fred gassit
Member
Hi all, I have just placed the fuel tank skin (no ribs yet as per instructions) onto the tank baffle that is clecoed to the main spar.
All holes line up fine but I have 2 queries.
The holes in the baffle web are not pre-punched dead centre, I am certain this is intentional but my main spar doubler bars are not aligned perfectly with the C section part of my spar either. (less intentional I think but only 3/64 wider from one side to the other)
I realise this is difficult to explain but what it means is the flange on the tank baffle when it is clecoed in place rests up against the main spar doubler bar on one side (underside) and has about 3/32 clearance on the other side,(It is however centred on the spar C channel to which it is attached) has anyone else had this happen?
It doesn't seem to cause any problems but it isn't exactly how the drawings portray.
The other slightly more pressing issue is that tank skin/leading edge fit is less than "perfect".
Where the tank skin and leading edge skins meet at the leading edge there is a gap of maybe 1/16", as the join moves rearward toward the spar they come together tightly and ever so slightly overlap in the region of the spar. All other joins are tight and consistent along their length.
The book says to slot the baffle to achieve a better fit but at this stage I think deburring the skin edges would just about do it given how little overlap there is. Where people have "slotted" the baffle hole could you simply drill a number or 2 oversize? This is tiny adjustment for the most part.
Doing a search on this revealed most alignment challenges after the tanks are built, do I wait until then to address my issues or go for perfect alignment now? (I have checked the usual suspects such as wing sag as suggested in the other threads)
Any suggestions on these 2 issues would be appreciated.
All holes line up fine but I have 2 queries.
The holes in the baffle web are not pre-punched dead centre, I am certain this is intentional but my main spar doubler bars are not aligned perfectly with the C section part of my spar either. (less intentional I think but only 3/64 wider from one side to the other)
I realise this is difficult to explain but what it means is the flange on the tank baffle when it is clecoed in place rests up against the main spar doubler bar on one side (underside) and has about 3/32 clearance on the other side,(It is however centred on the spar C channel to which it is attached) has anyone else had this happen?
It doesn't seem to cause any problems but it isn't exactly how the drawings portray.
The other slightly more pressing issue is that tank skin/leading edge fit is less than "perfect".
Where the tank skin and leading edge skins meet at the leading edge there is a gap of maybe 1/16", as the join moves rearward toward the spar they come together tightly and ever so slightly overlap in the region of the spar. All other joins are tight and consistent along their length.
The book says to slot the baffle to achieve a better fit but at this stage I think deburring the skin edges would just about do it given how little overlap there is. Where people have "slotted" the baffle hole could you simply drill a number or 2 oversize? This is tiny adjustment for the most part.
Doing a search on this revealed most alignment challenges after the tanks are built, do I wait until then to address my issues or go for perfect alignment now? (I have checked the usual suspects such as wing sag as suggested in the other threads)
Any suggestions on these 2 issues would be appreciated.
