cleaning rust

[coolguy147]

well im wanna clean the rust in my tank before i replace the diafram in my pressure tank any ideas on how to

im 13 so please use simple terms and tech em what they mean i read an earlier post about rust in omc tank and some link to a post about getting it out but i dont quite understand it so please rexplain how to would be helpful

[ezeke]

You may find that R.Johnsons way is the easiest with the best results: http://forums.iboats.com/showpost.ph...59&postcount=4

Some building supply places have short pieces of reinforcing rod that will give you a source of steel.

[Rick.]

I tried that method last weekend on a 3 gallon tank that was badly rusted. It did remove a fair amount of the rust but not all. I found that my steel rod that I hooked the positive clamp on required cleaning every 15 minutes. If I didn't clean it the electrolisis action would stop. The rod I used was 3/8 cold roll. I was pretty happy with the results but you will find you need to give it your full attention for a day or more. Perhaps rebar would work better due to a much larger overall surface area. I would strongly advise you to have a wire wheel on your grinder cause you will be cleaning the rust off the rod very often. Rick.

[R.Johnson]

Rick: That small rod will foul very fast, and need frequent cleaning. Any piece of scrap steel you can get down the opening with out touching the tank will work. I once used an old window sash weight that worked very well.

[Rick.]

R.Johnson. Thanks for that. Can you tell me about how many hours this de-rusting should take. The rod does foul very fast and once it is fouled with rust the action seems to completely cease. I used soda ash we had left from our treatment of old steam boilers which we no longer have in our inventory. Would soda wash be a better choice. Thanks, Rick. (ps. I know this isn't my thread but I am staying on topic)

[R.Johnson]

Rick: I have had good results with the washing soda, so I just stick with that. Probably lots' of room to experiment here. Depending on how severe the rust is, the tank will not look shiny new inside, but it will be clean. By that I mean, rust will not flake off, and foul the carb. The fresh gas-oil mix will keep it from rusting again. If you could find one, a heavy stainlees steel bar would be ideal, as you could just rinse it off. I leave the charger on over night if need be. I just use a 2-8 amp trickle charger.

[coolguy147]

dont use stainless steel

[R.Johnson]

I use a stainless steel plate at the bottom of my wash tub for removing rust, what is the problem with it?

[ezeke]

Stainless steel issue: http://antique-engines.com/stainless...electrodes.htm

[coolguy147]

lets hope u dont die of cancer or ur family especially since ur washing in it god man really i do feel bad

[R.Johnson]

Good thing to know. I never have washed in it.

[coolguy147]

ok so far i took my tank cover off cleaned off the old gasket and have a new one coming in and i washed it out with soapy hot water and took a garden hose and scrubbed kinda the outside and washed the inside a little and put upsidedown to dry ovr night.

i think 2moro or monday i will do the battery charger method and hope evrything goes well lol no stainless

[coolguy147]

ok im not sure what to hook the negative and positive side of the battery charger too? help

[ezeke]

Negative to the tank, positive to the source of new iron.

You will be generating a little hydrogen, so no flame and keep the area ventilated.

[coolguy147]

what do u mean negative to the tank like how r u gonna connect it cause like no metal pieces sticking out so u wanna to connect it the top where the strip of metal goes across?

and positive so u wanna put the connector under water? or like connect that to the piece in which its connected to?

[ezeke]

Thought your tank was metal; you said it was rusted.

Go back and read R.Johnson's instructions. You have to have your steel source suspended in the liquid with the positive voltage connected to it. The source metal and the wire that provides the positive voltage cannot touch the tank anywhere.

[R.Johnson]

coolguy 147: Don't try this at home, in fact! don't try anything at home. This is fur ur oyn gode.

[BSDenning]

LOL at R.Johnson! That's pretty funny. I can understand why you feel that way. The kid's spelling, grammar, and use of slang/shorthand is annoying and hard to understand. But, to his credit, he has been working really hard at tuning up this old evinrude: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread....light=sportwin

Seriously though, coolguy, you do need to type correctly if you want to get answers on this forum.

[Rick.]

So I redid the rust removal today and was much happier with the result. I used a battery charger that was putting out about 40 amps. One thing different this time was after finishing and a really good rinse and drain I stuck an air blower gun in the neck and let compresses air blow in it for a good half and hour. Once the tank got dry inside clouts of rust talc started bellowing out and that lasted for quite some time. The tank looked much cleaner inside so I put in some 50:1 mix and swished it to make certain the entire internal area got a good bath of fuel and oil. I did add an in-line fuel filter to the gas line just to make sure but I feel confident this tank will now be fine to use. Thanks to R. Johnson and whoever it was that directed me to his post. Rick.

[coolguy147]

ok well today i tried to clean the rust out. well i hooked the negative to the tank and positive to the wires which were connected to a steel bar. i used a kinda rusted bar just to make sure it wasnt stainless steel. well i got a problem my battery charger kinda literally burned my wire like the part that was touching the tank i think was turned to crisp black and literally turned red in liek 1 sec well my battery is like charging at like 10 amps so i put it up to starting mode which i believe is 50 amps once it did that it burned into a crisp thanks god no hydrogen caught on fire. well i continued it on 10 amps and did see rust in the water after i dumped it so 2moro im going to do it again and i didnt really notice much difference. and how much is 4-5 teaspoons i put like 5-6 spoon fulls

anybody ever try to pressure wash there tank? to get rust out i wonder what u gusy think?

[Rick.]

coolguy. You can't run 50 amps. through a thin wire. It's too much for it and it will melt. What I did was bend the rod into an L shape. Made a wooden cloths pin type clamp to hold it at the filler neck and used a small wire (that I dropped through the 1/8 inch hole for the suction line) to suspend the end of the rod. That wire must be insulated from touching the tank and I used a plastic drywall anchor that pinched the wire as I pushed it into the hole. The rod and/or the wire must not make contact directly or indirectly with your tank. Connect your pos. to the rod sticking up from the filler hole and the neg. to the tank handle. Best of luck. Rick.

[jbjennings]

I wish you wouldn't try the electrolysis method, Coolguy. It's not for young folks or old folks that don't understand how electricity works, either. Most folks DON'T!!! Electricity, water, and kids don't mix. I know you are very inquisitive and ambitious, as well as intelligent which is why I'll bet you're tempted to try it. Electricity doesn't care what or who you are, however, and you can only be electrocuted once.
I've used a pressure washer before on a nasty tank with good results but it didn't get it all out. I had to get my hands dirty and use a brush and rags and such. I also used a magnet recently that I found helpful to get out little metal pieces that somehow got in there. Of course the magnet won't pick up pure rust.
Good luck,
JBJ

[coolguy147]

i didnt see much difference running the thing at 10 amps anyways and lol before i got 6ft within the tank i shut her down first i did the thing for about 1 hour. 2moro i think i will borrow neighbors pressure washer and see how it goes ya that method was kinda scary bzzzzzzz

[coolguy147]

instead of using a pressure washer or a combination of this other idea got from somewhere.

what if u mixed salt and viniger together not sure of ratios in the 6 gallon tank not sure if u add water though.. mostly to get evry nook and cranny.

could use the salt method then wash out witht eh pressure washer?