Gas Tank Liner Repair

Question for Fix My HogWhat chemical can I use to help dissolve/remove the tank liner in my Harley-Davidson manufactured gas tank? I tried soaking in Acetone for 24 hours (as Kreem recommends), then shaking for 4 hours with gravel and hex nuts and barely anything has come off.

Roger K

Fix My Hog AnswersHi Roger,

I have tried and tried again with no luck. I finally found a local radiator shop that pressure boils out whatever is loose, and then re-lines it with the red radiator sealant. This works perfectly every time and resolves the gray tank liner issue. The other option is to buy a replacement tank and wish for the best. The shop is Durable Radiator on Thomaston Ave. Waterbury, CT – Dave George is the owner. Wrench Safe, FMH

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6 Responses to “Gas Tank Liner Repair”

  1. Harold W. Goodman

    I purchased an 1980 Ironhead Sportster. Not knowing that the rear area of the transmission had be reweld, transmission blew out I guess. But who ever did the repair forgot to reinstall the Main Shaft needle bearings. Now don’t go saying that is impossible, it is and my engine is poof of it. The area where on the Mainshaft needle bearings ride on has a 1/8 grove around it. The bearing race is oblong, the retaining snap ring gone, the seal retainer worn oblong, there was only one screw holding it in place. I had just replaced the front rear chain sprocket and noticed the seal and retainer had the same oblong wear and only one screw, but I assume it was due to the screws being missing and did not look down the mainshaft, the was some play I noticed in the shaft also, but thought that was due to the age of the engine, 30 years old. I had talked the engine out because the rear motor mount had cracked and broke straight across the center of the “L” area. I thought that was because where the weld was it had been dressed down for the mount to fit against the rear part of the engine. Can the bearing race be replaced? I read in the HD Service manual it has to be heated up in order to do that. Heating the case up, will that weaken the weld rear. I have to replace the Mainshaft and the first two outside gears also. I also thought was odd was the lower aft transmission mount bolt not installed. The thread area was worn away and they never are installed one. I really want to keep the casing to keep the matching numbers. It is a very early 1980 model with a 1979 engine that had 1980 VIN stamped on it. I was able to install a kickstarter because the engine casing was set up for one, like a 1979 Engine. I rode a 79 for almost twenty years.

  2. Jon VanHoutan

    I've never tried it but would CLR possible remove the rust from a gas tank?

  3. don r blair

    estimate cost

  4. dave tuttle

    The best and cheep tank liner stripper is vinager....works every time...tried all the crap that you can buy and vinager worked the best ,save your money !

  5. Robert

    Is there a way to remove the rust and inner liner of tank without harming the paint on the gas tank ??

  6. Douglas

    How do you remove the fuel level Sensor from gas tank