David-aviator
Well Known Member
...passed balloon test, soapy water, and windex but no bubbles with tank pressurized, what now??
There was a leak because a small circle of blue showed up along an aft baffle rivet line. This all came about a couple weeks ago when the tank vent was blocked and OAT rose to 85 or so. When under pressure the tank leaked profusely but stopped when pressure was released, it did not show any leakage until after 48 hours and then it was a very minor seep.
Well i found the little buggers today!!
Last night a thought popped into my brain, try some kids bubble making stuff from Toys R Us. I don't know where the idea came from but I bought a small bottle of it for 99 cents.
The tank was re-pressurized to max with a large balloon. The balloon had lost very little size over night.
The kids bubble making stuff is much thicker than soapy water. I applied it to rivet heads with a small brush and instantly there appeared a tiny growing bubble at 6 or 7 rivets along a line where I had thought the proseal bead had been broken. Amazing. Soapy water in the same area did not reveal the tiny leaks.
I've opened the tank and will apply a new bead inside tomorrow. Hope to have the airplane flying in a couple days - can't stand a grounded air plane.
But I will do another kids bubble test to make sure the leaks are sealed.
There was a leak because a small circle of blue showed up along an aft baffle rivet line. This all came about a couple weeks ago when the tank vent was blocked and OAT rose to 85 or so. When under pressure the tank leaked profusely but stopped when pressure was released, it did not show any leakage until after 48 hours and then it was a very minor seep.
Well i found the little buggers today!!
Last night a thought popped into my brain, try some kids bubble making stuff from Toys R Us. I don't know where the idea came from but I bought a small bottle of it for 99 cents.
The tank was re-pressurized to max with a large balloon. The balloon had lost very little size over night.
The kids bubble making stuff is much thicker than soapy water. I applied it to rivet heads with a small brush and instantly there appeared a tiny growing bubble at 6 or 7 rivets along a line where I had thought the proseal bead had been broken. Amazing. Soapy water in the same area did not reveal the tiny leaks.
I've opened the tank and will apply a new bead inside tomorrow. Hope to have the airplane flying in a couple days - can't stand a grounded air plane.
But I will do another kids bubble test to make sure the leaks are sealed.