Fun with Fuel Tanks

[Down South]

I don't know if any of you have relined a tank before.

I have done 2, a 1938 Chevy and a 1936 John Deere and a B&S. Not a big deal.
We used a Aircraft tank sealant. A thick white paint looking. One coat coverage, easy drain as it took a long time to cure.

This 4000 Ford tank is the nastiest tank i ever saw on anything.
2 quarts of rocks and 1 1/2 gal of gas. I plugged the tank and used plastic to help seal the lousy gas cap. Strapped it to the wheel and let her rip, rotating the tank to scrub all sides.

It drooled a little brown goo. But when i did the ends, the cap was down more and about a gallon of brown cement leaked out.
I dumped and flushed lots more brown slurry out. Yet there was more to be had, plus a jelly looking slime oozing around the tank. Cleaned the stones, gas and doubled the plastic and went again.

Far more than you would expect came out this time but the tank looked good, rinsed with the hose then alcohol and left to dry a wile.

I should have used 1 quart of Red Kote, I didn't expect to recover that much as i rotated it for about a hour insuring max coverage and let it set then rotated it again for a hour. I spilled some when i drained it.

I inspected while it cured and saw thin areas. Let it cure 24 hours Boy did it sweat. It was much thicker when i refilled the tank and rotated it for 1 1/2 hours and didn't get near as much out.

Some very thick stuff didn't want to drain, So i spent a couple hours with the tank unsealed and made sure i had some very thick coverage along the seam and on the top. It makes a thick rubbery coating that doesn't just peal off.

And it was fun clearing the tank tap threads after 48 hours curing.

If it goes 40 more years I think i will just buy another tank,

DS

 

[nickel plate]

Strapped it to the wheel and let her rip, rotating the tank to scrub all sides.

Please elaborate on this part of the process. What type of wheel?

 

[Down South]

I cant recommend anything but this is what i did this time.

Well using ratcheting tie down straps, I strapped the tank to my lawn mower with one wheel in the air.
Just over tank and behind tire ( 20x10x8)making sure the strap cleared the axle.
I quickly learned i had a bad 3 yo battery, a bad idler pulley, later the rusted rear pulley on the peerless gave up the goat.
You would think a 1996 would last better than that.

Phaze 2
With loaded tires a 2 ton cheapy floor jack just doesn't want to jack up the tractor.
Straps over the outer center and around the tank ( 14.6x28's 6 loop), x pattern. Making sure straps clear the backing plate.
Others i have seen use a board and such but this worked.
It will let you know if something is Loose!
30 min in 2nd low, 30 min in reverse.
Rotate the tank 90 degrees and repeat.
Then the ends.

Just got this beast running and it need the time to get hot.
Found a small leak in the radiator at or very near a old repair.

DS