balloon tester
Put a cap on the vent, screw in the drain valve and put a balloon on the fuel outlet. Of course, filler cap closed.
Now. If you don't have any leaks in the caps, your balloon attachment or the vent cap, you can fill the balloon by blowing compressed air into the tank through the drain valve.
Done.
Check a local altimeter setting and temperature. measure the diameter of the balloon at the largest point. If it holds air, it ought to hold fuel. If you've got obvious leaks, check with soapy water or windex... a leak will show as foam or bubbles. If no obvious leaks are present, check several days later at a time when the temperature and altimeter setting are the same. If the diameter is the same, you've got a leak-free tank.
That's how I did it. Others chime in.
__________________
Bill Mason
RV7 SB in construction
Avionics, Wiring, FWF, interior, and paint to go.
Last edited by instructor_bill : 10-24-2011 at 09:59 PM.
Reason: what the hey? I want people to understand.
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