I’m scheduled to get my plane painted this fall so, even though I have no elevator cracks, I decided to apply the Proseal per the SB to prevent having to do it later to a painted plane.
Everything was simple enough until I got to the point of actually applying the Proseal. I mixed the Proseal in the cartridge then connected the nozzle with the aluminum tube taped into place, per the instructions. I then started squeezing the handle of the caulking gun (purchased from Vans for this purpose) but nothing came out, I heard some crackling like bubbles popping in the Proseal which I attributed to the tube filling, but nothing came out of the tube. The caulking gun handle was getting difficult to squeeze and when I checked, the plunger was near the end of its travel. Still, no Proseal out of the aluminum tube. I couldn‘t believe it would take that much sealant to fill the tube so I started looking to see where it all went. It turns out that the crackling I heard was Proseal getting past the plunger seal and filling the rear of the cartridge. Bottom line, I finally only got enough out of the aluminum tube to do one side of one bay in one elevator. I basically wasted the whole cartridge and paid $55 for a 6” bead of Proseal.
I ended up with Proseal everywhere but where I wanted it. What a mess! I finally threw the gun, cartridge and aluminum tube away and ordered replacements for everything (I figured I’d be money ahead to replace the caulking gun and tube rather than trying to clean them). It was an expensive mistake but I’m not sure what I did wrong or what I should do differently next time to avoid similar results? Anyone else have this issue? Why is it so hard to push Proseal out of a 15” tube?
Everything was simple enough until I got to the point of actually applying the Proseal. I mixed the Proseal in the cartridge then connected the nozzle with the aluminum tube taped into place, per the instructions. I then started squeezing the handle of the caulking gun (purchased from Vans for this purpose) but nothing came out, I heard some crackling like bubbles popping in the Proseal which I attributed to the tube filling, but nothing came out of the tube. The caulking gun handle was getting difficult to squeeze and when I checked, the plunger was near the end of its travel. Still, no Proseal out of the aluminum tube. I couldn‘t believe it would take that much sealant to fill the tube so I started looking to see where it all went. It turns out that the crackling I heard was Proseal getting past the plunger seal and filling the rear of the cartridge. Bottom line, I finally only got enough out of the aluminum tube to do one side of one bay in one elevator. I basically wasted the whole cartridge and paid $55 for a 6” bead of Proseal.
I ended up with Proseal everywhere but where I wanted it. What a mess! I finally threw the gun, cartridge and aluminum tube away and ordered replacements for everything (I figured I’d be money ahead to replace the caulking gun and tube rather than trying to clean them). It was an expensive mistake but I’m not sure what I did wrong or what I should do differently next time to avoid similar results? Anyone else have this issue? Why is it so hard to push Proseal out of a 15” tube?