I have an old Pioneer chainsaw that sat for many years with gas in the tank. The tank is full of varnish and crud. What is the best way to clean it up? Should I just look for another tank instead?
Thanks for any input.
Thanks for any input.
Clean up vanish
- Thread starter miller87t
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treeclimber165
Member A.K.A Skwerl
Aerosol carb cleaner. Remove the tank and dump it, put on your SAFETY GLASSES ( carb spray will deflect directly towards your eyes EVERY time you don't wear them!) and spray it out. Stubborn spots may need to soak or use a small brush to loosen the crud. Replace ALL the fuel lines, no matter what they look like. Go through the carb with a carb kit and you will be good to go!
sedanman
Just cut the piano!!
Laquer thinner cuts the crud that gas becomes.
lawnboy
ArboristSite Lurker
Varnish removal 101
The ONLY chemical that I have luck with cutting through old fuel varnish is denatured alcohol that can be purchased in hardware stores for cheap. Lacquer thinner and carb cleaners are a waste of time and money in my opinion. This stuff WILL WORK!!!
Bill
The ONLY chemical that I have luck with cutting through old fuel varnish is denatured alcohol that can be purchased in hardware stores for cheap. Lacquer thinner and carb cleaners are a waste of time and money in my opinion. This stuff WILL WORK!!!
Bill
sedanman
Just cut the piano!!
Perhaps the retired Texaco fuel engineer who told me to use laquer thinner was wrong. I doubt it.
Tony Snyder
Addicted to ArboristSite
Sedanman gave you the best answer. Go to the lumber yard or the auto paint store and buy yourself some lacquer thinner.
I don't know if they had baked on enamel on that saw or not. The thinner may cut the cosmetic paint but you can deal with that.
I don't know if they had baked on enamel on that saw or not. The thinner may cut the cosmetic paint but you can deal with that.
bwiesner
ArboristSite Lurker
Lawnboy is right the denatured alcohol will do the job. Just pour it in the tank and let if set and pour you troubles out. No scraping or brushing. Later Butch
jokers
Addicted to ArboristSite
Nothing I`ve used for carbs beats Wal Mart brand carb cleaner, and at $.78 a can you can`t go wrong. Having the pressurized can with the tube for the nozzle really makes carb cleaning simple. Russ
John in MA
Addicted to ArboristSite
I'd be hesitant about putting carb cleaner or lacquer thinner raw into the tank. There goes the sealer and rubber parts.
I thought they used neoprene for seals cause gasoline eats rubber.
Whistler
ArboristSite Operative
Boy am I ever glad I found this . Thanks for the replies and good advice ...darn memory anyway
Berrymans B-12 Chem tool is the best spray solvent I have ever used. I used it to devarnish the fueltank and carb on a 82 rm 250 last night that had been sitting since 83 with fuel in it. It cut through all the crud and varnish, just dont get it in your eyes. Hurts like hell.
GeorgeWLogger
ArboristSite Operative
I have used acetone before on metal tanks that have a strong varnish in them from 2-stroke fuel that has evaporated away. I don't know how advisable it would be on a plastic tank.
Bill G
ArboristSite King
I can deal with varnish. I need to find the best way of getting rid of rust. I have used the "fill it with nuts" technique with marginal success. I have serveral engines that have been sitting with untreated gas and have rust in the tanks now. I stoped by one of our local shops that boil radiators and asked him about removing rust. He told me for $35 he could sell me a quart of liquid liner.
Bill
Bill
Mike mandry
ArboristSite Guru
I have used that liquid liner. It works great. Got it at www.brysondist.com Good stuff.
Mike mandry
ArboristSite Guru
This is what I used. http://www.brysondist.com/catalog/sealer.html
dozerdan
Addicted to ArboristSite
Bill
I have had good luck removing rust from small tanks.Try making it about half full of 1B stones.Find a nice hardware store that has a paint shaker.Attach the tank on there with 2 large hose clamps and let it do the work for you.You will be amazed at the results.
Later
Dan
I have had good luck removing rust from small tanks.Try making it about half full of 1B stones.Find a nice hardware store that has a paint shaker.Attach the tank on there with 2 large hose clamps and let it do the work for you.You will be amazed at the results.
Later
Dan
My2cents
ArboristSite Operative
I have had good results with Muratic acid/ HCl. Remove the tank, degrease with a detergent, treat with the acid, swirl and keep and eye on the foaming action. The acid will react with the rust much faster than the "clean steel" repeat as nessasary. When it looks clean rinse with a baking soda soultion, re-rinse and dry throughly. usually the tanks have just surface rust.
