Restoring a YELLOW '87 VFR700F2H

shocking

 

Good deal Bazza! The vid I watched had an old car battery. I was wondering if one of my old bike batteries would do it if hooked to a battery tender.

 

I have used that set up, works just fine.

 

I'm working on a better sacrificial anode. I have some rebar I will be using once I get the right cap setup. In the meantime these little vegetable can strips are collecting quite a bit of rust.......

 

This thread is a wonderful reminder of why I left my '98 tank grimy and ride it instead!

 

Ironically....my Caswell shipment arrived today. Supposed to be enough for 3 tanks. I also bought their liquid masking product to protect the paint.

Nice to have options.....

 

I changed out the sacrificial anode to a piece of rebar. Oh my. I'll get a photo up, but the difference is remarkable!

 

caswell needs to be cured in temps above 70F.

 

Thanks....I just scanned through all the directions they provided so in good shape there wrt how to use.

I have 3 fuel tanks to deal with one way or another. Will take a while to get it all figured out but happy to have the coating product in inventory.

I had hand surgery a week ago so need to let that heal up before getting too carried away here.

Two of the bikes the fuel tanks belong to will need a fair amount of other work to be done so just trying to get the ducks lined up.....

 

The latest setup. I think I'll drain the tank tomorrow....spray it out good....and inspect. Be nice to find my endoscope. But if I remove the bottom hatch I can see inside pretty good with the help of a flashlight.




Before......and after about 2 hours.......

 

The Caswell products......

 

Here's a YT vid, Rogue, using a battery and it goes over everything pretty good......

 

OK - even though it's a chilly 45 out this morning.........I got some more work done on the tank and feel good about how it is coming along.

I flushed it out as thoroughly as possible, removing the sender plate on the bottom and spraying a jet stream inside from all directions through that opening and the filler opening. Repeated dumping out by hand...swirling by hand......rinse....repeat.....until the water coming out was pretty clear.

Then I buttoned the bottom back up, refilled with electrolyte solution, and reset the charger. I will re-check later this afternoon to see how she looks.

Something interesting to mention.....I keep hearing something rattling around inside. I finally got it to land near the bottom opening - too large to get out. Very flat and maybe 2" in diameter irregularly shaped and white in color. You know what I think it is? A chunk of the carbonate soda that didn't dissolve. I may have to poor some boiling water in the tank next time I empty it to get it dissolved so I can remove it. I tried to break it with my fingers but it's too hard.

Lesson learned.......use warm-hot water when you mix up the electrolyte and maybe even strain it before pouring into your tank.

Not great photos but better than nothing.......

 

I always pre-make my solution so I know the ratio is what I want and it's completely dissolved. Way easier to stir in a bucket.

 

I have a new endoscope coming tomorrow and hopefully will be able to share some good pics of the inside.

For now, I have to say I'm absolutely THRILLED at the results I am getting using this electrolysis method.

I just emptied out and blasted the insides after the second soak and really and truly I think almost all of the corrosion is gone except for what's left over that affected the surface of the metal itself.

That big chunk of carbonate is gone too. Must have dissolved (shrug).

Of the 3 tanks I'm working with....this is the worst one. The other 2 won't be bad at all.

I'm thinking when I get her emptied out tomorrow all that will be left to do is to dry her out real good and then spray with the fogging oil.

I appreciate all the help, as always!

 

Give it a good rinse with the highest percentage denatured or isopropyl alcohol to displace and absorb moisture before fogging.

 

OK will do.......thanks!

 

And let me know when you feel confident enough to do mine! lol

 

It's so easy. And it sounds like yours isn't THAT bad. It would clean it up perfectly and you don't have to worry about damaging the paint job.

And you have another VFR to ride while you do it.

Or try some of the Rust-Eze type products. They also won't harm paint and work incredibly well. On a REALLY bad tank, I think electrolysis is the way to go tho.

 

I know you're just kidding - but seriously - it's very straight forward and very inexpensive. I wish I had know how to do this a while back when I did my first tank.

As much as I like using vinegar for rust removal work....I don't see myself using it for any fuel tank work in the future, now that I've learned this technique.

Let me know if you have any questions about doing it. I've learned SO MUCH over the past week or so and feel now I have it down!