Removing the Gas Tank

[leonardhcross]

Many of these vintage GL1000 project bikes have significant rusting inside of the gas tanks. This requires removing the gas tank for cleaning. Getting the tank out can be challenging. This video shows how I extracted the tank on my 77 project bike.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoG7vaI0ISg

[redglbx]

Good job Len, thanks ! Only thing I would add is to be careful with the PB-Blaster and similar around the brake fluid rubber, it will ruin the brake fluid rubbers, otherwise, good job !

[leonardhcross]

Thanks for the tip. I had not heard that about PB Blaster.

[redglbx]

Len, PB-Blaster and a lot of those types of lubes are all a mineral based oil which is very bad for brake fluid parts, it will cause any rubber parts to greatly swell and disintegrate. Brake fluid is classified as a “vegetable” based oil which is typically considered safe to drink (I wouldn’t on a bet) .

Cleaning b-fluid stuff should be done only using a brake cleaner or clean brake fluid. Even 1 small drop of anything mineral based will ruin anything brake fluid related.

[Gowing]

Excellent utube. Well done. Thank you

[leonardhcross]

Len, PB-Blaster and a lot of those types of lubes are all a mineral based oil which is very bad for brake fluid parts, it will cause any rubber parts to greatly swell and disintegrate. Brake fluid is classified as a “vegetable” based oil which is typically considered safe to drink (I wouldn’t on a bet) .

Cleaning b-fluid stuff should be done only using a brake cleaner or clean brake fluid. Even 1 small drop of anything mineral based will ruin anything brake fluid related.

This “PB Blaster” topic perhaps would be a helpful new thread. The question I have is….brake master cylinders and calipers are often badly corroded and seized. I have always begun the tear-down process by soaking all components with PB Blaster. So….am I making things worse? What other solvent could I use to free up seized brake parts?

[Lucien Harpress]

Freeing parts using PB Blaster should be fine, with the expectation that all the rubber seals get replaced afterwards. Usually calipers that are that far gone need all the rubber bits refreshed anyway, so it works out.

[redglbx]

Len, Lucien is correct in his views above, the only thing I would add is that the parts that make contact with the seals be thoroughly cleaned with alcohol and/or brake cleaner prior to the new seal contact. My .02