Gas Tanks from Hell, two tanks, three problems.

[GJS]

Gas Tank #1.
My original Tank, after an accident a couple years ago, had a very large (softball sized) dent pulled from the side of the tank and it was repainted.
I cleaned and coated the inside of the tank using a kit for that purpose.
Here is the problem.
The final stage of the kit is to our in a quart of liquid rubber and swirl it around in the tank coating every thing. I did this and blew air through the vent pipe the clear it of any rubber guk. When I was done I drained the excess and stored the tank upside down to let the rubber cure.
Now my vent pipe is blocked! ( don't ask how I discovered this  )

My question is: Has any one ever opened one of the tanks and seen where/how that vent tube ends?
I need to unblock the vent tube.

I have drilled two very small holes beside the main fill spout hole (1/64") to vent the tank for last season. But, when I took my tank off a few weeks back i noticed that gas had come up through those holes and got under my new paint. Fortunately all this mess is still under the chrome and my tank bib.
However, I would like to seal those two holes and re-open my vent.
My main concern is that the tip of the vent tube might be resting in a puddle of the rubber guk.
(as the stuff cured in an upside down tank)
I need ideas on how to clear this problem.
Your help/ideas are always greatly appreciated.

Tank #2
I bought a replacement tank thinking that would be the easy way out.
Was I ever wrong. The previous owner replaced his gas cap with two too long small bolts.
He drove the bottoms out of the holes thereby created a much larger version my earlier problem.
The finish on that tank is also peeling away now.
As well, the previous owner ( for reasons unknown) ground down the top of the fill spout and now the gas cap does not seal properly. ( I suspect he did this to hide the rust problem)

I have two questions:
Any ideas on how to seal the two screw holes that now penetrate into the tank. I still need to use them afterward?
How would I go about building back up the spout so it seals again?
Here are pictures of the second tank (I used these with PayPal to get a partial refund).
http://s892.photobucket.com/albums/ac130/gschentag/Valkyrie%20Tank/?albumview=slideshow&track=share_email_album_view_click

Best regards,

Glenn

[hubcapsc]

My question is: Has any one ever opened one of the tanks and seen where/how that vent tube ends?
I need to unblock the vent tube.

Dang... I tried to imagine what that vent system must look like on the inside last time I
tried to get all the gas out of the tank... I'm sure someone must have coated the inside
of a Valkyrie tank before, hopefully they'll have the answer...

I wonder what would happen if you tried to jamb the biggest piece of string-trimmer
string that will fit in the vent-output tube up in there... maybe it would snake all the
way to the obstruction and be stiff enough to poke it out...

-Mike

[John U.]

I've coated a tank with an epoxy sealer and managed not to block the vent tube but I can't say that experience is any help. The way to avoid plugging the vent tube is with large pipe cleaners (like craft people use) inserted and then removed when the epoxy begins to firm up. Insert some clean pipe cleaners to be sure any excess sealer is removed.

The vent is a steel tube that runs up the under side of the top surface of the tank until it reaches the area around the filler neck where there should be air space.
How to remove hardened sealer is a tough one. You can assume the material is pretty tough and solvent resistant. Further, it's impossible to say how far it filled the tube. I doubt that compressed air would move it unless it just formed a thin membrane at the end of the tube; possible but unlikely.
A small drll bit on a flexible shaft might do it. Maybe Dremel makes something that will work.

I have a thought on how to repair the hole made in the second tank by "too long screws". The proper screws coated with antisieze  (including the ends of the screws) can be screwd in. Before you coat them, be  sure they don't extend past the holes on the inside. Ideally they should be a little short. You will then need to mix some epoxy (I think the liquid variety will work best) and apply with your finger on the inside with the tank inverted. Once the epoxy hardens fully the screws can be removed and the epoxy should have formed a plug over the holes. Don't use excessive antiseize or the epoxy won't have clean metal to get a grip on.
Good luck, let us know how it works out.

[YoungPUP]

I'd say that the vent tube should be of a solid enough design that trying to pressurize it with compressed air should blow out the goo before the tube fails....

