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Sealing fuel tank inspection plate & sender

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Dale Ensing

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 571
Location: Aero Plantation Weddington NC

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 10:50 am Post subject: Sealing fuel tank inspection plate & sender

You might consider using SS Allen head cap screws on the inspection plates 

and the sender mounts in lieu of the Phillips head screws. In my opinion; 1. 

They make it easier to more evenly torque the screws. 2. The bottom of the 

head of the cap screws have a slight undercut which makes a sealing edge out 

at the periphery of the screw head. 3. And, if you need to remove or 

re-torque the screws with the wing on,  it is much easier to do with a short 

Allen wrench segment in one of the very small right angle ratchet 

screwdrivers handles.



I had done my 6A tanks with the cap screws and when Van's came out with the 

SB, getting the screws out and reinstalling them was very simple.

Dale Ensing



 	  Quote: 	
		   Part of your decision may have to do with what happens if you have to 

 remove the sender. It's a lot easier just unscrewing and pulling it off if 

 all you've used is cork. When meetingthe Van's SB, I pulled both access 

 plates off -- one with cork and proseal and one with just proseal -- and 

 found both were quite an exercise.

 // Rubber gaskets - just in case they don't work and I have to remove the 

 sender, I intend to use the provided rubber gaskets without sealer, but 

 put plenty of sealer on the screws before assembly. Good idea?



 I did not use the rubber gasket because I found it quite difficult with 

 the screws on the call-out to get the sender attached. To me, it seemed 

 the rubber gasket was too think. I just ProSealed.

_________________
Dale Ensing
RV-6A
Aero Plantation
Weddington NC

kboatright1(at)comcast.ne
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject: Sealing fuel tank inspection plate & sender

Just another data point...



When I performed the work for the service bulletin, I had a nightmare of a 

time with the Stainless Steel fasteners I planned to use as replacements for 

the Phillips screws.   I stripped out several of the heads (Allen Wrench 

type) before I went back to the Phillips screws.



KB

---

Dale Ensing

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 571
Location: Aero Plantation Weddington NC

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:22 pm Post subject: Sealing fuel tank inspection plate & sender

Kyle

Was wondering.....did the socket heads of the Allen head cap screws strip 

out because of the initial torque when first installed? Or, where there 

other factors? It is easy to over torque them because of the hex socket vs. 

the Phillips.

Dale



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Just another data point...



 When I performed the work for the service bulletin, I had a nightmare of a 

 time with the Stainless Steel fasteners I planned to use as replacements 

 for the Phillips screws.   I stripped out several of the heads (Allen 

 Wrench type) before I went back to the Phillips screws.



 KB


	


 	  Quote: 	
		  > 

>

> You might consider using SS Allen head cap screws on the inspection 

> plates and the sender mounts in lieu of the Phillips head screws. In my 

> opinion; 1. They make it easier to more evenly torque the screws. 2. The 

> bottom of the head of the cap screws have a slight undercut which makes a 

> sealing edge out at the periphery of the screw head. 3. And, if you need 

> to remove or re-torque the screws with the wing on,  it is much easier to 

> do with a short Allen wrench segment in one of the very small right angle 

> ratchet screwdrivers handles.

>

> I had done my 6A tanks with the cap screws and when Van's came out with 

> the SB, getting the screws out and reinstalling them was very simple.

> Dale Ensing

_________________
Dale Ensing
RV-6A
Aero Plantation
Weddington NC

kboatright1(at)comcast.ne
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:42 pm Post subject: Sealing fuel tank inspection plate & sender

It has been a couple of years since my bad experience, but my recollection 

is that the heads stripped simply because of the torque required to run the 

screws down into the platenuts.  They were not even snug when they stripped.



I was very surprised that they stripped out in platenuts that had already 

been run-in.



KB



---

rv8a2001(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:29 pm Post subject: Sealing fuel tank inspection plate & sender

I beleive socket head cap screws are recommended here.......if memory serves, much harder to strip than phillips.

 

Scott Bilinski

RV-8a



---

jim jewell

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 82
Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 10:03 pm Post subject: Sealing fuel tank inspection plate & sender

Dale and others,



I bought some SS 8X32 round or button head screws that had the annoying 

habit of stripping out during installation.

The Allen wrench key socket size was 'about' 3/32" ..(Its been a while) 



Later I bought a box of SS 8X32 "Allen head' screws. These required an Allen 

head socket wrench size of 'about' 3/16" and are plenty strong enough to be 

used in places such as the fuel tanks etc.

