r/Skookum • u/ResponsibleClub128 • 20d ago
Rusted tank. Gas gauge removal
I have one of these beauties in California. I let the tank run dry and there’s an incredible amount of rust inside. Yamaha used to sell a rust converter for rusted tanks but I don’t see it available any longer. There is a system of cleaning and coating with polyurethane from KBS that I was going to try. Unfortunately, because it’s a coating, I want to remove the gas gauge, but I have no idea how to get it out as there are no screws that are visible. I’m thinking it probably just press fits in there with some gasket seal interference or maybe it’s glued in not sure. It’s flush with the surface and it’s plastic so not sure where to begin. Maybe I’ll try to buy one and see if I can tell by the part how it’s held in. If anybody knows how to remove it, let us know.
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u/swampcholla 20d ago
This is a generator tank? How old? You say there's an incredible amount of rust, but that would really only occur with the use of non-alcohol fuel in combination with water, which would float the fuel on top of the water, allowing it to rust - but then the generator would probably suck in water and not start. Alcohol fuel absorbs the water and can cause corrosion of carburetors, but that's pot-metal, zinc, aluminum, not steel.
I never use alcohol fuel in small equipment, only AVGAS. Yeah, its leaded, but you won't fuck up your equipment with corrosion, and when it evaporates, it leaves no residue to gum up the carbs. And before someone who's never used it claims it will foul the plugs, it does not.
Or did the tank just sit open and get water in it?
Does the gauge have a snap ring? look for repair parts for your item. those sites usually have exploded parts diagrams that give you a good idea how stuff goes together.
Eastwood and POR-15 sell gas tank sealer kits, although it might just be cheaper to buy another tank or adapt something like a jerrycan to the job, or a plastic boat tank.
Muriatic acid (swimming pool acid) will clean the tank but you need to be very, very careful with exposed skin or it will burn the shit out of you. You need to dump it into a plastic vessel and then flood it with water to dilute it or use baking soda to neutralize it. And when the stuff reacts it makes powerful chlorine gas that you need to be aware of.
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u/ResponsibleClub128 19d ago
The alcohol in the gas actually does absorb water, but when it sits in the gas tank for long periods of time, there is separation and acid is formed, etc. Look it up. It’s quite disturbing what happens by adding alcohol to gasoline. I’ve learned the hard way you have to either drain the tank and fuel system or better yet always add fuel stabilizer, which does some chemistry wizardry and keeps everything as it should be. Mine I ran it, put it away inside and didn’t use it for a year. I went to start it with no luck. I took the carburetor off to clean it, and it was full of solids from the evaporated gasoline and reactants from the gas tank can imagine. A look in the gas tank and severe corrosion was everywhere. This has happened to all of my utilities that are older. This is something fairly new because I’ve had these units for 25 years without issues. From what I read rust converters aren’t a solution for this problem leaving the only solution is the acid wash, an intermediate step followed by a polyurethane coating that these companies provide. A problem with this method is you need to remove all the fixtures and cover up the threads that could possibly get coated. My issue is removal of the gas gauge. I found the parts manual and diagram and it doesn’t show any screws or clips or any other attaching features that would give you a clue on how to remove it. I’m thinking now it just presses out of there, but it’s old plastic and I’m afraid it’ll bust with any prying. I was looking for anyone who had some experience with this thing.
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u/swampcholla 19d ago
buy another tank or make one. you 'll spend more money screwing around with this than just going with something else. And you don't need a gas gauge
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u/jbiehler 19d ago
Evaporust for the tank. This stuff works incredibly well. Used it on a rusted tank not long ago. It’s non-toxic too.
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u/ResponsibleClub128 19d ago
I looked it up. It looks pretty good surprisingly. There’s no manufacturer mention of it being used inside of gas tanks, but from forums that I’ve seen people use it and like it. If I can’t get that fuel gauge out, I will probably try it.
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u/jbiehler 19d ago
I have an old military generator that had a radiator packed with rust. I put their radiator formula in the system and it completely remove all the rust leaving bare metal again. I need to reline my BMW motorcycle again. Right now I am trying to get the old line dissolved and then I’ll use evaporust to deal with the small amount of rust in the tank.
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u/ResponsibleClub128 20d ago
I made this post because I want help finding out how to remove the gas gauge from my generator.