Van's Air Force
The definitive Van's Aircraft support community! Buying, building or flying an RV? Join our exclusive family of mentors and enthusiasts!
Leaking fuel tank rivet
- Thread starter Larco
- Start date
If memory serves, Paul Dye published an article in Kitplanes that ID'd the specific rivet, as well as the process. I don't recall the issue, but if you have a subscription (I cancelled mine when they replaced everyone), a quick search might find it.
FWIW, I had a leaking rivet a few months ago on the starboard tank. I decided to try the green Loctite approach first, as it was least invasive. So far, so good.
Thanks Tom. No Kitplanes, cancelled as well.
Thinking over the options. appreciate the response
Over twenty years ago I used this pop rivet to fix a weepy tank rivet:
www.aircraftspruce.com
This requires carefully drilling out the offending rivet, popping off the head then drilling out the hole to #30. Use a deburring tool to do the very slight counter sink on the hole to best seat this larger rivet. Add pro-seal into the hole and pro-seal on the rivet. Set the rivet and clean off the excess pro-seal.
This fix never leaked again.
Carl
Ak43H Closed End Ctsk Head Rivet | Aircraft Spruce ®
Ak43H Closed End Ctsk Head Rivet Ctsk Head Blind - Alum./Steel. Closed End
This requires carefully drilling out the offending rivet, popping off the head then drilling out the hole to #30. Use a deburring tool to do the very slight counter sink on the hole to best seat this larger rivet. Add pro-seal into the hole and pro-seal on the rivet. Set the rivet and clean off the excess pro-seal.
This fix never leaked again.
Carl
If your weeping rivet is on the bottom of the tank, you might consider this -
www.clickbond.com
I used the Clickbond, small CP62 on a weeping rivet I had, it has worked for over 8 years now. I purchased the kit, which included cleaning solvent/prep wipes.
Click Patch® Adhesive-Bonded Repair for leaking fasteners
Quickly repair leaking fasteners and skin punctures with Click Patch® adhesive bonded patches. Supplied with precision fixtures to ensure consistent pressure and bond during curing; minimizing aircraft downtime.
Thanks Tim. Sounds like the real deal, looking into it as the local spruce is out of stock.If your weeping rivet is on the bottom of the tank, you might consider this -
I used the Clickbond, small CP62 on a weeping rivet I had, it has worked for over 8 years now. I purchased the kit, which included cleaning solvent/prep wipes.Click Patch® Adhesive-Bonded Repair for leaking fasteners
Quickly repair leaking fasteners and skin punctures with Click Patch® adhesive bonded patches. Supplied with precision fixtures to ensure consistent pressure and bond during curing; minimizing aircraft downtime.
Where did you buy it? Any adhesive or other things needed? ThanksIf your weeping rivet is on the bottom of the tank, you might consider this -
I used the Clickbond, small CP62 on a weeping rivet I had, it has worked for over 8 years now. I purchased the kit, which included cleaning solvent/prep wipes.Click Patch® Adhesive-Bonded Repair for leaking fasteners
Quickly repair leaking fasteners and skin punctures with Click Patch® adhesive bonded patches. Supplied with precision fixtures to ensure consistent pressure and bond during curing; minimizing aircraft downtime.
Just for clarity - this is the wrong rivet to use because of its grip length - .125” - .187”. The unmodified rivet you would use is a Pop AK41H or -42H, depending on its placement. Not saying this one won’t work, but it is not recommended by the manufacturer for the thickness of the joint involved here.Over twenty years ago I used this pop rivet to fix a weepy tank rivet:
Ak43H Closed End Ctsk Head Rivet | Aircraft Spruce ®
Ak43H Closed End Ctsk Head Rivet Ctsk Head Blind - Alum./Steel. Closed End
This requires carefully drilling out the offending rivet, popping off the head then drilling out the hole to #30. Use a deburring tool to do the very slight counter sink on the hole to best seat this larger rivet. Add pro-seal into the hole and pro-seal on the rivet. Set the rivet and clean off the excess pro-seal.
This fix never leaked again.
Carl
I make a modification to the above two P/N’s that reduces the head to the correct size & shape (100* head angle vs 120* for pulled rivets) that I offer for leaking fuel tank rivet repair.
I also modify standard (open end Avex) rivets for those hard to reach (read “buck”) rivets that might need replacement due to “smoking” or …
Shown below is a comparison (L to R) of a standard head (AN) rivet, my reduced head, correct included angle and a standard AK41(2)-H.
YMMV - But this works …
HFS
Attachments
Last edited:
Clickbond had a booth at OSH, I talked to them up there, and I got a biz card from her. I called the # when I got home and that’s how I ordered the CP62 kit. The kit includes everything you need, IIRC. ( The kit Spruce has in their catalog, describes what is included, but you need the smaller 62 patch, not the 125 that Spruce carries - perhaps Spruce can special order the 62?) I believe the rep I met at OSH was out of Utah. I will look later today and see if I can find contact info for you. If you are going to OSH this year, if you order it, you can probably pick it up from them at their booth and avoid shipping.
You can DIY a patch similar to the ClickBond product if you choose - just a small, formed (or machined), round Aluminum patch, an appropriate adhesive (I prefer 3M-2216 epoxy), and a mechanism by which to attach it ...
I made this "cup" type washer for a friend's leaky fuel tank drain outlet. Machined to have a joint "thickness" of .032 over the flange face & a 1/8" annular ring x ~.090" around the outer edge. Makes a nice neat, compact "overlay" to the entire outlet. I have talked to 3M engineers about the suitability of their adhesive for a repair like this and was told it (2216) is stability (after cure) is excellent in avgas.
I'm a big fan of the "Trust but Verify" doctrine introduced back in the 19080's, so I have been running an experiment since 2011 with cured samples of 2216 immersed in 100LL AvGas and have not seen any deterioration of the material.
HFS
Attachments
