A couple tank sealer questions

I was hoping you guys might have some info on tank sealers. I've done some searching on here, and only came across one thread.

I have a '87 VFR. I already cleaned as much rust out of the tank as possible using a handful of nuts and bolts, followed by electrolysis. It did a pretty good job, but there's still some rust I would like to seal to avoid future problems.

The product I'm looking at is Red-Kote, which is a one-part product. Doing some googling, lots of people swear by it. People also like the Caswell product, with some people saying it's superior because it is a 2-part epoxy. Does anyone have any recommendations or experience with either?

My 2nd question is how do I plug the holes in the tank during the process. I have thoroughly rinsed the tank with water, but would like to rinse it with acetone (as per the Red-Kote instructions) before sealing. Is it safe to use the gas cap and "sending unit" in the base to seal the tank while sloshing the acetone around? I would think it could damage the rubber seals. And when using the actual product, can I seal the holes with duct tape while I roll the tank around, or do I need to come up with something better?

Thanks for any info.

 

I'm in the Caswell camp, used it on two tanks with great results, but have never tried the other stuff. No need to.

With Caswell, tape is OK for sealing holes. Takes about 24 hours to harden, and you need about 70F.

On that tank you might have a problem with the non-removable tube that leads to the petcock getting clogged, not sure. Seems like you could blow compressed air through the petcock before the epoxy sets to clear it ?:eagerness:

 

I've used Kreem to satisfaction. As for sealing the holes, duct tape won't do it. See if you can get some piece of wood laying around and "screw" it on. I know it seems extreme but you basically want a watertight setup, at least for 1-2 days.

 

They say Kreem isn't good on most forums. Problems with peeling off. Better products do a better job now.

 

i like red kote and have had excellent results. But i don't think it will seal over rust, you have to remove all the rust using either acid or some other method. i found a radiator shop that will clean out the tank, solder little copper plates as needed to patch any holes, then red kote the interior. They use a cork to plug any openings if necessary, but generally pour it into the tank and roll/swish it around and pour out the excess, then set it aside to dry. Then come back and repeat the swish and roll to build it up a couple of layers. Several thin coats is easier than trying to get one thick coat on all the surfaces.

i would remove anything from inside that you want to reuse. acid and/or acetone will destroy rubber and electrical contacts, insulation, etc. no need to chance it.