REFLECTOR:fuel tank leak testing

dean fitzbag reflector@tvbf.org
Sun, 7 Sep 2003 10:21:31 -0500


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I have one strake checked out and am working on the second one.   I =
finally dug a trench one half of an inch wide done to the outer skin =
from just inboard of the bulkhead with the hole cut out behind the tank =
to the hole cut out for access to the wing attach bolts.  I cut a trench =
above that one on the top of the strake.  With this trench I could cut =
off the flow which was traveling under the reinforcing triax layers.
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Ronnie Brown=20
  To: reflector@tvbf.org=20
  Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2003 9:37 AM
  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR:fuel tank leak testing


  Hi Dean,

  Haven't heard from you lately.  I really enjoyed talking with you at =
Oshkosh.

  Did you find and fix your fuel tank leaks?

  Ronnie

    ----- Original Message -----=20
    From: dean fitzbag=20
    To: reflector=20
    Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2003 1:01 PM
    Subject: REFLECTOR:fuel tank leak testing


    I'm still having difficulty finding and eliminating my fuel tank =
leaks.  Let me review what I have done.

    My two small bulkheads between the large rear bulkhead and the main =
spar have already been installed, but I can get my hand through the =
opening.

    I reduce the pressure on my air tank/pump to a few psi (so I can =
easily stop the flow with my finger) so as to not damage the tank.  I =
can hear the air escaping from behind the large bulkhead.  When I first =
began working on it, I could feel air coming from that area just by =
reaching my hand in there.  I have used a soapy solution, but cannot see =
any bubbles.  I have used this technique with tires  before with good =
results.  However, the pressure in those cases were over 30psi.

    I then tried using the tubing as some of you suggested.  The sound =
is not localized and seems to be very steady all along the rear =
bulkhead.

    I have applied sealant all along the seam using a paint brush =
attached to a pair of sticks so that I can adjust the paint brush after =
getting it through the small bulkheads.

    It is hard to tell without quantitative measurement, but I think it =
is improving some.

    I also tried to spray epoxy in the cavity using a water sprayer.  =
The epoxy and cabasil were too think to really spray.

    Any help would be appreciated.
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<DIV=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; =
FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">
<DIV>I have one strake checked out and am working on the second =
one.&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
I finally dug a trench one half of an inch wide done to the outer skin =
from just=20
inboard of the bulkhead with the hole cut out behind the tank to the =
hole cut=20
out for access to the wing attach bolts.&nbsp; I cut a trench above that =
one on=20
the top of the strake.&nbsp; With this trench I could cut off the flow =
which was=20
traveling under the reinforcing triax layers.</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>From:</B> <A=20
  href=3D"mailto:romott@adelphia.net">Ronnie Brown</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A=20
  href=3D"mailto:reflector@tvbf.org">reflector@tvbf.org</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, September 07, =
2003 9:37=20
  AM</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: REFLECTOR:fuel =
tank leak=20
  testing</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial>Hi Dean,</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial>Haven't heard from you lately.&nbsp; I really =
enjoyed=20
  talking with you at Oshkosh.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial>Did you find and fix your fuel tank =
leaks?</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial>Ronnie</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
  style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
    <DIV=20
    style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
    <A href=3D"mailto:dfitzbag@msn.com">dean fitzbag</A> </DIV>
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A=20
    href=3D"mailto:reflector@tvbf.org">reflector</A> </DIV>
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, July 05, 2003 =
1:01=20
    PM</DIV>
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> REFLECTOR:fuel tank =
leak=20
    testing</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT><BR></DIV>
    <DIV>I'm still having difficulty finding and eliminating my fuel =
tank=20
    leaks.&nbsp; Let me review what I have done.</DIV>
    <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV>My two small bulkheads between the large rear bulkhead and the =
main=20
    spar have already been installed, but I can get my hand through the=20
    opening.</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV>I reduce the pressure on my air tank/pump to a few psi (so I =
can easily=20
    stop the flow with my finger) so as to not damage the tank.&nbsp; I =
can hear=20
    the air escaping from behind the large bulkhead.&nbsp; When I first =
began=20
    working on it, I could feel air coming from that area just by =
reaching my=20
    hand in there.&nbsp; I have used a soapy solution, but cannot see =
any=20
    bubbles.&nbsp; I have used this technique with tires&nbsp; before =
with good=20
    results.&nbsp; However, the pressure in those cases were over =
30psi.</DIV>
    <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV>I then tried using the tubing as some of you suggested.&nbsp; =
The sound=20
    is not localized and seems to be very&nbsp;steady all along the rear =

    bulkhead.</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV>I have applied sealant all along the seam using a paint brush =
attached=20
    to a pair of sticks so&nbsp;that I can adjust the paint brush after =
getting=20
    it through the small bulkheads.</DIV>
    <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV>It is hard to tell without quantitative measurement, but I =
think it is=20
    improving some.</DIV>
    <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV>I also tried to spray epoxy in the cavity using a water =
sprayer.&nbsp;=20
    The epoxy and cabasil were too think to really spray.</DIV>
    <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV>Any help would be=20
appreciated.</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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