I have yet to strip out one of these Allen head screws even when being 

deliberately abusive during a test to see what they could take.

They have been holding back fuel for a year so far and they offer far better 

access in tight quarters than their Philips head type cousins.



Jim in Kelowna



---

_________________
"I never make mistreaks"

mike109g6(at)insideconnec
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 10:42 pm Post subject: Sealing fuel tank inspection plate & sender

Dale,

Try SS Torx screws, www.microfasteners.com they take a #20 6 point torx bit, 

at any hardware store.  Same driver as premium deck screws. You cannot strip 

them.

Mike H

---

acepilot(at)bloomer.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:53 am Post subject: Sealing fuel tank inspection plate & sender

You haven't seen me work with hardware, have you?  



do not archive



Scott

http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/

Gotta Fly or Gonna Die

Building RV-4 (Super Slow Build Version)



mike humphrey wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  

 Try SS Torx screws,  ...  You cannot strip them.

 Mike H

Dale Ensing

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 571
Location: Aero Plantation Weddington NC

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 5:49 am Post subject: Sealing fuel tank inspection plate & sender

Good point Jim. The round and button head screws have a much smaller hex 

socket relative to the screw size than do the Allen heads (which is what I 

was suggesting and used on my tanks).

Dale



 	  Quote: 	
		   Dale and others,



 I bought some SS 8X32 round or button head screws that had the annoying 

 habit of stripping out during installation.

 The Allen wrench key socket size was 'about' 3/32" ..(Its been a while) 

 



 Later I bought a box of SS 8X32 "Allen head' screws. These required an 

 Allen head socket wrench size of 'about' 3/16" and are plenty strong 

 enough to be used in places such as the fuel tanks etc.

 I have yet to strip out one of these Allen head screws even when being 

 deliberately abusive during a test to see what they could take.

 They have been holding back fuel for a year so far and they offer far 

 better access in tight quarters than their Philips head type cousins.



 Jim in Kelowna

> 

>

> Kyle

> Was wondering.....did the socket heads of the Allen head cap screws strip 

> out because of the initial torque when first installed? Or, where there 

> other factors? It is easy to over torque them because of the hex socket 

> vs. the Phillips.

> Dale

>

>> 

>> <kboatright1(at)comcast.net>

>>

>> Just another data point...

>>

>> When I performed the work for the service bulletin, I had a nightmare of 

>> a time with the Stainless Steel fasteners I planned to use as 

>> replacements for the Phillips screws.   I stripped out several of the 

>> heads (Allen Wrench type) before I went back to the Phillips screws.

>>

>> KB

>

>>> 

>>>

>>> You might consider using SS Allen head cap screws on the inspection 

>>> plates and the sender mounts in lieu of the Phillips head screws. In my 

>>> opinion; 1. They make it easier to more evenly torque the screws. 2. 

>>> The bottom of the head of the cap screws have a slight undercut which 

>>> makes a sealing edge out at the periphery of the screw head. 3. And, if 

>>> you need to remove or re-torque the screws with the wing on,  it is 

>>> much easier to do with a short Allen wrench segment in one of the very 

>>> small right angle ratchet screwdrivers handles.

>>>

>>> I had done my 6A tanks with the cap screws and when Van's came out with 

>>> the SB, getting the screws out and reinstalling them was very simple.

>>> Dale Ensing

_________________
Dale Ensing
RV-6A
Aero Plantation
Weddington NC

Dale Ensing

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 571
Location: Aero Plantation Weddington NC

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 5:56 am Post subject: Sealing fuel tank inspection plate & sender

I have never had any problems stripping the sockets on Allen head cap 

screws. Matter of fact- I run a Allen head cap screw into  new plate nuts to 

establish a "thread" before inserting Phillips head screws to reduce the 

wear on the Phillips head.

Dale

---

_________________
Dale Ensing
RV-6A
Aero Plantation
Weddington NC

jim jewell

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 82
Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:44 am Post subject: Sealing fuel tank inspection plate & sender

Hi Dale,



I to have often used the Allen head cap screws breaking in new plate nut 

threads.



Way back when ordering tools etc. I bought a small container of Beolube from 

Avery tools. I have used this product on every screw in my 6-A. It 

conditions the plate-nut threads increasing their overall utility without 

unduly reducing the plate-nut's grip .

I have used this product as suggested as a cutting agent when drilling holes 

with the drill press and the lathe.

I have loaned out the small plastic tube of soft waxy soapstone like Beolube 

to others and still have about two thirds of the original container left.



A must have product for me.



Jim in Kelowna



---

_________________
"I never make mistreaks"

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