remove rust from inside fuel tank

[chuckups]

Have a homelite 500 with rust inside the fuel tank any suggestion how I can remove this rust.Tank does not come apart.


Thanks for any help

[powerking]

Basically, buy any rust remover product (like Navel Jelly/etc) which contains the active ingredient "phosphoric acid" and put it the tank. It will convert the rust to a dull silver finish which is now ferric phosphate and after treatment, will have some corrosion resistance. You might try something like Birchwood-Casey case cleaner also; it works great for cleaning aluminum carb bodies diluted in H2O in my ultrasonic cleaner.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphoric_acid#Rust_removal

Tom (PK)

[chainsawlady]

Jan 13, 2015 9:51:48 GMT -5 chuckups said:

Have a homelite 500 with rust inside the fuel tank any suggestion how I can remove this rust.Tank does not come apart.


Thanks for any help

Homelite had two model 500 chain saws. One had a tin tank like the Buz. The other was like the Super XL, a red saw. I may have a used tin tank without rust,
chainsawlady

[sweepleader]

Some gas in the tank with a handful of small nuts or other objects shaken will loosen gunk and rust chips. Depending on how hard and long you shake. The gas will take the "dust" out when you dump it and the nuts. Repeat as needed and flush with fresh gas. The chemical attack that powerking suggests works great on light rust remaining but must be carefully flushed out and dried to remove the chemicals and water.

Let us know how you come out.
Dan

[chuckups]

Thanks for all the advice. Found a product called Evapo-Rust cost $24.00 for a gallon. It works! Had to fill the tank and let it set for several days but the tank is 95% clean.

Thanks again for the advice

[sweepleader]