Author Topic: oil tank  (Read 1561 times)

Offline olev

  • Brisbane, Australia
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oil tank
« on: 30.08. 2009 13:04 »
Gday, I've been trying to clean out my ancient grubby oil tank for a while now.
I've hooked the hose up to the hot water and given it a blast with lots of detergent.
I've soaked it in petrol.
I've poked it with a rag on a stick.
Before the thing is hung over a raging fire for a couple of hours I thought maybe someone has a magic brew that'll do it? I'm just about ready to try anything.
like maybe a dose of castor oil ... or molasses?

Offline terryk

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Re: oil tank
« Reply #1 on: 30.08. 2009 13:15 »
Try leaving some hot oil in it for a while to loosen it then tip it out keep doing it then soak it with degreaser for a week. Hose it out repeat whole process if need be its worth a try.
1950-53 A10 rigid/plungers, 1958-61 A10 super rockets, 1947-50 A7 longstrokes, 1949 Star twin,
1951-54 A7 plungers, 1940s M21, WDM20s,
1948-50s B33s rigid/plunger/swingarm, 1948-50s b31s rigid/plunger/swingarm

Offline olev

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Re: oil tank
« Reply #2 on: 30.08. 2009 13:27 »
thanks Terry,
I'll try that. I was up your way last week working on Willows.
Was hoping to catch up for a beer but they worked me day and night.
Tville looks a nice town these days ... on the surface anyhow.
cheers

Offline MikeN

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Re: oil tank
« Reply #3 on: 30.08. 2009 15:23 »
I always use water and detergent and a handfull of 8mm stainless nuts.
Shake and shake.Keep changing the mixture .
  When you think its clean enough do it again but pour the mixture out over a piece of white paper. Have a close look at the paper.If you are fussy you will see that its nowhere clean.
Keep going until your satisfied.
Mike

Offline spyke

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Re: oil tank
« Reply #4 on: 30.08. 2009 16:44 »
When I did all you did to clean it out and a few other things too , and peering in with a torch all ,looked clean I still had a nagging doubt in my mind that it wasnt 100% so I cut a approx 3" panel out of the rear lower part of the tank, and now being able to see and even get your finger in there there was still more yuk in there.
I realise that my tank was bought as a seperate item so I didnt know who had been putting what in there since 1955 and yours has been on your own bike I assume , but for the price of a bit of cutting and tig welding I feel it was worth the piece of mind when compared with even the slightest possibilty of engine damage occurring

Spyke
A10 spitfire style

Offline LJ.

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Re: oil tank
« Reply #5 on: 30.08. 2009 18:43 »
I use a patio pressure washer....
Ride Safely Lads! LJ.
**********************
1940 BSA M20 500cc Girder/Rigid- (SOLD)
1947 BSA M21 600cc Girder/Rigid-Green
1949 BSA A7   500cc Girder/Plunger Star Twin-(SOLD)
1953 BSA B33  500cc Teles/Plunger-Maroon
1961 BSA A10  650cc Golden Flash-Blue
1961 BSA A10  650cc Golden Flash-Red

Offline RichardL

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Re: oil tank
« Reply #6 on: 30.08. 2009 18:52 »
This gives me and idea (for my own use, at least). Having acquired a gas-driven power washer (basically, for cleaning the patio) since last my own oil tank was off the bike, I believe I am going to try an internal tank wash with washer detergent this winter. I think it will do a good job in the bottom where stuff seems to accumulate. For scale on the side walls, MikeN's "handful of washers" approach is probably still necessary. For the gas-tank treatment that I used, the manufacturer instructed using a handful or drywall screws before the treatment. I think this was because they are really hard and have a lot of edges.

Richard L.

Offline RichardL

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Re: oil tank
« Reply #7 on: 30.08. 2009 18:54 »
LJ:

You were a couple minutes before me with the pressure washer comment. That's what I get for ignoring the red warning of an interim post.  *lol*

Richard L.

Offline terryk

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Re: oil tank
« Reply #8 on: 31.08. 2009 11:56 »
Gday Olev, yes Tville is the best place in the world mate it gets muggy in the summer but I never wear a coat and it doesnt rain too often. You should have caught up let me know if your up this way again.

By the way is your oil tank rusty or caked hard with oil etc?
If its rusty, mollasses and water is the way to go for that. The mixture varies to your own preference but I think anywhere from 1 part mollasses to five parts water up to ten parts water depends how quick you want it. Use a plastic rubbish bin and throw all the bits in you want cleaned of rust no alloy etc though.
I remember Brian talking about this a while back but I cant remember his brew.
cheers Terry QLD Australia
1950-53 A10 rigid/plungers, 1958-61 A10 super rockets, 1947-50 A7 longstrokes, 1949 Star twin,
1951-54 A7 plungers, 1940s M21, WDM20s,
1948-50s B33s rigid/plunger/swingarm, 1948-50s b31s rigid/plunger/swingarm