[BonS]

Attach a length of wire cable attached to a drill and "drill" out the end of the gunked up tube from the open end. Make like a plumber. 

[Valkpilot]

Gas Tank #1.
My original Tank, after an accident a couple years ago, had a very large (softball sized) dent pulled from the side of the tank and it was repainted.
I cleaned and coated the inside of the tank using a kit for that purpose.
Here is the problem.
The final stage of the kit is to our in a quart of liquid rubber and swirl it around in the tank coating every thing. I did this and blew air through the vent pipe the clear it of any rubber guk. When I was done I drained the excess and stored the tank upside down to let the rubber cure.
Now my vent pipe is blocked! ( don't ask how I discovered this  )

My question is: Has any one ever opened one of the tanks and seen where/how that vent tube ends?
I need to unblock the vent tube.

I have drilled two very small holes beside the main fill spout hole (1/64") to vent the tank for last season. But, when I took my tank off a few weeks back i noticed that gas had come up through those holes and got under my new paint. Fortunately all this mess is still under the chrome and my tank bib.
However, I would like to seal those two holes and re-open my vent.
My main concern is that the tip of the vent tube might be resting in a puddle of the rubber guk.
(as the stuff cured in an upside down tank)
I need ideas on how to clear this problem.
Your help/ideas are always greatly appreciated.

Tank #2
I bought a replacement tank thinking that would be the easy way out.
Was I ever wrong. The previous owner replaced his gas cap with two too long small bolts.
He drove the bottoms out of the holes thereby created a much larger version my earlier problem.
The finish on that tank is also peeling away now.
As well, the previous owner ( for reasons unknown) ground down the top of the fill spout and now the gas cap does not seal properly. ( I suspect he did this to hide the rust problem)

I have two questions:
Any ideas on how to seal the two screw holes that now penetrate into the tank. I still need to use them afterward?
How would I go about building back up the spout so it seals again?
Here are pictures of the second tank (I used these with PayPal to get a partial refund).
http://s892.photobucket.com/albums/ac130/gschentag/Valkyrie%20Tank/?albumview=slideshow&track=share_email_album_view_click

Best regards,

Glenn

In this thread http://forums.delphiforums.com/strictlyace750/messages?msg=2406.1 there's a cutaway photo of a ACE 750 tank, which has a center fill hole as does the Valk.  I suspect the vent tube configuration is similar if not the same.

[larswlvs]

Try taking some .060 stainless steel mig welding wire and working it up from the bottom where the vent hose goes  till it comes out the top of the vent. The wire is pretty stiff  and should be flexible enough to poke through

[teadream42]

get yourself a dremmel tool flex line. cut the end that hold the bits off and pull the flex out. use the flex core with your drill. put the square end on the drill and the other end would go into your blocked vent hole and drill. it will work great

[Ricky-D]

Maybe an old speedometer cable might work!

***

[BonS]

Attach a length of wire cable attached to a drill and "drill" out the end of the gunked up tube from the open end. Make like a plumber. 

To be clear, wire cable, aka aircraft cable or wire rope, can be found at any hardware store for ~$1/foot. Many diameters are available.

[sutterhome]

You might try a wire or flex cable as some have suggested.but my thought would be to try and heat the end of the wire or whatever you use, as epoxy will soften up with heat. on old wiper blades they use to or still do had some stainless strips along both sides of the blade.not very wide and flexible. Not sure of how big a tube bore you got to work with.

[BonS]

Personally I don't think I'd use a hot wire as this gas tank has had gas in it and will likely have gas fumes in it when empty. I'd hate to see a job-gone-wrong get worse. As to plugging the extra holes near the filler have you thought about using a gas-proof epoxy putty such as this?

[GJS]

This is great information and I really appreciate the suggestions.

I am heading out of town for a bit of work. I'll get some cable I can spin and try that first on #1.

I'll check in as soon as I have something. I like the expoxy in the holes idea, if I can get to them from the backside. Same stuff should work nicely on the two really small holes as well.

