Just pulled out my old 2" trash pump to put it to work for the new year. The rust in the gas tank finally got well established, compared to its previous toehold.
The pump is an inexpensive Champion 4.0 HP pump that is probably 12-15 years old. (Maybe cost $200 on sale at Tractor Supply Co.? Similar new pump is probably now around $350.)
I generally do good maintenance and winterizing on my power tools, but I am NOT a small engine repair guy.
Questions for the experts:
Should I just soak the tank in some of the rust cleaning solutions and see how it goes? Is a weak acid treatment (like 50:50 vinegar) a better rust cleaning solution?
I assume I also need to clean the carburetor. Easy enough, especially if I can find a youtoob video?
If the small fixes don't work, is it time to buy a new pump? Or could I install a new gas tank (slightly rigged if necessary)?
The pump is pretty old by years, but only has a few hundred (or fewer) hours on it.
Any advice before I start tinkering would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, FishinRod.