KT3survivor
Active member
Like many Kristi's still alive out there, mine has spent a large portion of its life sitting still and because of this, the fuel tank has suffered. Here are some of my discoveries that could possibly help someone else out someday. But I will tell you, dont trust the work of the previous owner or it will bite you in the ass.
when I took ownership the engine started and ran, seemed to be in decent running order. then I let the machine sit for another 7-8 years. when I finnally got around to working on it It had a siezed up cylinder and a couple bent pushrods.
it also had a very clogged oil strainer,
indicating that the last time it ran it was sucking dirt and rust thru the sump.
so I cleaned, measured and rebuilt. during this time i was told by one of the two previous owners that the other owner/operator removed and flushed the tank. one less thing to do I thought . . . . I'll just flush it out with fresh gas. . .
then I broke in my rebuilt engine. all was well untill i tried to start it (cold) for the second time, resulting in a couple more bent push rods. one intake valve was completely stuck closed and another was stiff. pulled the engine back apart and found this on the stuck valve
hard to see but imagine using molasses instead of assembly lube and you will get the idea. solvent was useless against it. had to use acetone but once clean, the clearance measured good.
everything pointed to the old smelly tank so i removed it and found this
here is the last bit of fuel after settling
so i have spent the last couple days sloshing acetone and a chain around inside the old tank. still getting this red gunk out after 4 rounds.
what do you guys think of this crap? is it a failed tank liner kit by a previous owner? did kristi coat the insides somehow?? anyway, my por-15 kit literally just showed up at my doorstep but i think i need a few more rounds of acetone. . . what do you guys think?
so the red shit looked like dried paint before i used acetone on it. but the grey seemed like alot of fine sediment and sand that was very similar to what was inside the siezed cylinder and oil strainer. starting to think the two are related.
any comments on my forensic analysis??
when I took ownership the engine started and ran, seemed to be in decent running order. then I let the machine sit for another 7-8 years. when I finnally got around to working on it It had a siezed up cylinder and a couple bent pushrods.
it also had a very clogged oil strainer,
indicating that the last time it ran it was sucking dirt and rust thru the sump.
so I cleaned, measured and rebuilt. during this time i was told by one of the two previous owners that the other owner/operator removed and flushed the tank. one less thing to do I thought . . . . I'll just flush it out with fresh gas. . .
then I broke in my rebuilt engine. all was well untill i tried to start it (cold) for the second time, resulting in a couple more bent push rods. one intake valve was completely stuck closed and another was stiff. pulled the engine back apart and found this on the stuck valve
hard to see but imagine using molasses instead of assembly lube and you will get the idea. solvent was useless against it. had to use acetone but once clean, the clearance measured good.
everything pointed to the old smelly tank so i removed it and found this
here is the last bit of fuel after settling
so i have spent the last couple days sloshing acetone and a chain around inside the old tank. still getting this red gunk out after 4 rounds.
what do you guys think of this crap? is it a failed tank liner kit by a previous owner? did kristi coat the insides somehow?? anyway, my por-15 kit literally just showed up at my doorstep but i think i need a few more rounds of acetone. . . what do you guys think?
so the red shit looked like dried paint before i used acetone on it. but the grey seemed like alot of fine sediment and sand that was very similar to what was inside the siezed cylinder and oil strainer. starting to think the two are related.
any comments on my forensic analysis??