Draker
Well Known Member
Well, it was bound to happen. My first major mistake on the RV-7 build! Total carelessness. I was drilling the holes for a fuel return line into my right tank, confused up from down and drilled the hole through the root rib way too low. This was meant to be a straight shot through the upper portion of the ribs, directly below the vent line.
Weighing my options:
1. Re-order T-703 end rib, T-407 stiffener ring, and 12 nut plates, and re-do the whole part. Concerns: The tank skin is already drilled and dimpled. How will I match-drill to the skin correctly?
2. Rivet a .025 plate over the hole and pro-seal it real good? Concerned this is a high-probability source of leaks.
3. Plug it with some kind of bulkhead fitting?
4. Use the hole as-is. Make two bends in the 3/8" fuel return line so that it can continue to the end bay. This is almost certainly not viable: The line will interfere with the flop tube's operation.
Any other suggestions? I'll give Van's a call tomorrow and see what they have to say. Boy do I feel like an idiot right about now.
Weighing my options:
1. Re-order T-703 end rib, T-407 stiffener ring, and 12 nut plates, and re-do the whole part. Concerns: The tank skin is already drilled and dimpled. How will I match-drill to the skin correctly?
2. Rivet a .025 plate over the hole and pro-seal it real good? Concerned this is a high-probability source of leaks.
3. Plug it with some kind of bulkhead fitting?
4. Use the hole as-is. Make two bends in the 3/8" fuel return line so that it can continue to the end bay. This is almost certainly not viable: The line will interfere with the flop tube's operation.
Any other suggestions? I'll give Van's a call tomorrow and see what they have to say. Boy do I feel like an idiot right about now.