Help on steps to removing rust from tank and keeping rust out.

[Jblair11]

Hello all, I am a new memeber and already have some questions.

I recently stumbled upon a 1986 CB450 Nighthawk.  She has Rust in her tank and I was hoping someone here would help me out by sadly giving me step by step instructions on how to get the rust out and then what to do about keeping rust out.

I understand Acid works but after usiong that, should you do anything else or once it's clean just fill with gas and go?  Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated from me as well as my CB450.

[cjbear11]

http://www.altelco.net/~jacil/clay/motorcycle/KElecSetup.html

This works really well. A little time consuming, but leaves the tank spotless.

[hppants]

jblair, recently the member Graler has good sucess with this problem.  Here is his thread:

http://nighthawk-forums.com/index.php/topic,4216.0/highlight,tank.html

Good luck.

[Laminar]

Washing Soda is Sodium Carbonate (Na2-C-O3).



edit: this post was in reference to a post from Jblair that apparently got deleted.

[Jblair11]

Got it guys thanks.  Sorry I deleted my post about the Washing Soda.  I figured I could stop by my grocery Store and find it. 

Thanks though everyone.  I think I will be trying this method.  Just worried I might eat a hole through my tank.  I hear tanks are hard to come by with this model Nighthawk.

[cpayne5]

I'm all for doing things yourself, but in this case, I've got to recommend what I did. I took mine down to the local radiator shop (your's is probably more local than mine - 50 miles for me) and let them strip and coat it for me. It cost $60 and was well worth it.

[fishmeister]

That's the ticket right there!

[Jblair11]

Okay I think I will do that today.  I spent 2 hours yesterday running around looking for Washing soda.  Southern California, at least in my area it is near impossible to find any.  I even went to ACE Hardware and they couldn't order it for me.  I also spent a good 30 mins trying to get all the fuel out of the tank.  Is there any easier way that I am not seeing?.  I took the petcock off and drained it that way but it still sounds like there is gas swishing around in there. 

Replaced the Throttle control last night too.  Bought the plastic piece from Honda.  Looking at new grips soon as well.  I need to clean some surface rust off the Handle bars too.

[cjbear11]

I think you're supposed to take the fuel valve off, and all of the hardware off, drain the gas, and then run water through it for a while using a garden hose to rinse it out. Then you're supposed to let it air dry. You shouldn't have any gas in it after that. You leave all of the hardware off during the electrolosys process, and just cork the fuel valve hole.

[Jblair11]

I am taking the tank in today to a radiator shop near my house.  He wants $85 to clean it out and coat it, which to me is great.  My problem I seem to be having is getting the rest of the Gas and water out of the tank.  I rinsed and sprayed inside the tank and tried to empty the fluids out but I still hear some in there swishing around.  Any secrets on how to get the fluid out short of having to buy a Wet/Dry vac to suck out the fluid?

[muttstang]

I just bought the POR-15 kit and will be treating my tank sometime soon.  I need to grab a cork for the petcock hole.  I'll report my results.  I picked up the kit for $41+tax at a local car parts store

[Jblair11]

Okay, I did something really stupid and need some help if possible.  I used a fine grit sandpaper on a small portion of my handlebars trying to remove rust and instead I scratched the bars up.  Any ideas on removing the sandpaper scuff marks on the handlebars?  I used a 320 grit paper.  Damn it.

[skramer360]

Okay, I did something really stupid and need some help if possible.  I used a fine grit sandpaper on a small portion of my handlebars trying to remove rust and instead I scratched the bars up.  Any ideas on removing the sandpaper scuff marks on the handlebars?  I used a 320 grit paper.  Damn it.

finer sandpaper. 400, 600, 1200, 2000 grit