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  #1  
Old 03-10-2012, 07:35 AM
rleem7@zipnet.us rleem7@zipnet.us is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Angelo, Texas
Posts: 22
Default Fuel Tank Sightglass Leak

Has anyone used Locktite 290 to try and seal the sightglass leaks?
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  #2  
Old 03-10-2012, 08:48 AM
JBPILOT JBPILOT is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Jesup, Iowa
Posts: 1,658
Default Need more info - -

Just building the tank ? Flying for a while ? Updated window kit ? More than one attempt ?


I sealed up the window and installed a Moeller Marine mechanical fuel gauge, and many have copied my design. It works well.

John Bender
373.8 hours as of 3-9-12
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  #3  
Old 03-10-2012, 11:06 AM
tim walter tim walter is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: san rafael
Posts: 110
Default vans should change the rv-12 tank

if many of the sight glasses are leaking
then surely this is a serious problem?
shouldn't vans then issue a service note, and update the design?
the moller guage idea seems to be working, why can't vans change to THAT design, then people like me, building ELSA, won't have to build the **** tank twice !
you know I'm going to be making that mod as soon as I get it flying.
and I bet a lot of other builders are too.

This doesn't just seem like a "nice to have" to me.
fuel in the cockpit is a SERIOUS problem.
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  #4  
Old 03-10-2012, 11:54 AM
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DonFromTX DonFromTX is offline
 
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Location: La Feria Texas
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Default

Back when I was building ELSA, I asked Vans for written permission to install the Moeller gauge, since I did not want to contaminate my tank later. They would not give me that permission, but they did give me permission to cut the hole, install the nutplates, and then cut a disc to seal it up until the inspection was over. At that time you could unscrew the plate and install the Moeller in a very few minutes time and trouble - and most importantly not contaminating the fuel system doing it. Something to think about..
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  #5  
Old 03-10-2012, 12:18 PM
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Jetguy Jetguy is offline
 
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Thumbs down No Way Jose!

Because of the FAA certification process unless Vans has the same problem with one of their demo planes they will not change from the original plans. We have had many long discussions about this on the from.
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  #6  
Old 03-10-2012, 03:04 PM
rleem7@zipnet.us rleem7@zipnet.us is offline
 
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Location: San Angelo, Texas
Posts: 22
Default Fuel tank leak fix?

1st attempt to build tank, no leaks but window. Has anyone tried the locktite 290 Fix?:
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  #7  
Old 03-10-2012, 03:48 PM
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Tony_T Tony_T is offline
 
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Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 1,365
Default Locktite 290 and sight window comment...

A leaking sight window in a new built tank is certainly a dissappointment, but can be fixed properly. Locktite 290 is probably not a good idea. Looking at the technical data sheet for this product http://www.loctiteproducts.com/tds/T_LKR_GREEN_tds.pdf, it is intended for locking and sealing metal fasteners. There is no application listed similar to fixing a proseal leak. It is a wicking product which sounds like the easy way out, but may in the end cause a lot more grief if it only fixes the leak for an air test, and then you have to pull the tank out of the airplane for the correct fix.

I'll bet that the consensus will be to pull the top off the tank and reinstall the window being extremely careful to follow the plans exactly and work carefully.

For those new and potential builders, there have been no reports of leaking sight glass windows since Van's issued the service notice to repair the original sight window design which did have leak issues. This is the first report of a leaking window that I recall being posted and it is during test of a new tank and not a leaking window in a flying aircraft. There are not a lot of 12s flying around with leaking sight glass windows. There is no evidence that the window is a leak problem that must be fixed by deleting the window.

Most GA aircraft have fuel tanks where the pilot is able to see the actual fuel in the tank prior to flight. This may be a condition of the ASTM standard that the 12 complies with. Without the sight window, this would not be possible.
The installation of a mechanical gauge in the tank looks like a substitute for the window but it really is not and it is a mechanical device (for boats) that can hang up, although that has not been reported. Just saying...

Personally, I like the sight glass. No moving parts, and you can see the actual fuel in the tank during preflight.

Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to state that the tank window is not a leak problem flying around in all these 12s and that the original problem was re-engineered and fixed by the factory long ago.

For those still in doubt about the window, do a search of the forum posts and do the research.

Tony
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Last edited by Tony_T : 03-10-2012 at 03:52 PM. Reason: Recommended the search function for more info
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  #8  
Old 03-10-2012, 07:15 PM
Dave12 Dave12 is online now
 
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Default

Hey Jetguy, when you get a minute can you check you pm's? I sent you a message with some questions. Sorry to contaminate the thread! BTW, I like the window too.
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  #9  
Old 03-12-2012, 08:49 AM
rleem7@zipnet.us rleem7@zipnet.us is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Angelo, Texas
Posts: 22
Default Fuel tank fix

According to the Fuel Tank Test Kit last paragraph you may try Locktite #290 as it will wick into small places and cure.

So back to the origional queston has anyone tried this on the leak on a sight glass window?
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  #10  
Old 03-12-2012, 10:48 AM
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rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
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Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rleem7@zipnet.us View Post
According to the Fuel Tank Test Kit last paragraph you may try Locktite #290 as it will wick into small places and cure.

So back to the origional queston has anyone tried this on the leak on a sight glass window?
The instructions supplied with the test kit were generic based on using it with metal tanks like all different RV models have.

The compatibility of loctite 290 has never been tested with the site glass material (as far as I am aware) so it might be risky using it without doing a test first.
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