Cheers,

Glenn

[John U.]

One caution on the wire/speedometer cable idea. Be sure to have the wire spinning in the direction of the wire twist (to make the twist remain twisted or get even tighter). If you spin it counter to the twist direction the wire will tend to untwist and could get stuck in the vent bore.

[Michvalk]

Fill the tank with water while you work on it. SPARKS BROTHER!!! SPARKS!!!

[Full_Throttle]

I did this very same thing a few years ago on a Shadow spirit 750.  Turns out that Acetone with flat out eat away that tank sealant stuff pretty quickly.  I flipped my tank over, filled the vent tube up with acetone, and let it sit for 10 minutes or so and whoosh, it cleaned it right out. 

[GJS]

I finally got back into my shop to work on my gas tank issue.

I tried the spinning cable up through the plugged vent hole. I was able to get the cable flopping around in the tank, but still a plugged vent line.

So I reviewed the pictures from earlier in the post


As you can see there is a canister that the vent tube ends in.

So I then tried Full_Throttle's idea of pouring Acetone down the tube vent.
After lots of futzing about , IT WORKED!!!!  My vent opened up and I have salvaged the tank.

Thanks so much Full_Throttle!

Now on to the rest of the list.
Put in the new alternator.
Clean the carbs
desmog the engine
Set the valves
Sync the carbs
Install a new Sieble horn
Pull apart and service the rear end.
Polish the wheels ........

Best regards,

Glenn

[gordonv]

Didn't you forget something in your list Glenn? You didn't list the most important item of all, the last one, a ride.

[GJS]

Nooooooo. I didn't.

All this work is in preparation for a 5 week ride that lands me at MarkT's ranch for an exhaust makeover. I'm getting me this one here. (with options....)



Then, on to InZane for a week and back again.

So, no, I did not forget the ride.
It's all about the ride. (and my long list of crap to do before then)   

Cheers,

Glenn

[Brian]

Gas Tank #1.
My original Tank, after an accident a couple years ago, had a very large (softball sized) dent pulled from the side of the tank and it was repainted.
I cleaned and coated the inside of the tank using a kit for that purpose.
Here is the problem.
The final stage of the kit is to our in a quart of liquid rubber and swirl it around in the tank coating every thing. I did this and blew air through the vent pipe the clear it of any rubber guk. When I was done I drained the excess and stored the tank upside down to let the rubber cure.
Now my vent pipe is blocked! ( don't ask how I discovered this  )

My question is: Has any one ever opened one of the tanks and seen where/how that vent tube ends?
I need to unblock the vent tube.

I have drilled two very small holes beside the main fill spout hole (1/64") to vent the tank for last season. But, when I took my tank off a few weeks back i noticed that gas had come up through those holes and got under my new paint. Fortunately all this mess is still under the chrome and my tank bib.
However, I would like to seal those two holes and re-open my vent.
My main concern is that the tip of the vent tube might be resting in a puddle of the rubber guk.
(as the stuff cured in an upside down tank)
I need ideas on how to clear this problem.
Your help/ideas are always greatly appreciated.

Tank #2
I bought a replacement tank thinking that would be the easy way out.
Was I ever wrong. The previous owner replaced his gas cap with two too long small bolts.
He drove the bottoms out of the holes thereby created a much larger version my earlier problem.
The finish on that tank is also peeling away now.
As well, the previous owner ( for reasons unknown) ground down the top of the fill spout and now the gas cap does not seal properly. ( I suspect he did this to hide the rust problem)

I have two questions:
Any ideas on how to seal the two screw holes that now penetrate into the tank. I still need to use them afterward?
How would I go about building back up the spout so it seals again?
Here are pictures of the second tank (I used these with PayPal to get a partial refund).
http://s892.photobucket.com/albums/ac130/gschentag/Valkyrie%20Tank/?albumview=slideshow&track=share_email_album_view_click

Best regards,

Glenn

I have a spare tank that you might be interested in. It needs some body work and paint and as far as I know the inside is clean. Seriously if you interested.