Saving Old Seagulls

Hi fellow seagull owners! I'm new to this group. I just purchased I 1974 seagull. It hasn't run in quite some time but everything looks in tact and in good condition. I smell old gas in the gas tank and was wondering if I should clean the tank and carb before I try to start it with fresh fuel. If so, what do you recommend using to clean the tank and carb and is there an easy method to doing so? Thanks, I appreciate any and all information I can recieve.

A can of carb cleaner is the best for carburetor. Tank is usually shaken about with a bunch of nuts/chain/sharp stone etc. I broke a terracotta tile in pieces.
Remove tap with filter first. You can soak it with acid too (iron descaler) or both. Definately clean the fuel system before starting.

Just pondering, i wonder if pouring in bulk WD40 would work?

Do I need to take the carb apart to clean it?

I would. Best to start with everything as clean as possible, imo. You'll spend more time enjoying the motor and less time swearing at it

I would drain the tank and fill it with paraffin and leave overnight. Shake it about periodically. Drain and inspect. Don't forget to clean the fuel pipe also as it could be filled with a grease like residue from two stroke fuel. For really bad tanks Hugo gives some good advice re putting a couple of handfuls of gravel or similar in and shaking about. Don't forget to remove the petrol tap first to protect the little mesh filter on the tap.

What is paraffin? And where can it be purchased?

Kerosene

Ok thanks

Other things to check before going for a start-up after a long layup --

Check there is oil in the gearbox - think yours should be 140 weight oil, which you can confirm by putting your engine serial number in the 'ID your seagull' window - for the purposes of a start up any oil will do, but put the right type in before using the motor, and check for a spark by removing the plug, earth it to the engine with a short length of wire and spin the engine over to see if there is a spark occurring. If no spark, the far greater likelihood is the the points or contact breaker have oxidised, which you can cure by removing the cord pulley and flywheel cover, locate the points without removing the flywheel, and pass some emery paper (around 320 grit) between the points a few times,(see tweezers will help) and test for a spark occasionally.

Thanks so much for all the valuable information.

And no body has asked you what Seagull you have or even an engine number!
Do you know what carb it has? and how to take it apart?

Here in Oz I use a product called CLR. It is calcium, lime and rust remover. A commercial product that does a fair sort of a job. At least a good shake for a time with some 3/4" blue metal gravel to loosen any scale deposits can be a good start too. Big bits of gravel are easier to then get out. Count how many you put in and then take out.