[BruceMe]

I have an RV-6 "fix-r-up-r". The left fuel tank was crunched by the landing gear during a flip over.


Click here for picture of damaged tank

I'm just asking about the tank here... I see three options:

1 - Completely rebuild a new tank with mostly new everything
2 - Salvage the major bits and bobs but new aluminum
3 - Pull it all apart carefully just replace the damaged skin and ribs and reseal

If someone has done this before, let me know which is how they went?

Thanks!

 

[Mel]

I have an RV-6 "fix-r-up-r". The left fuel tank was crunched by the landing gear during a flip over.
Click here for picture of damaged tank
I'm just asking about the tank here... I see three options:
1 - Completely rebuild a new tank with mostly new everything
2 - Salvage the major bits and bobs but new aluminum
3 - Pull it all apart carefully just replace the damaged skin and ribs and reseal
If someone has done this before, let me know which is how they went?
Thanks!

I would suggest a combination of 1 & 2.
3 would be a lot of work and wouldn't really buy you all that much. Disassembling a tank assembled with pro-seal would be horrendous.

 

[BruceMe]

I would suggest a combination of 1 & 2.
3 would be a lot of work and wouldn't really buy you all that much. Disassembling a tank assembled with pro-seal would be horrendous.

You probably mean just option 2, but yeah, I was headed there too. Pro-seal is so awful. Wondering if anyone else had done it.

 

[buchaneer]

Tank repair

My RV9 QB tank was nearly perforated by mouse pee corrosion prior to even getting the wings out of the crate! Looked at the options which, as a fuel tank were very few and required inspector approval, I felt there was no option than to make a new tank. An expensive mouse infestation!!!
With regards to salvaging parts I weighed up the time/ effort of removing the parts from the Proseal without damage wasn't worth the effort so I bit the bullet and ordered new parts

 

[BruceMe]

hard, not impossible

I had to take the cover off my tank to re-attach the fuel pickup (and wire-tie).

It was hard, and took a little coaxing, but it did come lose. I think I'm going to try dissembling. If it proves too hideous and I chuck the alum-epoxy mess the entire length of the man cave in a fit of obscenities, I'll buy the parts and breath deeply.

 

[Mel]

I had to take the cover off my tank to re-attach the fuel pickup (and wire-tie).
It was hard, and took a little coaxing, but it did come lose. I think I'm going to try dissembling. If it proves too hideous and I chuck the alum-epoxy mess the entire length of the man cave in a fit of obscenities, I'll buy the parts and breath deeply.

Removing the cover is not quite like disassembling the ribs with curves and dimples. Trying is certainly not a bad thing, but I don't think you will get far before changing your mind.
If you do; Good On You. Time consuming but certainly not prohibitive.

 

[BruceMe]

I purchased the glue desolver compound and a new tank. I'll try disassembling it first, if get's too unfun, I'll just build the new one.

 

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

I'd order the parts and build a new tank. OTOH, I really enjoyed building my fuel tanks. It was messy; but not particularly hard.

I'd salvage a few parts from the old tank like the filler ring and access panels etc.