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01-03-2011, 12:27 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Belgium
Posts: 645
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Filled the tanks with mogas, but.....
I filled the tanks with 20 ltr of mogas and turned them over in all different positions for about a week, untill I was sure I had "wetted" all inside surfaces and had pressure built up inside the tank from the gasoline fumes (going tsssshhhhhhh.... when you open the cap).
Guess what 1? After that successfull test, I still found a "fuel guardian" sensor leaking, that I apparently damaged by overtighthening!
Guess what 2? Still found a "wheeping" screw on one of the fuel level sensors, when I filled the tanks for the first time, even after doing a second successfull test!
I considder my self lucky because I could cure those small leaks pretty easy and did not find any rivets leaking (so far)!
Regards, Tonny.
__________________
"Pilottonny"
Tonny Tromp
Lanaken, Belgium (EU)
RV9A, Registration: PH-VAN
ECI-Titan IOX-320 with dual EI, turning a Whirlwind 200RV CS prop.
Sold
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01-03-2011, 01:27 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Forest Grove, OR
Posts: 239
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I'd suggest the actual fuel test as well. I did the balloon test with my quick build tanks and all was fine. After a few hours flying an actual leak showed up on one of the z-brackets on the back of the tank which required full tank removal to repair. I'm sure glad I removed all of the screws that hold the tank to the wing before painting the airplane. It would have been pretty ugly to remove painted screws from a brand new paint job. It's also not much fun removing about (21) 1/4" bolts from the back of the tank through an access port and then reinstalling them. A good fuel test now would be well worth it.
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Mark - Forest Grove, OR (Homebase KHIO)
Flying RV-9A N962MC
EAA Tech Advisor - Ham AI7MC
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01-03-2011, 02:10 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Arroyo Grande, CA
Posts: 938
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'Sounds to me that a static test is not sufficient, and that you should fill the tank and then shake the wing violently up and down to stress all joints and openings. 'Only half in jest!
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01-03-2011, 02:55 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Paso Robles, CA
Posts: 1,177
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I went with a homade (cheap) manometer
I tested my 6's tanks with a little over 2 psi, (about a 4 foot head) and had no leaks after I aluminum taped my gas caps.
The manometer was made out of polyflow line, 1/4" plywood and some cable staples.
Worked great.
Be advised that if you are not doing this in a temperature stable environment you will get inconsistent results. 
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01-03-2011, 03:10 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Cumming, GA
Posts: 610
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no blue trail?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamie
I had a fairly bad tank leak recently. Yesterday I got around to pulling the tank. I put a balloon on the tank and pressurized it and spent the next four hours trying to figure out where this tank was leaking from. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Very annoying to say the least.
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OOC, was there not a tell-tale blue trail?
My tanks passed the balloon and soapy water test - keeping the balloon inflated for days. Since getting it flying, I have fixed a leak in each tank. The leaks were minuscule, just enough to leave evidence near the paint around the tank baffles. I feel fortunate I was able to repair both tanks without major effort. Sounds like you're equally lucky. Gotta love the fun of pulling those tanks off.
__________________
Don Hall
N517DG - RV7 - Flying!
Ticked Van's Hobbes meter at #6110, 3/7/09
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01-03-2011, 03:27 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 2,295
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dhall_polo
OOC, was there not a tell-tale blue trail?
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Well, sort of. There was blue everywhere. It was leaking in the wing root so apparently enough air was getting past the wing root fairing to blow fuel everywhere.
It looks like the leak was related to not putting a good fay seal down on the rear baffle->inboard-most rib joint. The other leak was actually my access cover leaking.
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"What kind of man would live where there is no daring? I don't believe in taking foolish chances but nothing can be accomplished without taking any chance at all." - Charles A. Lindbergh
Jamie | RV-7A First Flight: 7/27/2007 (Sold)
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01-03-2011, 03:30 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 2,295
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As an aside...something interesting I found when I pulled the access panel cover were little (almost) perfectly circular pro-seal boogers rolling around in the tank. I really scratched my head over them for about 20 minutes, then I realized that they were a result of dipping the screws in proseal before installing them. The boogers fell out out the nutplates when I removed the screws.
__________________
"What kind of man would live where there is no daring? I don't believe in taking foolish chances but nothing can be accomplished without taking any chance at all." - Charles A. Lindbergh
Jamie | RV-7A First Flight: 7/27/2007 (Sold)
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