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Fuel Tank Bulletin
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Edwardoconnor(at)mac.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 7:52 am Post subject: Fuel Tank Bulletin

I installed Van's Capacitance fuel quanity system and elected not to 

cut the access hole in the root ribs since they were not necessary. Now 

it looks like I will have to remove the tank to comply with this and I 

am just days from first flight. Bummer. May wait a while to comply. The 

idea of removing the tanks and cracking that brand new paint job and 

reprosealing after all of this and making a tank access plate and 

sealing it up just doesn't sound like any fun. I like the bore scope 

idea. I know they make one that could be used considering where I have 

seen them placed in the human body. It could fit through the tank drain 

hole and inspect the AN fittings.

SSoule(at)pfclaw.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 8:22 am Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

Hello,



This bulletin requires removal of the fuel tanks. Does anyone have advice

about how to remove wing tanks after the plane has been painted? I can see

the need to scribe the skin overlap area to break cleanly the paint line

between the wing skin and the tank skin, but can't we expect that paint has

wicked into and under the skin, thus effectively gluing the tank to the

wing?



I would appreciate any advice for those who have removed their fuel tanks. I

had mine off before the plane was painted and it wasn't too hard, but I

don't want to make a mess of my nice new paint job. 



Steve Soule 

Highgate, Vermont 

N227RV, RV-6A 



<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">



<META NAME=3D"Generator" CONTENT=3D"MS Exchange Server version 5.5.2657.73">

Fuel tank bulletin



Hello,

This bulletin requires removal of the fuel tanks. Does anyone have advice about how to remove wing tanks after the plane has been painted? I can see the need to scribe the skin overlap area to break cleanly the paint line between the wing skin and the tank skin, but can't we expect that paint has wicked into and under the skin, thus effectively gluing the tank to the wing?



I would appreciate any advice for those who have removed their fuel tanks. I had mine off before the plane was painted and it wasn't too hard, but I don't want to make a mess of my nice new paint job. 



Steve Soule 



Highgate, Vermont 



N227RV, RV-6A

kboatright1(at)comcast.ne
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 8:38 am Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

---

jhstarn(at)verizon.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 8:42 am Post subject: Fuel Tank Bulletin

At last the sound of common sense & reason in a sea of mass hysteria. Now 

this is something that can be done for YOUR own protection. We'll do both 

BUT a look see via the drain hole will work until we get ALL the stuff on 

hand, in the hanger to do the complete job Van has requested. Pro Seal, 

gasket material, new screws anyone ???   8*)   KABONG HRII N561FS



''I like the bore scope idea. I know they make one that could be used 

considering where I have seen them placed in the human body. It could fit 

through the tank drain hole and inspect the AN fittings."



---

rv8ch

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 250
Location: Switzerland

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 10:27 am Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

 	  Quote: 	
		   According to the service bulletin, you don't need to remove the tanks.  Of 

 course, trying to remove those screws, etc. in the 3" (?) gap between the 

 fuselage and wing tanks ain't gonna be fun or easy.


	


Do yourself a favor, and get some torx screws from microfasteners.

You only need an inch to get them off.  Of course, allen screws

would work just as well.  I've got pics here, if you are

interested in what they look like.



  http://www.rv8.ch/article.php?story=2004082222240152



-- 

Mickey Coggins

http://www.rv8.ch/

#82007 finishing

do not archive

_________________
Mickey Coggins
http://www.rv8.ch/

shempdowling2(at)earthlin
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 10:51 am Post subject: Fuel Tank Bulletin

2 boroscopes



http://da.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do



Shemp/Jeff Dowling

RV-6A, N915JD

265 hours

Chicago/Louisville



---

dbris200(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:48 am Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

Good point, but when I built my 6 I painted the tanks separately and 

used stainless screws it install them. Removal is a 1/2 hour job (after 

they're empty). And, in my opinion they look just as good or better than 

painted screws, and are much more serviceable.

BTW, I'd like to watch someone try to remove the inverted pickup with 

the tanks installed! I think Van's is out to lunch on that one.



Dave -6 So Cal



Stephen J. Soule wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



Hello,



This bulletin requires removal of the fuel tanks. Does anyone have advice

about how to remove wing tanks after the plane has been painted? I can see

the need to scribe the skin overlap area to break cleanly the paint line

between the wing skin and the tank skin, but can't we expect that paint has

wicked into and under the skin, thus effectively gluing the tank to the

wing?



I would appreciate any advice for those who have removed their fuel tanks. I

had mine off before the plane was painted and it wasn't too hard, but I

don't want to make a mess of my nice new paint job. 



Steve Soule 

Highgate, Vermont 

N227RV, RV-6A 



<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">



<META NAME=3D"Generator" CONTENT=3D"MS Exchange Server version 5.5.2657.73">

Fuel tank bulletin



Hello,

This bulletin requires removal of the fuel tanks. Does anyone have advice about how to remove wing tanks after the plane has been painted? I can see the need to scribe the skin overlap area to break cleanly the paint line between the wing skin and the tank skin, but can't we expect that paint has wicked into and under the skin, thus effectively gluing the tank to the wing?



I would appreciate any advice for those who have removed their fuel tanks. I had mine off before the plane was painted and it wasn't too hard, but I don't want to make a mess of my nice new paint job. 



Steve Soule 



Highgate, Vermont 



N227RV, RV-6A

SSoule(at)pfclaw.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 12:29 pm Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

Dave,



I used unpainted screws, so that's not the problem. I was thinking that even

when the screws are out, the tank will still be stuck to the wing with

paint. I wondered if anybody had practical advice about how to pry the tank

apart from the wing. 



