Well crap. Fuel leak, left tank...gotta pull it

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:34 pm

I've been fighting with a minor fuel leak on the top of my left fuel tank since the day I filled it up, and thought I had it nipped in the bud with Loctite wicking sealant. This past weekend while pre-flighting, I found blue stain on the bottom of the wing. I pulled the wing root to check on things, and blue stains were pretty much everywhere.

I'll be pulling the tank this weekend to bore some holes in the rear baffle to get in there and re-seal it...

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 4:14 pm

I had leak problems on my RV-4 too. Took my a couple of tries to finally get it sealed. You'll get it.

Post by **Spike** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 4:20 pm

Awwwww nutz. Sorry to hear about that dude. Document it though. I am interested in the level of difficulty that presents.

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-----Original message-----

From: RB Lists - Screwup Chronicles <support@rivetbangers.com>
To: screwup@rivetbangers.com
Sent: Thu, Oct 21, 2010 20:34:07 GMT+00:00
Subject: Well crap. Fuel leak, left tank...gotta pull it

I've been fighting with a minor fuel leak on the top of my left fuel tank since the day I filled it up, and thought I had it nipped in the bud with Loctite wicking sealant. This past weekend while pre-flighting, I found blue stain on the bottom of the wing. I pulled the wing root to check on things, and blue stains were pretty much everywhere. I'll be pulling the tank this weekend to bore some holes in the rear baffle to get in there and re-seal it... Chad Jensen N755CB|RV-7|Flying RV-7 Build Log rivetbangers.com - Discussion topic http://www.rivetbangers.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=35287#35287

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Post by **bullojm1** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 5:15 pm

Best of luck to you fixing it Chad. Are you buying new ProSeal, or are you using some of the old stock, if you had any left?

While you're grounded this weekend, I might be the opposite <hint><hint>.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 5:22 pm

Sweet Mike!!! Been waiting to hear that!!

I'll be using new sealant, we have a plentiful supply in, ahem, "my" parts room...

And I will document the whole thing here...

Post by **bullojm1** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 5:59 pm

I hate your parts room! It sounds way more expensive than my parts rooms in Georgia and California.

hydroguy2 · Post by **hydroguy2** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 6:10 pm

Oh No! say it ain't so. This is one of my biggest fears about painting first. My fuel leak was from a loose vent fitting and it scared the crap out of me.

Good luck with the repair.

Joe Parish · Post by **Joe Parish** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 7:55 pm

Sorry to hear about your leak Chad

Good luck with the repair

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 10:03 pm

Chad,

Sorry to hear that you are looking down the barrel of some repairs. Tell me...

As I recall you clecoed the whole tank(s) together wet with proseal then riveted.

I have some questions for you.

Do you think that this method had anything to do with your leak?

Do you have any other leaks?

Would you employ that method again?

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 7:41 am

I would definitely build the tanks with that method again. I would over-goop the rear baffle tho. That's where the leaks are. I don't have any along the ribs. That rear baffle, as so many of us know, is more or less of a crap shoot when sealing it since you can't see what the heck is going on when you press it in position. I don't think I put enough of a bead along the baffle in this tank. The right tank is dry as can be (KNOCK ON WOOD!!)...

It starts tomorrow...

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 11:04 am

Every phase one plane has issues to cure. Some worse than others.

Back when you built them, did you "air" leak test them ? If so, did it hold pressure for several days ?

No fuel leaks yet for me <crossing fingers on that one> but I have had a few squawks to remedy.
1. High Fuel pressure. (Still working on why, changing mech pump soon)
2. Slight oil leakage from the mechanical fuel pump. (changing out the pump with a new one)
3. Pitch trim was wired backwards. (easy fix)

Thankfully, the P-mags have been working flawlessly and starts are a breez. All CHT's are within 10 of each other and none have gone past 370 during the break-in. I've not had to add any oil either so the engine seems nice and tight so far. (no oil on the belly either and I don't have an air oil seperator either.)

Take you time with the Tank fix, it's not going to be that bad if you just take your time with it. At least the tanks come off the wing fairly easy too, unlike some spam cans we know of.

.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:13 pm

Yep, agreed...had a few issues to work thru, nothing major. I wouldn't even consider this major, just a time consuming issue. I have no reservations about the fix, it just sucks that I have to stay on the ground for more than a week!!

hydroguy2 · Post by **hydroguy2** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:49 pm

cjensen wrote:...... it just sucks that I have to stay on the ground for more than a week!!

can I get a "Amen, Brother"

painless · Post by **painless** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 10:07 pm

Sorry to hear about the bump in the road Chad. Hopefully it will rain all this weekend anyway.....