I have a large spun aluminum fuel tank and the outlet pipe broke off. This held fuel as recently as two years ago. What should I clean it out with to ensure it doesn't explode when we go to tig a new outlet on? Any experience?
Clean with a good water based solvent and water... soap and water... Clean until it hardly smells like gas, and weld. Make sure all caps and fittings are opened.
Previous experience on multiple tanks, both used more often then yours. flush with water repeatedly, let the house sit and run water through it, air dry, bingo. no problems.
i had to cut open a gas tank a while back, i had put like 5 gal.'s of gas in it and it leaked like crazy, caught most of the gas in a bucket, pulled the tank and stuck the vacuum exhaust in it for an hour of so, then i tied a rag onto a long stick and lit it, stood behind a log and held the burning rag up to the spout, no fire, so then i cut the bottom out with tin snips.
X2 Filling the tank with the inert gas will do two things. 1. displace the oxygen so that no explosion/fire from the gas can happen and 2. it will provide an enviroment for the back side of weld to be protectected should you decide to go for 100% plus weld penetration. also works great for any type of tubing
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