got a tank off of a 748, some guy had it on a track bike, tank has fiber glass on it conceling a pretty bad handle bar mark.


i want to weld pins to it and pull the bar dent out or cut the tank in half and beat it to shape.

how can i prep the tank so it is safe to weld on? it held gas 2 months ago according to the guy with the bike.


i took the gas cap off, removed the fuel pump, and wire wheeled and sanded it back to most of the orinal paint/primer. took most of the fiberglass off.

i want to try to use mig, since my tig skills are pretty off par. all the holes ill burn in it will be for weight reduction?

 

Soak it with water and detergent overnight. That should clean it up and make it safe to weld.

Adrian

 

put some dish soap in it, dont need much and let hot water run in the tank and over the top for 10 minutes(I put a garden hose inside the filler and just turn it on), that is more then enough to keep you safe. I have done many tanks like this that are much bigger then a bikes tank.

 

You can fill it with water and weld it with it full if I'm not mistaken. So there are no fumes.

I had a friend tell me once he worked welding on larger fuel tanks on a ship and they welded on them full of fuel. Had to be below the fuel line otherwise the fumes would ignite.

If I'm wrong someone chime in.

 

Take some of your gas feed and run a small hose into the tank, it will displace the fumes and oxygen so that it cant ignite.

 

I don't know about welding it full of fuel.. however...
You can fill it with water but you have to make sure the water line is below the area you're welding.. Leave the area you're welding facing up.. If there is any water just behind the spot you're welding it will cause it to heat the water and steam will pop through your puddle.. causing you to swear and throw your hood