Quick Build Wing Tanks

drone_pilot · #1 10-20-2019, 11:56 AM

Hello All,

I am nearing the end of the RV-10 empennage build. I am considering quickbuild wings as a way to avoid the fuel tank assembly (at least one of my reasons). How has the quality of the fuel tanks been for those of you who went with the Quickbuild wings? Has any of you had issues with weeping rivets etc?

Ben

rocketman1988 · #2 10-20-2019, 12:34 PM

I had no issues with the QB wings.

I actually removed the tanks from the QB wings to install some the ER tanks and to pressure check them. I found no leaks. I also checked the vent B nut and it was tight.

BlackhawkSP · #3 10-20-2019, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drone_pilot

Hello All,

I am nearing the end of the RV-10 empennage build. I am considering quickbuild wings as a way to avoid the fuel tank assembly (at least one of my reasons). How has the quality of the fuel tanks been for those of you who went with the Quickbuild wings? Has any of you had issues with weeping rivets etc?

Ben

I have the quick build tanks on my 10. Pressure checks came out OK, but after about 45 hours of flight I started seeing a leak on my right wing most inboard bulkhead bottom. From looking inside the tank, it appears that there was no prep of the AL before adding the sealant. I would think that it would have been scotch-brighted and solvent cleaned for a good bond. I called Van's and they said to "send us the tank and we will repair it", but I do not want to cut the paint on all the mounting screws on my 30 K+ paint job!! I will this week try to clean, etch, and reseal the spot from the outside (since it's accessible without removing the tank, and see if that holds).

I love my 10, but I think the QB folks need to step up the QC process of doing the tanks.

9GT · #4 10-20-2019, 02:40 PM

The QB wing tanks quality control leaves a lot to be desired IMHO. Search the forum and your will find numerous reports of QB tanks developing a leak after a short period of time. I decided to do a preemptive strike on my -9A QB tanks and opened every bay up. Not happy with what I found but know for sure they will not leak now. You can read my thread on what I found here along with pictures. Glad I did it! I think it’s not if the tanks will leak, but when. http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d.php?t=158234

Jake14 · #5 10-20-2019, 03:14 PM

I had to remove both my QB tanks to fix leaks in the vent line due to poor workmanship. These leaks don't show up with standard leak testing methods.

RandyAB · #6 10-20-2019, 04:36 PM

One thing that I did find about the QB tanks is that the screws holding them on were a bear to get out with many needing screw extractors to remove. I only did one side and and after all the pain I decided he other was not worth it. The bolts holding the z-brackets also were overtorqued.

The tanks did test free of leaks however. I?ll see what happens when it starts flying.

Plummit · #7 10-20-2019, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drone_pilot

Hello All,

How has the quality of the fuel tanks been for those of you who went with the Quickbuild wings? Has any of you had issues with weeping rivets etc?

Ben

Horrible construction on the tanks. Maybe you could remove them from the order and build your own. I doubt yours would be worse...

-Marc

iwannarv · #8 10-21-2019, 07:02 AM

My QB wing tanks look fantastic. They are still hanging on the QB wings as arrived and I have not done anything with them yet.

TShort · #9 10-21-2019, 07:41 AM

My -10 has QB wings.
I've replaced one weeping rivet on the top inboard R tank (under the wing walk, thankfully!). I have another that is starting to weep a tiny bit.

Also, the outboard end of the vent tube in the R tank isn't optimally placed, it overflows fuel much sooner than the L one.

I am glad I built my own tanks on the -8, but it isn't flying yet so whether I did any better remains to be seen!!

drone_pilot · #10 10-21-2019, 07:05 PM

Pretty shocked by how bad the tank quality seems. You would think Van?s would have taken some big QC measures to get the tanks right. The QB wings are a lot of $$$$ and surprises me that as a purchaser, you have to take whatever quality you get. With $15K and up paint jobs, one leaking rivet can cost a builder a lot of cash in paint repair. Hearing about the misplaced vent lines is disappointing also.

It?s not that I can?t build the tanks, it?s that I really didn?t want to. This thread is changing my mind to suck it up and build the tanks. I know mine will be high quality because if I?m putting the labor in to do it, I?ll make sure they?re built right. I was just hoping to save the time and regular tool cleanup.