has a certain amount of porosity to it. After that the oil properties that are in gas Usually keeps it ok . I mess around with a lot of tanks that are 40-70 years old. What you are experiencing is so very common, 99% of new cars & trucks have plastic tanks & probably 50% of the motorcycles as well . I wish you good luck!
@@springersadventures7654 thank you! So just to confirm, I can use WD-40 to spray in there and swash it around and then rinse it out with water correct
@@And13BW yes you can fog the inside of the tank with WD-40, make sure & spray the heck out of it! It’s a very light oil/penetrant. BUT DO NOT rinse with water! It will rust & you will be cleaning it all over again. What ever oils/diesel residue I described will mix gas . WD will burn & mix with gas, in fact I use it to find intake manifold/gasket leaks all the time on engines!
Will vinegar work to clean old crusty gas varnish, or just rust?
It will dissolve the varnish, but it may take several attempts. If it’s really bad, I’ve had good success with lacquer thinner or acetone. I always rinse out afterwards with backing soda & distilled water when using vinegar, it neutralizes the acid. Best of luck & thanks for checking out my video!! Frank
I have a rusty tank I want to clean and seal but what's the best way to completely dry the tank out before I put the sealer in
I personally haven’t used a “store bought tank sealer “ in years. But when I did in the past, I would do my final rinse of the tank outside on the warmest day after the tank sat in the direct sunlight, after draining the tank outside I would immediately stick my heat gun into the opening of the tank ( plug up any holes) between the heat on the outside of the tank from the sun & the heat gun blowing hot air into it, it would only take a minute or two. If you have a split tanks like me, only do 1 at a time. Hope this helps & best of luck! Thanks so much for watching my video & checking out my channel!! Frank
Didn't Harley coat the inside of their tanks back then? That might have been factory tank paint coming off?
I believe they did, but not 100% sure! But I have not known 1 person that has recoated there tank that hasn't had problems.
I've seen plenty of tanks after several years & that crap starts clogging up the petcock, and always when your in the middle of nowhere & it starts running like your out of gas & the tanks are over 1/2 full! Thanks so much for checking out my video & subscribing, much appreciated!! Frank
I agree. Unless there is rust at the bottom seam I wouldn't put anything in there. Keep fresh gas in it, huh?@@springersadventures7654
does a dirty tank prevent a bike from turning on?
It definitely could, & if left alone, it will get worse & will prevent the bike from running. All the rust, sludge, tank coating flakes will eventually clog the screen on the Petcock. I’ve seen the trash get past the screen ( by either cutting through the screen or the plastic cage holding the screen breaks down), then it will clog up the Petcock valve or make to the carb & clog it up! If it’s a injected bike, it will usually kill the fuel pump inside the tank or clog up the injectors. I hate to be the one to tell you this but it is the truth, it’s just one of those things that you must keep a eye on!! Ride safe! Frank
Nice Video - thanks When you have a moment to spare - I am writing to request your advice before I proceed to Vinegar a CB750 Custom's Fuel Tank. Twice on refill, the carbs got clobbered, and finally got them operational once again. But before refilling the Gas tank a third time, it is going to get about two days of vinegar soaking -
Im hoping you could help me with a couple of questions I have about this - thanks
A- Once draining the tank, its interior walls will be damp; or more or less still wet from the fuel. Does this need to be evaporated before filling 4 gallons of vinegar into the tank; and I figured just to leave to gas cap off and let it evaporate? If not washed with dish soap and water, will the fuel residue have an adverse chemical reaction with the vinegar?
(If flash rust from washing the tank out I assume the vinegar would address that.)
B- Upon dumping the vinegar after two days of soaking, do I need to wash with soap and water; before I Oil Fog the walls as planned before adding fuel ?
Please when feasible over the next few days, share any thought's you might have on this topic thanks -
Thanks ClassicRider for checking out my channel and watching my video!!
A: After dumping the old gas, I’d probably give it a good wash out with soap and water, just so the Vinegar stays nice & strong to do its work.I’ve never experienced a adverse reaction to the vinegar & gas to answer your question.
& yes the vinegar would clean up the flash rust, you assumed right!
B: yes, wash out again , I stick the garden hose in there just to make sure to clean up the inside walls. The next step is to use distilled water & backing soda mix & pour it in like on the video, you want to neutralize what ever acid is left in the tank…Don’t Skip this Step!
