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. =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. I cut a trench above that =
one on=20
the top of the strake. 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> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>Haven't heard from you lately. I really =
enjoyed=20
talking with you at Oshkosh.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>Did you find and fix your fuel tank =
leaks?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>Ronnie</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </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. Let me review what I have done.</DIV>
<DIV> </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> </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. I =
can hear=20
the air escaping from behind the large bulkhead. When I first =
began=20
working on it, I could feel air coming from that area just by =
reaching my=20
hand in there. I have used a soapy solution, but cannot see =
any=20
bubbles. I have used this technique with tires before =
with good=20
results. However, the pressure in those cases were over =
30psi.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I then tried using the tubing as some of you suggested. =
The sound=20
is not localized and seems to be very steady all along the rear =
bulkhead.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>I have applied sealant all along the seam using a paint brush =
attached=20
to a pair of sticks so that I can adjust the paint brush after =
getting=20
it through the small bulkheads.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>It is hard to tell without quantitative measurement, but I =
think it is=20
improving some.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I also tried to spray epoxy in the cavity using a water =
sprayer. =20
The epoxy and cabasil were too think to really spray.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Any help would be=20
appreciated.</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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