|
-
POSTING RULES

-
Donate yearly (please).
-
Advertise in here!
-
Today's Posts
|
Insert Pics
|

05-04-2014, 03:50 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Midland, mi
Posts: 962
|
|
Putting on Tank Baffle
Maybe I am over thinking this, but I thought I would ask and I don't really have a second chance at this one.
I am getting close to putting on the back baffle of the fuel tank and I have a question about the sealant. Should the sealant coat the entire inside flange of the ribs? In the plans, it says to coat the inside edge of the flange on the end of each rib and a heavy glob at the corners of end ribs. Then a thin smear of sealant around each rivet hole.
It sounds like not all of the end flange of the ribs a get a coating of sealant.
It also sounds like the Zee brackets only get a smear of sealant over the holes and not the entire mated surface. True?
Thanks
ken
__________________
Ken Stockman
Midland, MI
EAA Chapter 1093 member
FaceBook Page: Ken's RV-14
RV-14a (serial number 140073)
N73XP
Plane at hangar and the wings ON.
|

05-04-2014, 08:39 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
|
|
The design of the parts only accounts for a very thin build up of sealant.
If you were to have a thick buildup between the ribs and baffle, and then the baffle and z brackets, it can push everything fwd from the intended position.
In a severe case, it can effect the alignment of the tank skin attach screw holes.
Keep in mind that the goal is only to keep fuel from leaking out, not to glue the parts together.
__________________
Opinions, information and comments are my own unless stated otherwise. They do not necessarily represent the direction/opinions of my employer.
Scott McDaniels
Van's Aircraft Engineering Prototype Shop Manager
Hubbard, Oregon
RV-6A (aka "Junkyard Special ")
|

05-05-2014, 09:14 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Dublin, CA
Posts: 1,261
|
|
I spread a thin layer of sealant all along the rib flange. I don't think it needs to be thick but you do want to get good coverage. The note in the instructions is addressing the small hole that is present due to the flange bend relief. It's no big deal just glop some in those corners. The critical part for me was the amount of sealant that I put down for the final bead. I think the instructions over state the caution that is required with regard to the size of the bead of sealant. Don't minimize this too much like I did on my first tank.
__________________
Ray Tonks
2020 Donation Paid
Titan IOX-370, Dual PMAGs, 9.6:1 Pistons, FM-150
RV-7 Fuselage in progress
* Cabin Interior - In progress
RV-7 SB Wings
* Both Wings fully skinned
* Fuel Tanks Complete - No leaks finally
* Ailerons Complete
* Flaps Complete
RV-7 Empennage - Complete (a little fiberglass work left)
Vans Training Kit # 2 - Complete
RV-7 Preview Plans
Vans Training Kit #1 - Complete
EAA Sheet Metal Class - Complete
|

05-05-2014, 10:31 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: 45G, Brighton, MI
Posts: 1,867
|
|
This worked for me on my -7. I can't imagine the -14 being much different. I sealed the z-brackets the same way, then covered the outer heads "just in case".

__________________
Miles (VAF# 1238, Paid up as of 2018)
RV-7 TU 904KM (reserved)
Wings Fitted and Finish Kit on site
Construction Log
Picasa: Empennage Album, Wings Album, Fuselage Album
1955 Cessna 170B flying since 1982
'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' -Unk.
|

05-05-2014, 04:44 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Midland, mi
Posts: 962
|
|
Miles-
A picture is worth a thousand words and in this case answered another question I had. I noticed that you bent up the vent line up to get it as close to the top of the tank as possible. This was another question I was wondering about.
As for the interior ribs, it looks like you really only put adhesive where the rivets are placed and not along the entire edge of the flange.
I take it that the blue tape is to keep sealant from getting everywhere.
Is it necessary to put a bead around the Z-brackets after they are in place?
Thanks for the help.
Ken
__________________
Ken Stockman
Midland, MI
EAA Chapter 1093 member
FaceBook Page: Ken's RV-14
RV-14a (serial number 140073)
N73XP
Plane at hangar and the wings ON.
|

05-08-2014, 05:47 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Midland, mi
Posts: 962
|
|
Question about the bulkhead union for the vent line:
Is the nut for the bulkhead union torqued down to a certain in-lbs? Or do we just put sealant on the threads tighten and put sealant over the bolt?
Thanks
ken
__________________
Ken Stockman
Midland, MI
EAA Chapter 1093 member
FaceBook Page: Ken's RV-14
RV-14a (serial number 140073)
N73XP
Plane at hangar and the wings ON.
|

