[rebel-builders] Building a leak free fuel tank.. Rebel, Elite, SR,
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 11:37 pm
Thanks Mike... just makes me wonder sometimes when folks ask for direction
on specifics, and when you decide to provide some they disappear. It's like
they don't wanna know what's involved to do it right.
From yesterday... remember it takes longer than you think. 5 hours just to
seal / rivet the 2 spar fillers and 4 stringer fillers in place on both
tanks on their outboard tank ribs.
Total PRC used 240 grams... mixed in three batches of 80 PRC + 8 catalyst
For those that haven't spread this wonderful stuff they call PRC, Proseal,
etc, yet.... the only thing I can suggest to get the method down right is to
help your wife icing a cake first!
And never lose sight of the fact you need to be absolutely sure you haven't
trapped air pockets, as I suspect this is a large part of leak issues. Very
easy to do.. caught myself at least 3 times yesterday with such things.
When filling the stringer curl... small amounts of sealer at a time...
scrape the popsicle stick (coated in sealer) on the edge of the curl and
make it work / pack it's way in to fill the curl. Repeat a few times to be
sure it's forced in there good and tight to seal it up. Now coat the rest of
the stringer surface that's just inside the tank. (I'm talking about an inch
out from the rib). Then coat the face of the outboard rib in the area of the
filler plate and THEN put your metal filler clip in place over the stringer
and slide it down the stringer thru the goo and into place and rivet. Then
you coat the plate, rivet heads and fill that stringer curl area again and
all surrounding areas (both sides of the rib). Then you make sure that the
gaps are filled between stringer and rib and it's flanges making a nice
sealing surface for the tank skin.
Of course be sure you prepped it right first as well... you needed to be in
there on those stringers with the edge of a scotchbrite pad jammed TIGHT
into the curl to get it all scrubbed clean!
This shot shows exactly what those "clips" I make are for...
http://www.irishfield.on.ca/gallery/str ... ealed1.jpg
This one shows the outboard rib and stringers all sealed ready for the
bottom tank skin (once the sealer cures a bit so the rib doesn't move!)
http://www.irishfield.on.ca/gallery/str ... ealed2.jpg
;O)
Wayne
----- Original Message -----
From: <mikeh@dcsol.com>
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2012 5:04 AM
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] Building a leak free fuel tank.. Rebel, Elite,
SR,
-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------
on specifics, and when you decide to provide some they disappear. It's like
they don't wanna know what's involved to do it right.
From yesterday... remember it takes longer than you think. 5 hours just to
seal / rivet the 2 spar fillers and 4 stringer fillers in place on both
tanks on their outboard tank ribs.
Total PRC used 240 grams... mixed in three batches of 80 PRC + 8 catalyst
For those that haven't spread this wonderful stuff they call PRC, Proseal,
etc, yet.... the only thing I can suggest to get the method down right is to
help your wife icing a cake first!
And never lose sight of the fact you need to be absolutely sure you haven't
trapped air pockets, as I suspect this is a large part of leak issues. Very
easy to do.. caught myself at least 3 times yesterday with such things.
When filling the stringer curl... small amounts of sealer at a time...
scrape the popsicle stick (coated in sealer) on the edge of the curl and
make it work / pack it's way in to fill the curl. Repeat a few times to be
sure it's forced in there good and tight to seal it up. Now coat the rest of
the stringer surface that's just inside the tank. (I'm talking about an inch
out from the rib). Then coat the face of the outboard rib in the area of the
filler plate and THEN put your metal filler clip in place over the stringer
and slide it down the stringer thru the goo and into place and rivet. Then
you coat the plate, rivet heads and fill that stringer curl area again and
all surrounding areas (both sides of the rib). Then you make sure that the
gaps are filled between stringer and rib and it's flanges making a nice
sealing surface for the tank skin.
Of course be sure you prepped it right first as well... you needed to be in
there on those stringers with the edge of a scotchbrite pad jammed TIGHT
into the curl to get it all scrubbed clean!
This shot shows exactly what those "clips" I make are for...
http://www.irishfield.on.ca/gallery/str ... ealed1.jpg
This one shows the outboard rib and stringers all sealed ready for the
bottom tank skin (once the sealer cures a bit so the rib doesn't move!)
http://www.irishfield.on.ca/gallery/str ... ealed2.jpg
;O)
Wayne
----- Original Message -----
From: <mikeh@dcsol.com>
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2012 5:04 AM
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] Building a leak free fuel tank.. Rebel, Elite,
SR,
Wayne,
I know you are not talking to yourself, I'm sure there are many who
appreciate your input , not just on tanks. Please keep it up, you are a
valuable recourse for us builders.
Unfortunately for me, my wings are completed but haven't been used
yet, and after looking at your pics I think I'll leak test them again!
Keep it happening Cheers Mike 818R in OZ
On 2/7/2012 9:01 AM, oifa@irishfield.on.ca wrote to rebel-builders:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------