Good bilge cleaner

pilgrim32 · Post by **pilgrim32** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 7:34 pm

Ahoy Gang The wheels of progress are turning and I recently removed my gas tank to access the bilge for repair of the strut backing block. Can anyone recommend a good bilge cleaner. Some dirt but mostly oily ground in dirt. Thanks for any help Brian

jordan · Post by **jordan** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 7:56 pm

Can't remember the name of the bilge cleaner, but it was a nontoxic cleaner that I soaked my bilge with and than used a pressure washer to get all the stubborn crude. It came out really nice and clean. I put a 5 gallon bucket under the drain hole filled with oil absorbent sheets to filter the bilge water. I drilled 5 or 6 half inch holes low on the bucket to drain the filtered water. It all worked better than I had hope for.

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:07 pm

If you want it real clean fastest stuff I've found is a toilet clean called The Works I get it at dollar stores. You can cut it with water or go full bore with it. Wear rubber gloves it will burn you ! O and make sure you get the the clear stuff.

wowzer52 · Post by **wowzer52** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:18 pm

I used Dawn dish soap and it came out as clean as the dishes..... just kidding , but it worked great.

Mac32 · Post by **Mac32** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 9:10 pm

I use simple green to break down any oils I spill (small spots of course) . Its biodegradable and pretty safe. We actually use it to clean the inside of scuba tanks to get the oils off before we put them into service for higher oxygen or mixed gas diving.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:31 pm

simple green is good tide works also

pilgrim32 · Post by **pilgrim32** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:56 am

Thank you all for the advise on cleaners. Now I just need to find a local lumber yard that sells small pieces of marine plywood. I'll post some pictures of the tank removed and the tank cradle it sits in. The original tank strap's had trangular threaded bolts that the straps where crimped too. I'll have to call Bob At Beacon to see if anything like them are still available. Yup hope to have the motor and tranny out in a few weeks already got the backhoe specialist all line up and he's ready when I am. Thanks again everyone.

randyp · Post by **randyp** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:55 pm

Is the tank the orginal galvanized tank? If so, you may want to consider replacing it with poly to avoid inside rust from condensation, etc. I replaced the galv tank on our 77 F-26 due to this problem. Kept on gunking up the fuel line and carb. Put in a 50 gal poly (stock) tank in 2000. I'm sure you can get a larger one to replace the original 75 gal tank. I'm fine with the smaller one since we're on a lake.

pilgrim32 · Post by **pilgrim32** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:26 pm

Thanks for the advise on the poly tank RandyP. Yup the tank is the original hot dipped galvi and I WON'T be reusing it. Yup poly or custom made Aluminium (spelling) but that's a little ways down the rode. Yup all new gas line,vent and fill along with a new tank I think my fuel line clogging will be reduced big time. Thanks for the response. Brian

MTP · Post by **MTP** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:22 pm

pilgrim32 wrote:Thanks for the advise on the poly tank RandyP. Yup the tank is the original hot dipped galvi and I WON'T be reusing it. Yup poly or custom made Aluminium (spelling) but that's a little ways down the rode. Yup all new gas line,vent and fill along with a new tank I think my fuel line clogging will be reduced big time. Thanks for the response. Brian

I have heard of issues with the use of poly tanks and ethanol additive fuel...

pilgrim32 · Post by **pilgrim32** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:01 pm

Yes MTP I have heard the same thing about some poly tanks. I myself like the aluminum(spelling) tank option just because I'm in the firefighting business and I think I have a little more time to fight or flee with an Aluminium(spelling) tank sorry spell check knot working or i'm just lazy? Yup poly melts rather quicky but then again any fuel fire onboard is not a good thing. Still gathering prices on fuel tanks but that's after motor and tranny rehab or rebuild plus a dozen other items that need attention. So I guess you could say I'm stemming the tide on the fuel tank issue. I've look at some catalog's not many 75 gallon poly tank's offered but thats ok. Time will tell. Thanks for the advise Brian