Steve 



--

tandk_howell(at)comcast.n
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 12:30 pm Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

I haven't built my tanks yet, so shouldn't have a problem complying with

this SB. But I do have a question. Step 16 of the SB says to check the

AN818-4D vent line coupling for proper torque before reinstalling the T-408

cover plate. That's no guarantee that it's not going to fall off in the

future. I plan on buttering the vent line coupling nut with Proseal after it

has been torqued. The question is, how good would Proseal be for "locking"

the coupling nut, or should some other kind of fuel-resistant Loctite be

used?



Ken Howell

Glenwood Maryland

RV-7 Wings

rv8ch

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 250
Location: Switzerland

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 12:57 pm Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

 	  Quote: 	
		   ... Step 16 of the SB says to check the

 AN818-4D vent line coupling for proper torque before reinstalling the T-408

 cover plate. That's no guarantee that it's not going to fall off in the

 future. I plan on buttering the vent line coupling nut with Proseal after it

 has been torqued. The question is, how good would Proseal be for "locking"

 the coupling nut, or should some other kind of fuel-resistant Loctite be

 used?


	


It seems like proseal would keep a nut on, but I'm not sure I

see the need to do this to the fuel tank vent line.  In the

very unlikely even that it comes off, it might be annoying,

but it should not ruin your whole day.



-- 

Mickey Coggins

http://www.rv8.ch/

#82007 finishing

do not archive

_________________
Mickey Coggins
http://www.rv8.ch/

ptrotter

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 28
Location: Westchester County, NY

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 1:24 pm Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

I was speaking to Scott at Van's yesterday about something else and I 

mentioned the SB.  He said he watched one of the guys there remove the flop 

tube from a tank on the wing and it wasn't difficult.  We'll see what others 

find.  Fortunately my wings are not installed yet.



Do Not Archive



Paul



---

_________________
Paul Trotter
RV-8 82080 Fuselage Kit
N801PT (reserved)

Ed Anderson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 475

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 1:52 pm Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

---

_________________
Ed Anderson
Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
eanderson@carolina.rr.com

kboatright1(at)comcast.ne
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 2:53 pm Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

It has been a long time since I built my tanks, but my memory (and the 

drawing in the Service Bulletin) show the pick-up being attached to the 

access plate, so you won't need to safety anything inside the tank.

---

dbris200(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:06 pm Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

Maybe that was on a -7. On my -6 there isn't enough room to get your 

hand between the wing and fuselage, let alone enough to reach inside the 

tank to break the proseal loose on the flop tube. Anyway, on my 

airplane, it's easy to remove the tanks, draining them is the hard part 

- wait - I could just FLY the fuel out!



Dave



Paul Trotter wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



I was speaking to Scott at Van's yesterday about something else and I 

mentioned the SB.  He said he watched one of the guys there remove the flop 

tube from a tank on the wing and it wasn't difficult.

Ed Anderson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 475

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

---

_________________
Ed Anderson
Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
eanderson@carolina.rr.com

dbris200(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:27 pm Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

Steve,



Just use a razor blade along the edge of the tank. The paint will not 

have run under the edge enough to cause it to stick unless the painter 

REALLY loaded it up with wet paint.



Dave



Stephen J. Soule wrote:



[quote]



Dave,



I used unpainted screws, so that's not the problem. I was thinking that even

when the screws are out, the tank will still be stuck to the wing with

paint. I wondered if anybody had practical advice about how to pry the tank

apart from the wing. 



Steve 



--

ptrotter

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 28
Location: Westchester County, NY

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:40 pm Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

You don't take the flare nut off.  You remove the entire assembly including 

the bulkhead fitting by removing the nut on the outside of the tank and 

breaking the proseal loose.  Then you fix the assembly outside the tank and 

reinstall it with new proseal.  The only issue I can see is how hard it is 

to break lose the proseal since there is limited movement in the bulkhead 

fitting if you put an anti-rotation bracket in.



Paul

---

_________________
Paul Trotter
RV-8 82080 Fuselage Kit
N801PT (reserved)

ceengland(at)bellsouth.ne
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:58 pm Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

Kyle Boatright wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



It has been a long time since I built my tanks, but my memory (and the 

drawing in the Service Bulletin) show the pick-up being attached to the 

access plate, so you won't need to safety anything inside the tank.




	


There may be some confusion about the 'reach' required because of the 

difference between standard & flop tube pickups.



I don't know for sure about the -6, but the -7 has the flop tube 

installed on a fitting through the leading edge reinforcement angle. 

That's a pretty long reach & would mean getting your elbow between the 

fuse & wing, turning into the tank, then turning again toward the 

leading edge & reaching forward to the leading edge to do your 

tightening & safety wiring.

lhelming(at)sigecom.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 4:46 am Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

This a good reason to paint your fuel tanks separately when detached from 

the wing.  Then mount on the wing after it is painted and use either painted 

or unpainted screws.



Indiana Larry, RV7 SunSeeker 90+ hours flying



"Please use the information and opinions I express with responsibility, and 

at your own risk."

---

dlpier(at)lamar.colostate
Guest

Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 7:43 pm Post subject: Fuel tank bulletin

There have been at least 2 accidents due to the loose flare nut fitting.  I 

totaled my RV-6 31/2 years ago due to this problem.  There was 6.5 gallons 

left in the tank, not 3.5. I informed Vans about it and never received a 

reply.  There was a short note in the RVator 2-3 years ago addressing this 

problem.  It was done by a contributor, not Van's staff. I prosealed the nuts 

on my current RV-9.

Don Piermattei

RV-9 90411



Donald L. Piermattei DVM, PhD

5000 E County Rd 92

Carr, CO 80612

970/568-9047

Fax 970/568-7279

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