Motorcycle Repair: rust in fuel tank, honda 70, tank cleaner

Question
I have a 1983 Honda 70 3-wheeler that I am beginning to restore.  However, it has been sitting outside for nearly 12 years and the gas tank has accumulated rust internally.  Can this be chemically removed?  Other suggstions?

Thank you,

pSheaffer

Answer
Patrick, you may find holes in the tank after you start cleaning it, after it has been sitting for such a long time.

There are tank cleaning products like KREEM, Yamaha Fuel tank cleaner, POR15 and you can even use metal prep (phosphoric acid) to neutralize the rust. Once the rust is all gone, check the tank for pinholes and then coat it with a preservative, which comes in most of the kits mentioned above. Once the metal is free from rust, it will begin rusting immediately, if you don't follow up with some kind of coating on it.

Bill Silver