Gas Tanks
Figerglass Gas Tanks
Editor - 06/26
A problems that showed up a few years ago is repo fiberglass tanks that look like the steel ones, seemed like a promising solution. Not sure how many were sold, but when the petro industry switched to ethnol doped gas and other additives, the gas desolved the coating and the fibergalss that then went into the engine. If you were lucky it only messed up the carb but some complete engines were runied. If you run accross a fibergalss reproduction don't use it, better yet destroy it.
Cleaning a Tank
Jim_Bollman - 11/10/00
A friend cleaned out a Crosley gas tank by putting few
hand fulls of crushed stone in the tank and tied it in a cement
fixer. He then ran the mixer till the stones and beat all the rust
out. Then after rinsing well, I think he used a coating compound
inside. Jim...
chuckhk1941 - 11/10/00
I take my tanks (IF solid) to the sandblaster--he clamps
a rubber hose on the end-inserts in tank-hose flops around &
cleans inside--he blasts outside also. Super Job
vc30323 - 11/12/00
The problem with cleaning a gas tank by sandblasting or
rolling gravel around inside is getting all the crud out
afterwards. Sand in the gas tank is a definite no-no. I think
you're safer having the tank boiled out at a radiator shop. I
believe Eastwood sells a 1-part coating for the inside of the
tank.
Jim_Bollman - 11/12/00
I agree getting all the dirt out after sandblasting or
rolling gravel is tough but after you get it as clean as you can,
putting in the tank coating stuff will embed all that remains in
the rubber coating so it shouldn't be a problem.
speedoo51 - 11/12/00
Word of caution: My experience when I tried to some coatings in
large volume tanks it would harden before
coating the entire tank and it is so
thick you can't slosh it around. Ended up thinning 1 to 1 with
keytone and was tolerable. If had to do again I would thin 2:1 or
more. Had some stuff [I think from Hirch] 30 years ago
that was the consistency of milk, worked great! Don't know if
present day Hirch is as good.
tugalug2000 - 11/13/00
Just a note to say if you get a tank that is to bad some
radiator shops has a sealer that coats the inside and outside of
the tank, the inside is a red color the outside black looks good
lifetime warranty.
crosley52 - 2/23/02
I have cleaned tanks before with pea sized stones from
garden shop about 5 lbs. add some Ajax cleanser and water and
shake for a long time replacing water and cleanser occasionally,
shake all out and rinse with water till clean, I use a hair dryer
to dry out and then make covers for all holes and dump in a quart
of tank liner seal it up and turn all over to coat all of inside,
open and pour out excess back in can,tomorrow pour tank liner back
in and recoat again and drain,when dry you have a tank that will
last as long as you live and never rust again. I get tank liner
from Little Dearborn Ford Parts.
DaleF62 - 23 Feb 2002
Most common thing that plugs a gas tank is ....RUST! The
only way to fix is to remove the tank and have it cleaned or clean
yourself. Then replace tank and put a inline filter on and change
regularly for awhile. There are many postings on gas tank
cleaning. Dalef62
mrcooby - 23 Feb 2002
Here's a similar story. In 1985 I was invited to ride in
the Wadsworth, Illinois parade aboard the Newport Township FD
Crosley. There is a steep hill upward off the main street and the
Crosley climbed it, and then died. The crew couldn't restart it.
They then prepared to attach a chain to tow it through the parade.
But how would that look? Thinking about that steep hill, I had a
hunch that the tank outlet had plugged with silt while the Crosley
climbed it. I told my hunch to the crew. Quickly they disconnected
the fuel line at the pump and blew through ... hard! Reconnecting,
we primed the carburetor, and it fired. The Crosley rolled proudly
under its own power that beautiful September day. With me aboard.
'47 CC Gas Tank Location
cosmicray48236 - 11/27/01
I purchased a gas tank and am now trying to install it. As shipped to me, it will hit
the filler plug on the differential housing. Has anyone had this
problem and if so, how did you fix it?
cosmicray48236 - 11/28/01
Apparently someone along the way relocated the gas tank
in this car so I don't know exactly where it belongs. Can anyone
tell me the distance between the cross member and the tank. With
that info I will be able to make new brackets and put it where it
belongs.
hitekwarehouse - 11/29/01
I have a 48 cc Convertible I am restoring, right now the
cross member is not in, however from the lip that holds the stone
shield to the rear of the tank mount bracket is 16 1/2". The
bracket is the one that you slide square head bolts in, and it is
10 3/4" long. I just mounted the tank, and the differential left
side is the closest to the tank, less than one inch. The filler
plug sets a bit lower than the tank.
