Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

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Les Schubert
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 27 roadster 13 touring
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Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by Les Schubert » Fri Jun 18, 2021 8:32 pm

Made a couple of access holes in the top of the tank.
About 40 mouse corpses in the tank (along with a LOT of mouse bait and grain and upholstery fuzz)
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John kuehn
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Re: Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by John kuehn » Fri Jun 18, 2021 8:38 pm

Good idea using a holesaw to cut the holes. Or did you use a knockout like a electrician uses.
Which ever it’s a neat job.


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Les Schubert
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Re: Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by Les Schubert » Fri Jun 18, 2021 8:42 pm

Used the shop vacuum for most of it and a final wash out with the garden hose!


Dallas Landers
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Re: Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by Dallas Landers » Fri Jun 18, 2021 8:43 pm

Finally, a better mouse trap!😁


CraneJon
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Re: Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by CraneJon » Sat Jun 19, 2021 12:08 am

How are you going to fill the holes you cut?


Kevin Pharis
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Re: Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by Kevin Pharis » Sat Jun 19, 2021 12:14 am

Could probably mix a mouse or two into a batch of JB Weld...?🤔

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Henry K. Lee
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Re: Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by Henry K. Lee » Sat Jun 19, 2021 6:24 am

Egyptian Mice? Or grave robbers? Any treasures?


Jerry VanOoteghem
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Re: Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Sat Jun 19, 2021 8:52 am

Dallas Landers wrote:
Fri Jun 18, 2021 8:43 pm
Finally, a better mouse trap!😁
Excellent! 8-)


TXGOAT2
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Re: Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by TXGOAT2 » Sat Jun 19, 2021 9:14 am

OK, the hard part is done, but now you face a decision: Will you replace the old mice with new ones, or break with tradition and go with something more exotic, like colorful lizards or small birds, or go full custom with something like a nesting pair of striped bandicoots? Restoring fuel tank fauna can offer an opportunity to add a custom flair to your machine, so don't be afraid to be creative!


John Codman
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Re: Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by John Codman » Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:04 pm

I too would like to know how you will fill the holes. My first choice would be an old soldering copper that you heat in an oven (a blowtorch works for this). I would not use anything with an open flame. About 10 years ago a former student of mine was working for a construction company. They decided to cut a 55-gallon drum into three sections to use for concrete footing forms. The barrel had held gasoline but had been emptied two years previously and left with the big and little plugs removed. About 1 second into the first cut with an oxyacetylene torch the barrel exploded, critically injuring the student who died in the hospital a couple of weeks later. I treat every gas tank that has been in service as if it contains gasoline vapors.

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david_dewey
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Re: Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by david_dewey » Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:46 pm

I have an American Beauty 300W soldering iron, almost too big for this job (a 150W unit would probably work). Found mine at a yard sale, just a suggestion! I would cut two circles an inch larger in diameter than your holes out of a matching thickness tin. If it's bare steel, I would use the iron and tin both sides of it, so it is "terne plated," like the tank was originally. Then I would fill the tank with water almost to the top panel with the holes in it. This is for safety's sake, just in case. Tin the tank for an inch around the holes. center the patches over the holes and using small sheet metal screws (not many) fasten the patches to the tank. Now with the soldering iron, solder the patches to the tank and solder over the screws. Use LOTS of flux so you get a good soldering job. Test for leaks, water is thicker than gas though. . . . so to test, thinking of a tank of water, stopper up all the holes in the tank and put about 5 lbs of air to it and put in tank & look for bubbles--allow about 5 minutes for them to form, if they do!
Also, while you are in there, you might want to re-do the vent tube because all those mice might have caused it to rust a bit!
Be Safe!! That tank still likely has some gas in it!!!
T'ake care,
David Dewey


Kevin Pharis
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Re: Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by Kevin Pharis » Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:59 pm

The important thing to remember about welding on old fuel tanks... is that the fuel vapors are only flammable between 1 and 99 percent concentration😉

The handful of tanks I have welded on (both old and fresh gas) have been sealed up successfully, and without injury. I have welded up cracks and installed patches using TIG welding, and would not recommend any other welding process as TIG can make porosity free welds. Of course I take precautions while prepping the tank... I always wash well with a water based cleaning agent (sloshing with tank as full as weight will allow). I also back purge the entire tank with Argon gas, or fill the tank with as much water as possible to displace the fumes/oxygen.

If you are going to weld... stay away from any previously soldered areas. The lead will wick into your welds and cause porosity, which will cause leaks or even future weld failure


Topic author
Les Schubert
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Re: Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by Les Schubert » Sat Jun 19, 2021 2:22 pm

Firstly, this tank has probably been empty for at least 50 years!! So NO trace of fuel vapours!!
I plan to solder a patch of galvanized metal to it.

On a slightly related topic, I have soldered quite a few gas tank repairs. If there is gasoline vapor present then I add a bit of gasoline and then warm the tank a bit (usually in the hot sun). I then solder usually with a torch. This method has been totally reliable. If you don’t understand the science, then please don’t use this method!


Norman Kling
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Re: Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by Norman Kling » Sat Jun 19, 2021 6:20 pm

Many years ago I fitted a 22 Dodge roadster on a Model A frame. I was looking for a place to put a gas tank, and found a Chevy tank would fit into the trunk but I had to move the filler neck. I filled the tank with water but could not get it hot enough to use an aceteline torch so I poured out the water and touched the torch to the tank and it almost blew up in my face! The tank actually jumped a few inches when that happened. So beware!
Norm


Topic author
Les Schubert
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Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2019 5:47 pm
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 27 roadster 13 touring
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Re: Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by Les Schubert » Sat Jun 19, 2021 8:14 pm

Norm
And your experience is why I use my method


bobt
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Re: Cleaned out the 27 roadster gas tank!

Post by bobt » Sun Jun 20, 2021 6:30 am

I worked at a radiator shop for ten years and we were the only ones in town that repaired gas tanks. Our method was---fill with water and dump while shaking the tank X three times. put the lit torch in the filler hole ( you might get a whoosh) then repair the tank with a patch and solder. bobt

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