Rinse out again, Immediately dry with heat gun, &/or lint free towel, then fog it or add a mixture like I did.
The tanks i cleaned had fuel/ varnish in them since around 1994, so mine was pretty Nasty!
I’ve had Zero issues since!
I’ve used this process since the mid 1970’s when my Mechanics teacher taught us this!
I hope this helps you and feel free to reach out if I can help you again! Ride safe out there!!! Frank AKA Springer
@@springersadventures7654 Thanks very much for your timely and informative reply. The tank is current got 4 gallons of Vinegar for the next 30 hours or so remaining for its soak. Your instructions ( garden hose ) to wash out the vinegar before the neutralize phase I just caught - thanks for the extra detail -
After a day of sitting open and drained, there seemed to be a drop of fuel that I could shake in the tank. Upon inspection the rust was building in the internal seems, but otherwise the tank seemed cleaned. So I figure this treatment should do the job -
I have an additional step after washing out the neutralizer - once rinsed, add Methal Hydrate - to remove any water, which is due on Sat. -
Its for my wife's motorcycle, so I'm sure she wont mind loaning me her hair dryer; and I got the fogging oil waiting -
Thanks again for your help
Glad to hear it’s working out for you, never thought about using the Methyl hydrate, thanks for that! If you can’t borrow your wife’s hair dryer, Harbor freight has 1 for about 15-20 bucks, works great, I’ve had mine for years. I hope you guys live in a area of the country where you can still get some riding in afterwards. Ride Safe, Frank
@@springersadventures7654 Babe ( 1981 CB750 Custom ) is operational again and just filled the gas tank. A few short cuts were taken. Also, could not directly drain the tank having it upside down where an internal collar would prevent full draining. After about 48 hours, the tank was dumped down the driveway where four gallons of vinagar could chase some ants away. I used the hose to wash that out further, and then 2 gallons of distilled water with baking soda I swished around for a period of time, and then rinsing that out with the hose. The hairdryer blew the breaker, so relied on the room heater to warm the tank to encourage evaporation. Then discovered at least a pint of water sloshing around still. Due to the collar, you could shake the tank upside down till doom's day while most of remaining water remained. Then the light bulb lit - Using thin rags created a wick like affect into the tank to absorb the water where on one side when the tank is tilted. The Methal Hydrate still has not gotten here. After about another 30 min's of the room heater, mounted the tank, and added 1/2 gallon of clean fuel, and about a 1/2 bottle of sea foam. Once all four cylinders were with white smoke, I knew each was being cleaned. Added another Gallon of fuel for a test ride. CLocked 90 mph between 2 stop lights with out a misfire. Topped off the tank and said to my dearest - your bike is now ready !
Great job!! Glad it worked out for. Happy Bike, Happy Wife….=Happy Life!!! Thanks again for watching my video, it always makes my day when I know I can help others! You & your wife ride safe out there!!! ✌️Frank
What did you use to plug the nipples on the tank?
I have an assortment of rubber caps that are normally used to close off vacuum lines, they work very well. If you don’t have any, take a piece of hose, cut it a few inches long, insert a bolt in 1 end & & place the other end over the nipple. If it’s too loose, use a couple hose clamps to tighten. Hope this helps! Thanks so much for watching & checking out my channel!! Frank
My fuel was so bad it deteriorated the screen on the fuel valve and that screen got all through the tank. I’m having to clean everything now
I hear you, today’s fuel when left in your tank for any extended period just tears everything up! Best of luck cleaning it out! Thanks for watching and checking out my channel!! Frank
Why do you prefer diesel fuel instead of gasoline? Thanks
Because diesel fuel is fuel oil. It will stick to the metal & coat it without dry so quickly like gasoline. If you have ever been at a diesel fuel pump at the gas station, you will see how that stuff feels on the handle & how it puts a coating on everything it touches. Thanks so much for watching & checking out my channel, ride safe out there!!
Buen trabajo 👍
Que tan frecuente es que lavas el tanque?
Thanks! & thank you for checking out my channel & video!! I probably washed the this tank out about 3-4 times with the vinegar, rinsed out with hose about 3 times, then rinsed out with baking soda & distilled water about 3 times, then lastly rinsed out with distilled water by itself 3 times. It all really matters how bad the inside is, but my experience is that you can’t overdo it, so do it till it looks clean inside. Good Luck!! Frank
@@springersadventures7654 Gracias 🫂
You’re welcome!