Gas Tank Sealer
Jim Bollman Apr 21, 2002 7:32:00 PM
It looks like a
product you can get at a motorcycles shop should work.
Gas Tank Fills Slow and Blows Back and the Gas Gauge Bounces
Tank Fills Slow
Crosley gas tanks not filling at a reasonable rate, with out the gas
gushing back out was reported by several members and we certainly don't
want to waste any gas these days. There was a long discussion
with as many having the problem as offering solutions. Here are a
few of the solutions that were offered. I edited the material to
save space and minimizing the repeat information.
Garyellis1056
Blown air through vent pipe to be sure it is not clogged. Remove
the tank and add gas-line to the vent pipe to raise the end closer to
the top of the tank. Check for small crack in the vent pipe where
the vent pipe is fixed to the filler tube.
Chuckhk -
Check if vent tube is bent down in the tank, should be bent
towards the top of the tank. Most vents get bent when the neck is
removed, or straighten so they go in easier. Make sure the vent tube
isn't bent part way shut.
JimBollman -
If you got a hole or a split in the part of the vent tube
going down the filler pipe. This could have been from it being
stressed from bumping the part that sticks out in the tank when
installing. The air coming up the vent would suck some gas in to
the vent as it went by during filling. This could explain why
extending the vent didn't help. Try plugging one end and blowing threw
the vent to see if it is air tight?
Ealimke -
Replace the vent tub. Mine had a small hole on the under side and it would fill up with gas and then it does not vent.
Garyellis1056 -
I recently had the same experience. I worked the problem
for a year and removed the gas tank three times. The problem probably
is the vent tube inside the filler tube. The vent tube is brazed
to the base of the filler tube where it exits and where the piece of
hose connects it to the gas tank . The vent then continues on
into the gas tank slopping upward. In my case, the vent tube was
cracked where is was brazed at the end of the filler tube, (it had been
brazed before. Must be a weak point) which allowed gas to enter
the vent. I removed the filler tube, dropped the tank and had a
machine shop close the crack and re-braze the vent, I carefully
reinserted the vent into the tank. It corrected the problem.
A50CrosleyTrk -
My Dad run the vent tube from the top of the tank, outside of
the filler tube, though the frame, back to the filler tube inside
the wagon, and kept it as high with no swags as possible. A
dip in the pipe could collect gasoline and cause the air block.
IsettaJoe -
I may have to drop the tank. How much of a job is it? Any
"surprises" to be aware of? When the vent tube goes into the tank, I
assume it needs to be above the gas line. As long as it looks like I am
going to need to drop the tank on my 52 wagon, does anyone have advice
on what to look for that is causing my gas gauge to bounce wildly all
the time from 1/4 to 3/4 full?
Berard -
You will need to get the vent to the very highest point possible.
Once the fuel reaches this point and covers the inside end of the vent
you have lost all venting. On my 51 SS I have removed the tank in
December and it's a piece of cake providing you have no rust to deal
with. On mine it involves 4 nuts and the pipe to the front of the car,
lower it enough to get to disconnect the fuel gage sender wires, and
the filler pipe follows the whole mess out.
Ealimke -
I had the same gas gauge problem, I dropped the tank and looked
inside and the baffle had broken loose and let the gas slouch back and
forth.
Plugged Gas Tank Pickup Tube
super52sport – 6/16/05
After sitting in storage for 27 years with some gas in the tank
the pickup tube in the gas tank on my '52 Supersport is plugged up.
I've tried blowing trough it and pushing a wire through it. I can't
find a wire that is strong enough to push through the blockage but
flexible enough to go around the corner. I'm sure I'm not the first one
to have this problem. Anyone have a solution? The tank is out of the
car.
If noone has a better idea I'm going to try to make a "snake" out of a piece of speedometer cable turned by an electric drill.
BTW, it started right up after I filed the points and poured a
little gas in the carb. I had to disconnect the water pump becasue it
won't turn.
chuckhk – 6/16/05
Yep speedometer cable.
hotshotcrosley – 6/17/05
Had the same problem on a Hot Shot and used a cutoff speedo cable on a drill and it fixed the problem.
super52sport – 6/17/05
Thanks. It worked. It wasn't easy and I had to flatten out the end to make it cut.