05-11-2014, 03:50 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: 45G, Brighton, MI
Posts: 1,867
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stockmanreef
Miles-
A picture is worth a thousand words and in this case answered another question I had. I noticed that you bent up the vent line up to get it as close to the top of the tank as possible. This was another question I was wondering about.
As for the interior ribs, it looks like you really only put adhesive where the rivets are placed and not along the entire edge of the flange.
I take it that the blue tape is to keep sealant from getting everywhere.
Is it necessary to put a bead around the Z-brackets after they are in place?
Thanks for the help.
Ken
|
Ken,
I REALLY apologize for not replying sooner; somehow I totally missed your follow up questions.
That photo doesn't show the interior ribs well. I did put a continuous fillet of sealant along the entire length of the edge of the flange. What you may be seeing is where I encapsulated the rivet heads.
I laid down that line of masking tape with the baffle dry installed. I placed the edge of the tape about 1/32 to 1/16 aft of the aft edge of the baffle flange so I could run a narrow fillet along that edge, then pull the tape to leave a clean line and remove any sealant that might interfere with the wing spar. After riveting, I mounted the tank to the wing to make sure it cured in exactly the right shape.
Between the baffle and z-brackets I used only a circle of sealant around each rivet hole, same as on the aft rib flanges, then encapsulated the outer heads after pulling the rivets. This photo shows both the narrow fillet along the baffle flange, as well as the circles of sealant between the z-brackets and baffles.
I hope I'm not too late with this reply...
__________________
Miles (VAF# 1238, Paid up as of 2018)
RV-7 TU 904KM (reserved)
Wings Fitted and Finish Kit on site
Construction Log
Picasa: Empennage Album, Wings Album, Fuselage Album
1955 Cessna 170B flying since 1982
'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' -Unk.
Last edited by longranger : 05-11-2014 at 04:16 PM.
Reason: Added photo.
|

05-11-2014, 03:57 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: 45G, Brighton, MI
Posts: 1,867
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stockmanreef
Question about the bulkhead union for the vent line:
Is the nut for the bulkhead union torqued down to a certain in-lbs? Or do we just put sealant on the threads tighten and put sealant over the bolt?
Thanks
ken
|
Those fittings are designed to seal with dry threads. You can either use a crows foot and torque wrench, or tighten a certain number of flats after hand tight. I did the latter, then coated the joint with sealant to "safety" it in place. I don't recall how many flats to tighten, but I'm sure there's a link to a reference somewhere here on VAF.
__________________
Miles (VAF# 1238, Paid up as of 2018)
RV-7 TU 904KM (reserved)
Wings Fitted and Finish Kit on site
Construction Log
Picasa: Empennage Album, Wings Album, Fuselage Album
1955 Cessna 170B flying since 1982
'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' -Unk.
|

05-11-2014, 05:52 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Midland, mi
Posts: 962
|
|
Thanks for the reply. Not too late. I do wish that I used the tape trick on the outer ribs. I ended up with a bit bit of excess on the skin and have to remove some of the dried sealant so the tank will fit in place.
I was also debating priming the Z-brackets. Did you prime the entire bracket or did you leave the part that connects to the tank unprimed?
Ken
__________________
Ken Stockman
Midland, MI
EAA Chapter 1093 member
FaceBook Page: Ken's RV-14
RV-14a (serial number 140073)
N73XP
Plane at hangar and the wings ON.
|

05-11-2014, 11:39 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: 45G, Brighton, MI
Posts: 1,867
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stockmanreef
...I was also debating priming the Z-brackets. Did you prime the entire bracket or did you leave the part that connects to the tank unprimed?
Ken
|
Ken, I primed all surfaces of the z-brackets, but before installation I scuffed and cleaned a circular patch around each rivet hole on the side facing the baffle. That way I didn't leave any unprimed non-alclad surfaces exposed.
__________________
Miles (VAF# 1238, Paid up as of 2018)
RV-7 TU 904KM (reserved)
Wings Fitted and Finish Kit on site
Construction Log
Picasa: Empennage Album, Wings Album, Fuselage Album
1955 Cessna 170B flying since 1982
'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' -Unk.
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:42 AM.
|