Yes, do it all th' time. After rebuilding motors I run them to ensure all's well before bolting them in their frames. Pull th' crappy tank and use a spare gas can hung high enough for gravity feed. You can then fix/replace th' crappy tank at your convenience.
Might not be pretty, but it works and th' boss will be happy .
Snarl
The boss is splitting wood this a.m.
Fortunately, all the rust in the tank was of the exfoliate variety, with no pits deep enough to penetrate the steel.
A six-hour soak in phosphoric acid cleaned most of it to bare metal, and the remaining tight rust converted and stuck well enough that a secondary pebble-shake didn't dislodge more than about a half-gram of it.
A dribble of oil in the first tankful of gas will, I hope, "condition" the surface against further rust. I'll be a good boy and empty the system after this cycle of use is done.
LLoyd
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