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  #11  
Old 02-21-2012, 06:11 PM
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Mike S Mike S is offline
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http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/bunan.php
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Last edited by Mike S : 02-21-2012 at 06:24 PM.
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  #12  
Old 02-21-2012, 06:22 PM
Tharpo Tharpo is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Hernando, Ms.
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Red face red sealant

You would think that someone whose nickname used to be "Red" could have "read" a little more closely.....I just saw red after a second look. Disregard my last.
Tharpo
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  #13  
Old 02-21-2012, 06:58 PM
David-aviator David-aviator is offline
 
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Location: Chesterfield, Missouri
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Walt View Post
I've never used the Flamemaster, I've always used PRC Desoto "ProSeal" and have used the AC Tech for repairs with no issues (it is also dark gray). For building tanks I personally would only use PRC (this is what I've used/seen used my whole career) with good results (very rare to get a bad batch). We would seal a tank and put fuel on it 8 hours later with no problem. Using B-1/2 we would put fuel on it after just a few hours if we were in a rush.
The jury is out on tank sealant IMHO.

My QB tanks built in 2002 were done with Proseal, no question of it. But they leaked a gas around rivet shanks causing paint blisters forever. I finally built new tanks last summer using Flamemaster from Vans. So far they are OK. No blisters as of this date that I know of.

I kept some of the paper plates used to mix the stuff for a while to see how it would set up and cure. In every case it cured quite firm in a few days.

A couple weeks ago I decided to use some of the remaining Flamemaster (out of date) in the rudder and elevator skin bend area as called for in the build plan. I did not weigh the mixture this time but just mixed it until the color looked about right, it too cured very firmly in a couple days.

Technically, I believe Proseal and Flamemaster meet the same military specs. The only difference is the price and that's why Vans uses Flamemaster.

I don't have a clue what is going on with the tanks precipitating this thread. There was a report a while back where the sealant on the exterior of the tank became soft when fuel leaked through to it suggesting there was something going on when oxygen is present with fuel and the sealant. I never heard an explanation as what did cause the sealant to go soft beyond that speculation.

The brown stuff in the tank is suspicious. My first thought was residual matter from fuel that had evaporated. But it could be sealant breaking down. If so, there is something really wrong with that batch. These sealants are designed to withstand fuel.
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  #14  
Old 02-22-2012, 08:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David-aviator View Post
. . .There was a report a while back where the sealant on the exterior of the tank became soft when fuel leaked through to it suggesting there was something going on when oxygen is present with fuel and the sealant. I never heard an explanation as what did cause the sealant to go soft beyond that speculation.
The bead of sealant along the outside seam of the rear baffle in my first video has this happening to it. In December when I first pulled the tank off I contacted the Van's builder assist and talked to them about this issue. Although I cannot remember which individual I talked with at that time, he did state this is common for the sealant to do this when leaking fuel and air mix and come into contact with the sealant. He also stated once the leak was stopped and there was no longer fuel contacting that sealant it should solidify again with no harmful effects. I did see this occur in a section of that bead that did not have fuel leaking on it any longer. Conversely I also saw where the sealant that did have fuel still leaking on it was still tacky.

Quote:
Originally Posted by David-aviator View Post
The brown stuff in the tank is suspicious. My first thought was residual matter from fuel that had evaporated. But it could be sealant breaking down. If so, there is something really wrong with that batch. These sealants are designed to withstand fuel.
I have not been able to get back out to the airport to check on this yet, but I am still leaning toward the idea that the brown stuff could be rust from my steal fuel storage tank. This makes sense to me more so than the idea that the sealant is somehow dissolving. Once I am able to check it out I will be sure to post on here my findings.
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  #15  
Old 02-22-2012, 08:37 AM
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Magnet will tell you if it is rust.
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Mike Starkey
VAF 909

Rv-10, N210LM.

Flying as of 12/4/2010

Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011

Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.

"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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  #16  
Old 02-22-2012, 08:42 AM
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RVbySDI RVbySDI is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne Gillispie View Post
. . .Note in one pic above...I notice many are not putting proseal on both sides of ribs and also not covering all rivet shop heads. The proseal adds a bunch of strength to those joints to prevent loose rivets/weeping rivets down the road.
Wayne,
Just to be clear, the photos and video I took of the rear baffle area were AFTER I had cleaned off any residual sealant around the bottom flange of the rear baffle seam where I found the leaks. Prior to the repair process I did indeed have a solid bead of sealant across the entire baffle seam and made sure all rivets were covered with sealant.

Thanks for your comments and observations. It really does help to have other's eyes looking at things. Without the ability to post pictures and videos on this forum I do not know how I would be able to have such experienced eyes examining my problem(s).
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  #17  
Old 02-22-2012, 08:47 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike S View Post
Magnet will tell you if it is rust.
Well there you go! Just as I finished typing my previous post on how great it is to have a forum like this where I can tap into the wisdom of others, along comes your post. I don't know why I didn't think about that. Duh! I will see what a magnet will reveal.
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  #18  
Old 02-22-2012, 09:22 AM
67MK Larry 67MK Larry is offline
 
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Location: Saint Charles, Illinois
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Default I vote for rust

If its in the tank settling out you should find in bottom of carb bowl, thats where I have seen that same kind of red powder when dry.
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  #19  
Old 02-22-2012, 09:38 AM
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RVbySDI RVbySDI is offline
 
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Originally Posted by 67MK Larry View Post
If its in the tank settling out you should find in bottom of carb bowl, thats where I have seen that same kind of red powder when dry.
Agree with you on that, except this will not apply in my case. I have fuel injection. If it is getting picked up and makes it through the filter(s) I will have to concern myself with these particles possibly clogging fuel injectors.
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  #20  
Old 02-22-2012, 09:55 AM
67MK Larry 67MK Larry is offline
 
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Default Yep

That is certainly and issue, by the way how about a used aluminum tank off a wrecked big truck, I am in trucking business a had rusting steel tanks replaced with aluminum tanks off a wreck. They come in 50 , 80, and 100, and 150,s usually for your storage issue.
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