Intruders-Alert

Use vinegar.
It does the job..it is cheap and it will not screw up your paint or kill the dog.

I filled mine about 1/3 FULL because the bottom is the worst.
Then I added 1/3 lb of BBs but nuts and bolts work too to break up the big deposits.
I let is sit for a day or so shaking it every 5 or 6 hours.

Then I dumped it out but saved the vinegar because you can use it as weed killer.

I then washed it out with clean water and let it dry.
This may be enough depending on how bad the rust is.

Mine was bad so I filled the tank with new vinager and let is sit another day or two.

Then dump rinse and let dry.
It looks good as new.

Just used this method with more vinegar and no BB's to clean up my step dad's tank. Seemed to work really well for me as well. Used distilled water to rinse out the vinegar. There was a surprising amount of crap that came out.

I use the vinegar but instead of bolts I get a few feet of that real light cheap twisted wire chain and throw it in there. It's less than a buck a foot at the hardware store and really works good.

The recommendation is to use distilled white vinegar rather than plain vinegar. It is a more purified form of vinegar in addition to being somewhat stronger and therefore more effective.

I'd say I agree with a length of chain...when you are done, grab the chain and the tank is empty.
With bolts and bb's you have to fish each and every one out. JMO.

No fishing.
You just pour them out with the vinegar and rinse.

PrinceMo wrote:No fishing. You just pour them out with the vinegar and rinse.

You cannot easily get them all out by pouring because on the 1400 tank there is a Ullage Tube at the Gas Cap.

Using a small chain works the best...one with sharp edges on each link is preferred,....like the Replacement Sash Balance Chain used for Sash Weights for older Double-hung Windows.