MartySantic
Well Known Member
Well folks, after 25 hours and about 4 months my original sightglass on the side of the tank developed a leak. I had not installed the new glass material. Was waiting for warmer weather. Found about 8 ounces of gas on the floor of the hangar this morning. I have drained the tank and removed the tank but have not started dis-assembly. Will do that this weekend and post a report. Appears as though the plexi has cracked, very similar to what others have reported.
Had just flown the plane from the paintshop yesterday and found the leak today. The paint, looks fine...no damage, I am happy to report (that is, after my brief look).
I refuse to install the new glass material. Will seal the holes with a plate sealed inside the tank, and another plate sealed outside the tank. Will also install the stiffener that came with the window revision inside the tank.
For a local indicator will use the same sealed marine float gauge that John Bender suggested and has installed.
I e-mailed Van's a few months ago and asked if they could send me a tank part without the holes. If they could/would, I was considering just building a 2nd tank. Their response was no, because the QA in sending me an alternative design would be horrendous. I can relate as before retirement I was an engineer in the nuclear industry.
IMHO, the sightglass design, new sightglass material or old sightglass material is a weak point and Van's should modify the design and provide a tank with an alternative means of checking the level locally (ie. a marine gauge or some other alternative).
Clearly, a new line of thinking is required here.
Had just flown the plane from the paintshop yesterday and found the leak today. The paint, looks fine...no damage, I am happy to report (that is, after my brief look).
I refuse to install the new glass material. Will seal the holes with a plate sealed inside the tank, and another plate sealed outside the tank. Will also install the stiffener that came with the window revision inside the tank.
For a local indicator will use the same sealed marine float gauge that John Bender suggested and has installed.
I e-mailed Van's a few months ago and asked if they could send me a tank part without the holes. If they could/would, I was considering just building a 2nd tank. Their response was no, because the QA in sending me an alternative design would be horrendous. I can relate as before retirement I was an engineer in the nuclear industry.
IMHO, the sightglass design, new sightglass material or old sightglass material is a weak point and Van's should modify the design and provide a tank with an alternative means of checking the level locally (ie. a marine gauge or some other alternative).
Clearly, a new line of thinking is required here.
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